September 28, 2026
Almaty, Kazakhstan. Eurasian Film Market (EFM), Central Asia's largest independent professional platform for the film and television industry, is taking place in Almaty from 29 September to 1 October 2026. As in previous years, the event brings together content producers and buyers, cinema chains, online platforms, service companies and industry institutions from the CIS and countries across the wider region and the world.
EFM is one of the region's key creative industries platforms. The market brings culture and business together and helps grow the creative economy, strengthen international cooperation and attract investment to Central Asia. EFM is part of the strategic initiatives portfolio of the Creative Industries Alliance of Kazakhstan and is supported by the Almaty Tourism Bureau.
EFM's development strategy focuses on sustainability and cooperation with leading global players in film, TV and sustainable development. In 2026, MIPCOM, the leading international market for audiovisual content, became the market's official partner.
Between 2023 and 2026, EFM attracted more than 250 film and media companies. Exhibitors and participants have included distributors and content producers, exhibitors, suppliers of services and equipment for film production and exhibition, international film organisations, film funds and others: the State Fund for the Support of National Cinema, Ascar Cinema (direct successor to Meloman Entertainment), Tiger Films, Tolqyn Film Fund, Kinopark, Asana Film, Bihas (official Barco representative in Central Asia), Chaplin Cinemas, CNC, Unifrance, Russian Content Worldwide (RCW, representing leading producers and distributors), NFDC (India), Freedom Media, Trapeza, German Films (Germany), Cinecittà (Italy), Megogo, Kinologistika, Kinopoisk, Unico Play, Salem Entertainment, Dear Silence, TV+, MK2 (France), M6 (France), Kinoplan, Asia Cinema, Sakhafilm, Etnomedia (Kyrgyzstan), Exponenta Film, Top Cinema, Prebook, Capella Film, MTD Media, Husks Productions (USA), Gemin Sky (China), Cinemaxx, the OSRAM GmbH Representative Office in Kazakhstan, Christie Digital (Belgium), Cinemaus Studio, Digital District (France), Galaxy Snow Screen (China), Pro Cinema and others.
The special programme #SEARCH has presented more than 350 new films from Central Asia to potential buyers and festival programmers.
Central Asia's film and TV industry is growing fast. National production is increasing, cinema chains are expanding, and local and international streaming services are gaining ground. Eurasian Film Market is the region's annual professional industry gathering. EFM is focused on concrete results: presenting, buying and selling content, closing distribution deals and finding partners. For exhibitors, the market is an opportunity to present their catalogues, services and technology solutions to the region's target audience and to strengthen their position among the market's key players. Participants get first access to new content from Central Asia and beyond and discover the latest projection and production technologies. Industry sessions address the issues shaping the market today. International companies gain direct access to audiences and partners across Central Asia and the CIS.
2026 partners: Almaty Tourism Bureau, Arman Cinema, Embassy of France in Kazakhstan, CNC, Unifrance, MIPCOM, Foundation for United Nations SDG, Creative Industries Alliance of Kazakhstan, Novotel Almaty City Center, Hotel Kazakhstan, Shymbulak Mountain Resort, Barco/Bihas, Ascar Cinema, Etnomedia, Russian Film Business International Film Market and Forum, Capella Film, A-One Films, Kazakh Incoming travel agency, Beta Tea, Caspian Beverage Holding (CBH), Samal Water, Aida Kaumenova, Turan Film Academy.
Media partners: BIP House/Yolo House, Almaty TV, Astana TV, Silk Way Cinema, Channel One Eurasia, Dostyq TV, Eurasia 24, Qonaev Media, We Project, Madeniet, Tribune, Novoye Pokoleniye, Byulleten Kinoprokatchika (Film Distributor's Bulletin), Cinemaplex, Kinobiznes Segodnya (Film Business Today).
The market's business programme covers every aspect of business communication in film and media:
EFM's curated initiative to promote Central Asian content continues in 2026. New feature-length live-action and animated films from the region will be presented to buyers: distributors, sales agents, streaming platforms, cinema chains and festival programmers.
As every year, with the support of the Embassy of France in Kazakhstan, CNC and Unifrance, the market will host the Festival d'Avant-Premières du Cinéma Français (French Premieres Festival). It screens new French films ahead of their release in Central Asia and other CIS countries.
De Gaulle. Part 1: Resistance, directed by Antonin Baudry, opens the festival ahead of its theatrical release. This historical war drama is based on Julian T. Jackson's book A Certain Idea of France: The Life of Charles de Gaulle. It is the first part of a two-part film about Charles de Gaulle, who rose from French army officer to leader of the Resistance against Nazi Germany during the Second World War and later became President of France.
Full Phil, directed by Quentin Dupieux, is another premiere in the festival programme. The dramedy screened in the Main Competition of the 79th Cannes Film Festival. Industrial tycoon Philip Doom takes his adult daughter on a luxury trip to Paris, hoping to repair their relationship. The perfect plan quickly spirals out of control: a string of strange coincidences, an overly attentive hotel employee and peculiar French cuisine, all set to an old horror film, threaten not only their holiday but also their chance to grow closer.
A Man and a Woman, a French classic by Claude Lelouch and one of the most beautiful love stories on screen, will be shown in a 4K restoration to mark its 60th anniversary. Against the rainy Normandy coast, two people meet: script supervisor Anne (Anouk Aimée) and racing driver Jean-Louis (Jean-Louis Trintignant). Both are raising children alone, and both still live in the shadow of lost loves. Their chance encounter grows into a tender bond and brings back feelings they thought were gone for good. But are they ready to let go of the past and trust in a new love?
Eurasian Film Market (EFM) is Central Asia's independent international film market, held in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The platform brings together film and TV professionals from the CIS and around the world. It supports the acquisition and sale of content rights, co-production, the promotion of national cinemas and the development of the regional film business. In 2023–2025, EFM brought together more than 250 companies and hosted dozens of presentations and special screenings of regional content, including through the #SEARCH programme. The market is also a space for dialogue. Here, Central Asian cinema chains discover new services and exclusive content, and participants discuss the industry's most pressing issues.
