‘Kurmanjan Datka Queen of the Mountains’ is a historical epic from Kyrgyzstan, set in the 19th century, which tells the true story of Kurmanjan Datka, a strong- willed and courageous woman who becomes the ruler of her country and saves the nation from total destruction when the Russians invade.

The most expensive film ever made in Kyrgyzstan, and Kyrgyzstan’s submission for the 87th Academy Awards Foreign Language Film, it is filled with passion, intrigue, bloody battle scenes, spectacular landscapes and lavish costumes. The film was shot on digital Red Epic film on location in various parts of the beauti- ful country of Kyrgyzstan and as a very rare occurrence, St. Petersburg Square in front of the Winter Palace in Russia was shut down for filming. Over 10,000 people were involved in the production.