In our selection, there are not only films with a direct New Year theme, but also movies that definitely create “that very” festive mood. From comedies to poetic dramas and fairy tales — stories that make the holiday at least a little more tangible.
Happy New Year! New Year's film-concert. Congratulations from Uzbekfilm (1971)
Not the most obvious option, however, an example of how New Year looked and sounded on screen in the early 70s in Uzbekistan. This is not a traditional New Year’s feature film, but rather a concert film.
On screen — songs by Batyr Zakirov, a performance by ballerina Galiya Izmailova, and the "Andijan Polka" performed by "Yalla." National motifs, familiar melodies, and that very feeling of television that once brought families together on a festive evening.
You can put it on not for the plot, but for the mood—like a New Year's postcard from the past.
Happy New Year, Girls (2022, Kazakhstan), Askar Bisembin
The young bride Zhaniya was preparing for her wedding, but her plans were ruined by her unfaithful fiancé, who ran off to his ex. It seemed that she would have to spend New Year's with a broken heart. As usual, her loyal friends Saya and Dana come to the rescue. They suggest a winter trip to a certain miracle stone, which, according to legend, helps to improve one's personal life.
Papa Against His Will (2020, Kazakhstan), Olzhas Ibraev
In New Year's stories, you rarely expect real freshness, but sometimes it does happen — like in the 2020 film starring Taukel Muslim.The main character is running from the police and accidentally ends up in someone else's apartment — where two children quietly make a wish: let us have a real dad. And suddenly, the stranger becomes a "dad by accident," trying to handle the clever but very restless kids. It's a story about coincidences that turn the most ordinary holiday into a real adventure.
“Kelin-ka is a Person Too-2” (2019, Kazakhstan), Askar Uzabayev
The plot of this duology is the eternal confrontation between the kelin and the eneshe, from which, over time, an entire genre of comedies has grown.
In the first part, the heroines swap bodies and begin to understand each other better. In the sequel, the New Year's miracle happens to Aizhan and her husband Maksat—the daily routine, work, and expecting a child are so exhausting that fate decides to intervene.
A rare success for the genre: a recognizable family story, New Year's magic, a star-studded cast, and even Roza Rymbayeva playing herself. One of the few New Year's films from the region that you can honestly say — they pulled it off.
"Red Apple" (1975, Kyrgyzstan), Tolomush Okeyev
If during the New Year holidays you’re in the mood not for comedies, but for a quiet, beautiful film, this is just the case. “The Red Apple” by Tolomush Okeyev is a poetic drama from the era of the “Kyrgyz miracle,” when young directors of the 60s and 70s were discovering a new cinematic language.Temir secretly falls in love with a girl of extraordinary beauty, meeting her by chance in a crowd of passersby. But his sincere feelings collide with everyday reality. When he tries to give her a symbol of his dream—a red apple—it causes bewilderment and even irritation.
Years pass. The hero becomes a famous artist, but the image of that very girl does not leave his dreams—she is nameless, with an apple in her hands. He tries to reconcile the past with the present, to arrange his life and find harmony between the feelings of youth and adult life.
"Birtuuganchik" (2014, Kyrgyzstan), Daniyar Bolotbekov, Askhat Tabaldiev
The main character Bakyt is about to get married, but finds out that he suddenly has a stepbrother, Aman, because his father is getting married. Awkward and a bit strange, he turns Bakyt's life upside down.
The film is not just funny — it’s about family values, relationships with parents, and the traditions of the toi. The characters, as is typical for the genre, find themselves in all sorts of situations, usually more or less humorous. At the same time, the viewer receives an important message: a real family is more important than any misunderstandings.
The script and direction are handled by members of the KVN team "Asia MIX", while the leading roles are played by well-known KVN participants and Kyrgyz actors.
"Semurg" (1972, Uzbekistan), Khabib Faiziev
During the New Year holidays, it's especially wonderful to turn on fairy tales—stories that restore our faith in goodness and miracles. Exactly what we need at the end of the year.
Simurgh is a magical bird from the mythology of Iran and Central Asian countries, a symbol of happiness, divine glory, and destiny. According to legend, Simurgh has the gift of predicting the future and brings good luck to those who perform good deeds.
In the film, the legend of the Simurgh bird leads the shepherd Bunyad through a series of adventures. He saves the wondrous bird, faces evil together with it, and defends his homeland. And only by overcoming all the trials can the hero find his true happiness, for good always returns, and a person's fate is tied to his actions.
