Mongolian filmmakers protest second year of cuts to state film fund

Mongolian filmmakers and industry representatives have sent joint demands to Prime Minister N. Uchral and Minister of Culture, Sports, Tourism and Youth J. Aldarjavkhlan, protesting cuts to the Film Industry Support Fund for a second year in a row. They set out their position at a press conference on November 9, LiveTV.mn reported.

Two years of cuts

Mongolia passed the Law on Supporting the Film Industry in 2021 to build a legal framework for national film production. According to the filmmakers, the 2026 state budget amendment removed MNT 3.3 billion of the MNT 4 billion allocated to the fund, and the MNT 2 billion included in the draft 2027 budget was also cut. Eguur.mn reported that about MNT 700 million was left in the fund after the 2026 cut, leaving some filmmakers who had been selected for concessional loans without funding and forcing them to postpone their projects. Director Ts. Khuselbaatar also criticized the 2027 budget for allocating MNT 340 billion to 78 projects to build soum cultural centers and sports halls.

International recognition

The filmmakers pointed to the recent success of Mongolian films at major international festivals. They said "Ser Ser Salhi" won an award at the Venice International Film Festival, "Zogsool" won four awards at the 2026 Busan International Film Festival, and films such as "Khanyn Zuraach" and "Tsagaan Khadny Ungu" also screened at international festivals. According to Khuselbaatar, many of these films were made with support from the fund.

Four demands

Citing Articles 12.1 and 12.3 of the film support law, the filmmakers asked the government to:

• explain, with documents, why funding for projects selected in 2026 was delayed and on what decision and legal basis the allocated money was withdrawn;
• announce clearly how and when the funding, contracts and financial obligations for the selected projects will be resolved;
• include at least MNT 2 billion for the fund in the 2027 state budget;
• set up a stable, multi-year funding system that is protected from annual budget cuts and amendments.

They asked for an official response within five working days and for the measures to be made public. The filmmakers stressed that they are "not asking the state for a handout, but demanding that it carry out a state policy guaranteed by law." It is not yet clear whether the government or the ministry has responded.

The issue was also discussed on X, where users shared the reader comments under reports on the press conference.

Sources: LiveTV.mn, Eguur.mn