The historical feature film "Magtymguly Pyragy," a bilateral cinematic co-production between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, emerged as a key winner at the I Mari International Ethnic Film Festival. The cultural forum was hosted in Yoshkar-Ola (Mari El Republic, Russian Federation) from June 15 to 19, 2026. Turkmen actor Chary Berdiyew received the prestigious "Best Actor" award for his outstanding performance in one of the leading roles of the biographical drama.

Dedicated to the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia, the film forum brought together cinematic professionals, critics, and directors from multiple global platforms. The selection committees reviewed roughly 30 movies from Russia, the CIS states, Asia, and Europe across both competitive and non-competitive categories. Directed by Muzaffarkhon Erkinov, the joint production focusing on the life of the great Turkmen poet and philosopher was highlighted by the jury as a standout masterwork.

The festival concluded its official run by announcing the winners in its primary categories:

Grand Prix for Best Feature Film: "Where the Sun Shines Brightly," directed by Lam Can Zhao (a multinational co-production involving China, Switzerland, Malaysia, and Canada);

Best Director: Dastan Madalbekov for the Kyrgyz drama "Dance with Your Mother";

Best Short Film: "First Movie," an Indian cinematic entry directed by Piyush Thakur.

During auxiliary screenings, the international audience was introduced to Russian director Andrey Zaytsev’s "Two Lives, Not Counting the Dog" and Italian director Giani de Blasi's "The Last Week of Summer." Prior to this success, "Magtymguly Pyragy" and "Dance with Your Mother" made their debut on the international award circuit when they were showcased at the inaugural "Diamond Butterfly" Open Eurasian Film Awards.