Filming for the international feature film «Molla Nasreddin – friend of hard times» took place in Turkmenistan. This large-scale project, implemented under the auspices of TURKSOY, brings together filmmakers from Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan.
One of the most important stops of the project was filming in Turkmenistan. The next stage took place in the picturesque locations of the Ahal velayat – the village of Gavers and the settlement of Bokurdak. The choice of these places was due to their unique natural colour, which perfectly conveys the spirit of adventures of Molla Nasreddin. Scenes were filmed here featuring a caravan conquering the vast expanses of the Garagum desert.
The process took place with the active support of the «Türkmenfilm» Association named after Oguzhan and was completed successfully thanks to the coordinated work of an international team of professionals. People's Artist of Turkmenistan Chary Seyitliyev participated in the Turkmen section, and students from creative fields took part in the crowd scenes. The rich historical architecture and natural beauty of the country give the story of the folk sage a unique depth.
The film, which centres on the character of Nasreddin, reveals the common values and ancient wisdom of the Turkic peoples through the prism of humour. Going beyond the boundaries of ordinary cinema, this film becomes a powerful cultural bridge uniting our countries.
The screenwriter and director is People's Artist of Azerbaijan Vagif Mustafayev. According to the director, Molla Nasreddin is not only humour and satire, but also a symbol of wisdom, irony, and an artistic response to the pain of society, so adapting this character into a film is a great responsibility and a moral duty.
The project was officially supported by TURKSOY and adopted at the 40th meeting of the Permanent council of ministers of culture of the member countries of the organisation within the framework of the 1st Forum of culture of the Turkic World, held in October 2023 in the city of Shusha.
The production is carried out by Nasreddin Production MMC with the support of the Ministries of culture of the TURKSOY member countries. Following the completion of the filming process, which will make a significant contribution to the international promotion of the cultural heritage of the Turkic peoples, the post-production stage will begin. They plan to complete work on the film and present it at international festivals by the summer of this year.
