10 films made by different groups and communities by using Participatory Video techniques were demonstrated to a wider public in the Cinema House in Bishkek.

The idea of the Festival was supported by different organizations including Association of local initiatives for sustainable development of the environment and communities and “Ak-Terek” - TCF grantee organization. Both organizations took part in the similar trainings organized by UNDP, and supported projects of local communities. The facilitators trained on the PV training organized by Taalim-Forum, worked with different groups in the remote regions of Kyrgyzstan and in the result there were several films made and presented on the Festival. 

The objective of the Festival was not only to demonstrate films made by different groups and communities, but also to provide an opportunity for people – authors of the films to speak about themselves, about the films and to share their experience with the audience.

The Regional Director of TCF Erjen Khamaganova and consultant Jyldyz Doolbekova attended the Festival. Among the guests there were directors of theater and cinema, professional operators, producers, film critics, writers and actors. The hall was full with the viewers. People came from different parts of the country to present and support their films.

The topics covered by PV films included ecological issues; films reflected everyday life of people in villages, showed the young people’s attitude to the modern world, and reflected the world through children’s eyes. 

The First PV Festival demonstrated importance of images, pictures of everyday life, ways of life, images of nature – all that allowed seeing what is going on in communities, different places, problems of people and nature. Many of the authors were inspired by their first experience and expressed their willingness to continue working more in making real and living films in the future. The organizers, participants, and audience – all supported the idea of organizing more PV festivals. Taalim-Forum demonstrated its readiness to support local initiatives by providing support in technical, editorial works and organizing place-based trainings.