Director Bekzat Pirmatov’s film Cassandra will represent Kyrgyzstan at the 99th Academy Awards in the International Feature Film category. Filmmaker Asel Sherniyazova announced.

According to her, the film was chosen by Kyrgyzstan’s National Selection Committee. The selection process was conducted in accordance with the committee’s interim regulations and the rules of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Cassandra is a mystical ethno-horror film inspired by Chingiz Aitmatov’s novella Cassandra’s Mark. The film premiered in Kyrgyzstan on May 28, 2026.

 The story is set in a remote village in the early 1980s. A healer who helps women become mothers begins seeing an ominous mark on the foreheads of some pregnant women — a harbinger of future evil.

The lead role was played by Kazakh theater actress Yenlik Aiymgazy. The film marked her screen debut. The role of the healer was played by Kulaim Kanymetova, a People’s Artist of the Kyrgyz Republic. The cast also includes Zhannatbek Kerimbaev, Ainura Kachkynbek kyzy, Sharshekul Amanova and Eldiyar Dzharashev.

Filming took place in Bishkek and in the village of Ak-Terek in Issyk-Kul region. A house was specially built as the main filming location and was dismantled after production wrapped.

Bekzat Pirmatov made his directorial debut with Aurora. The film premiered at the Busan International Film Festival in 2018. In 2019, it was also submitted by Kyrgyzstan for the Academy Awards.