Present Film Festival is dedicated to the famous Tajik film director Bakhtiyor Khudoynazarov who passed away in April 2015, and the opening of the Festival has started with the film screening of his film “Bratan” (Bro).

This year Tajikistan will be represented by two full-length films at the festival “Mushkilkusho” (Breakthrough) of Umed Mirzoshirinov and “Monkey’s dream” of Rumi Shoazimom, and one short-length film “Situation” of Dilovar Sultonov. Also two Tajik comedy films “Modern bride-2” and “Air Safar” will be shown in the frame of the Festival.

During the opening ceremony Regina Gujan, a representative of the Swiss Cooperation Office in Tajikistan remarked: “Switzerland very much appreciates what is happening “around the Festival”, in particular the possibility for filmmakers and other professionals of the film industry – young and old – to engage, share their experiences, and enrich their knowledge”.

In the framework of the project “Echo Didor” best motion films of the Festival will be shown in Khujand, Khorog, Asht, Isfara, Kulob and  Danghara districts . The overall goal of the Echo program is to facilitate exchange and dialogue amongst cinematographers and film directors, as well as to bring films closer to film lovers  all of the four corners of the country.

As a co-founder of the first event back in 2004, it has become a good tradition for Switzerland to be closely linked to the Festival and to contribute this way to set Tajikistan on the map of international film festivals.

International Film Festival

Tajikistan is both beautiful and culturally diverse and no wonder tourists from around the world strive to see and experience the natural beauty and traditions of the country: here you will find the real “Kingdom” of mountains, glaciers, endless pure rivers, lakes and hospitality of the locals.  

In order to promote tourism in Tajikistan the Swiss Cooperation Office invites professional and amateur photographers to participate in the contest, which will result in selecting of a limited number of photos that shall reflect the numerous touristic features like nature, people, architecture, cultural and culinary traditions of Tajikistan. Priority in the selection of photos will be given to the local participants from Tajikistan and the neighbouring countries. We are convinced that all interested contestants have a great deal of such photos to offer, which would show what Tajikistan has in store for tourists. Photographs submitted are expected to vividly reflect Tajikistan from the touristic perspectives. Only images which are unretouched or with the minimum correction will be selected for the shortlist.

Selection criteria:

• artistic quality/professionalism

• technical quality/high resolution

• content/reflection of the subject

Selection process:

The yearly calendar “Tajikistan” has become a ‘trade mark’ of the Swiss Cooperation Office in Tajikistan, therefore the selection of winning photographs will be done internally by the staff of the Office.

Requirements to contestants:

• personal info in brief

• info on the photographs: date, place, captions

• language: Tajik or Russian, English

• quantity of photographs submitted: 3-8

• minimal resolution: 300 d/i

• size: minimum 2 MB

All photographs meeting the above requirements should be submitted in the electronic form either by email or hand carried in a media device (CD).

Honorarium: The prize per one selected photograph is 700 Tajik Somoni  

How to apply:

if submitted in a media device: to be in a sealed envelope indicating the subject PHOTO CONTEST CALENDAR and containing contact info of the applicant to the following address: Swiss Cooperation Office in Tajikistan - Dushanbe, 3 Tolstoy street; Tel: (+992 37) 224 73 16, 224 38 97

if submitted via e-mail: dushanbe@eda.admin.ch with cc to ramziya.mamadnazarova@eda.admin.ch with the subject line indicating PHOTO CONTEST CALENDAR. Deadline for submission of the complete application package:  11 September 2016.