Dzhamal Seidakhmatova

The Russian Descendant of the Snow Leopard is based on a famous Kirghizian folktale. Apparently the Kirghizian folks had plenty of time to tell this story: to print a full synopsis would result in a novelette. Essentially, the story involves a proud group of highland hunters called the Snow Leopards, who in order to survive a brutal winter must request help from the Lowland people. The price for this assistance is the hand of the Snow Leopard's daughter, who is promised in marriage to a wealthy Lowland trader. During the Springtime wedding celebration, the trader becomes fascinated by a stranger who wins all the athletic contests. This "male" contestant turns out to be a woman, who has arrived to seek freedom for her imprisoned husband. The subsequent romance between the trader and the beautiful stranger results in disaster and bloodshed for both the Snow Leopards and the Lowlanders.

About the Kirghiz aristocracy's attempt to battle the influx of Russian merchants in pre-Revolution days.

A love story of young Altynay and young Asake. Having graduated from the college, Altynay returns to his native collective farm in the Tyan-Shan highlands. Lovers are going to get married. Ashirbay, Asake’s father, is planning a wedding as soon as his son heads the collective farm. But unexpectedly, Altynay is elected as chairman. The girl, contrary to the ancient customs of the highlands, vigorously takes up business. She does a lot of good deeds within a short period of time. Everyone began to respect the young chairman. Only Ashirbay harbors a grudge. And once, when in a blizzard he overtook a flock of sheep, he decided to lead the sheep to the abyss. Asake, accompanying his father, saves the collective farm flocks of sheep, and he perishes...

Under Heaven, written and directed by Dalmira Tilepbergen, is a modern day re-working of the biblical tale of Cain and Abel, set in a remote mountain village in Central Asia. Two brothers, rebellious Kerim and conscientious Aman, live with their mother and work at the family stonemason business. Their father has been forced to work away in Russia in order to pay off Kerim's debts, incurred as a result of his eldest son's drug dealing activities. The brothers both fall for a local village girl, Saltanat, which ultimately leads to a bitter dispute and unforeseen and tragic consequences...