The second edition of the Toji Somon International Film Festival will kick off in Tajikistan on October 15, running until October 20. Organized by the state-run Tajikfilm, the festival will feature more than 40 films from 15 countries, celebrating cinema from around the world.
The festival opens with a screening of competition films on October 15, followed by the official opening of the Iranian Film Days at 5:00 PM at the Tahir Sobirov Cinema Theater. The opening ceremony will include a cultural program celebrating Iranian cinema.
As part of the event, an international conference will be held on October 16 at 11:30 AM, dedicated to the 60th anniversary of celebrated Tajik director Bakhtiyor Khudoinazarov.
Screenings will take place at cinemas in the capital, Dushanbe, and will also extend to the regions of Sughd, Khatlon, and the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, or GBAO.
Regional screenings
In Khatlon, films to be shown include:
“Life is Beautiful” (Tajikistan)
“House for Sale” (Kyrgyzstan)
“The Black Fortress” (Belarus)
“Bumba’s Road” (India)
“High Citizens” (Kazakhstan)
In Sughd province, audiences can enjoy:
- “Air” and “Captain’s Daughter” (Russia)
- “In Search of Spring” (Uzbekistan)
- “The Tree” (Turkmenistan)
- “Red Dream” (Tajikistan)
In GBAO, the festival will feature:
- “In Search of Truth” (Tajikistan)
- “The Prince” (Moldova)
- “Bridge Over the Dried River” (Iran)
- “Personality Disorder” (Indonesia)
- “The Oak” (Turkiye)
The closing ceremony and awards presentation will take place on October 19 at 5:30 PM at the Sadriddin Ayni Opera and Ballet Theater in Dushanbe.
Festival theme and history
The festival is dedicated to Tajik Cinema Day, which is celebrated annually on October 16. This year’s theme is “The History of the Tajik People’s Development”.
The first Toji Somon Film Festival was held in 2023, with participants from Russia, Uzbekistan, Moldova, Azerbaijan, China, France, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, and other countries. The festival is set to occur every two years.
