Deal at the Border(HKAFF2025)

Haunted by his brother’s kidnapping by human traffickers years ago, director Dastan Zhapar Ryskeldi crafts a harrowing tale of survival that shows that doing the right thing can be a dangerous choice in some corners of the world. Shot on location near the Kyrgyzstan-Kazakhstan border, this gripping thriller follows drug runners Aza and Samat. When the two rescue a young woman who is escaping from human traffickers, Aza becomes attached to her – so much that when she is captured by criminals again, he decides to put his life on the line to save her.

Busan International Film Festival
Jury Prize, Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema
Best Asian Film, Da Nang Asian Film Festival