The announcement of the launch of the Interstate Television Film Competition of the CIS Member States, “Flight of the Steed: Strength and Grace,” has generated wide interest among the media and film communities. According to the organizers, representatives from several Commonwealth countries have already made contact and confirmed their participation in the creative showcase.
As previously reported, television and screen films of various formats are eligible for the competition, including documentaries, documentary-journalistic films, and feature reports. The running time of each entry must be between 15 and 30 minutes, including credits, and the production year must not be earlier than 2024.
The jury will include representatives of the television and film industries from each participating CIS country, as well as professionals in equestrian sports and experts from cultural organizations.
The competition, announced in a year held under the motto “Independent Neutral Turkmenistan – the Homeland of Purposeful Winged Horses,” is unique of its kind. Over the years, numerous feature and documentary films have been made about the “heavenly horses,” which were included in UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity under the nomination “The Art of Ahal-Teke Horse Breeding and Traditions of Horses’ Decoration.”
Among recent works dedicated to the theme is the film “At – Myrat,” produced by the Oguzkhan-named “Turkmenfilm” Association. The film tells the story of twelve-year-old Merdan, who, under the guidance of his grandfather, a seyis, learns the fundamentals of horse breeding and, through interaction with the “paradise” horses, discovers the values of nobility, selflessness, and courage.
The creative imagination of the young hero allows viewers to travel back to the era of Oguzkhan and see riders of the past, while documentary footage within the film vividly demonstrates modern achievements in preserving the breed and developing Turkmen equestrian sport at the global level.
Foreign film studios have also shown interest in the legendary Ahal-Teke horses. The American company Amazing Pictures produced a documentary dedicated to the history and current state of the renowned breed. During its visit to Turkmenistan, the film crew took part in conferences and meetings of the International Ahal-Teke Horse Breeding Association. The French studio Peignoir Prod, specializing in equestrian-themed productions for major European television channels, also sent a delegation to Turkmenistan.
In 2023, representatives of the RT Documentary channel prepared an impressive film titled “Ahal-Teke Horses: Heavenly Creatures,” gathering unique material through interviews with Turkmen riders.
Since January 1, 2026, Turkmenistan has assumed the chairmanship of the CIS. One of its priorities in this role will be strengthening cultural, historical, and sporting ties among the peoples of the Commonwealth. Cooperation in the field of horse breeding holds an honored place within these efforts. In this context, the competition “Flight of the Steed: Strength and Grace,” announced by Turkmenistan, becomes not merely a creative contest but also an important platform for cultural exchange.
The competition aims to unite filmmakers from the Commonwealth countries around the theme of living heritage, allowing them to capture through the camera lens the nobility of the Ahal-Teke breed and centuries-old traditions.
