He cited the film "Kurak," which was submitted from Kyrgyzstan to the festival in Busan, South Korea, and won an award.
“I have been informed that the film contains scenes related to prostitution and LGBT themes. Did this film manage to pass censorship before it was sent to the competition? According to the president's decree, the promotion of LGBT in our country is unacceptable. If the film contains elements that could undermine our national values, why showcase the country in such a light? Cinema is a powerful tool for influencing society,” Saginayev noted.
In response, Deputy Minister of Culture, Information, Sports, and Youth Policy Marat Tagaev stated that there is no censorship in Kyrgyzstan. “If we start imposing such restrictions, it could lead to the demise of the film industry. Every director has their own creative perspective. I have seen 'Kurak,' and although it may indeed provoke controversy, such films also have the right to exist in our society as they can stimulate discussions. Creativity should be free. We could review this film together with you,” he suggested.
The deputy agreed with this idea and added that representatives of government bodies should be invited to the film screening in the committee.
