Mahabat

A young woman’s dream of independence spirals into a dark world of betrayal and exploitation, testing her resilience in the face of unimaginable hardship. Through the unexpected kindness of strangers, she discovers a glimmer of hope and the strength to reclaim her life. This gripping tale of survival and redemption will leave you questioning the power of compassion to transform even the most broken paths.

Mahabat is a 2023 Kyrgyz film created by friends Maksat Sadyrbekov (Director) and Urmat Almazov (Producer) with the assistance & support of another friend Nick Hall (Executive Producer) under Central Asian-focused Kairos Media Trust.

Wallace got involved at the very end of this significant project when it was discovered that 90+% of the film was completed, but the existing team had run into a few problems that ended up feeling insurmountable. Wallace offered to help solve these problems so that their efforts would lead to a finished film, and he did this by locating and paying for some special effects artists out of Uzbekistan that helped fix the remaining issues.

Officially released in 2023, the film was aired on a regional satellite channel but had limited release otherwise. In 2025, Wallace has worked to ensure that this 1hr 18 minute film gets seen by more people.

To be absolutely clear, this is Maksat’s film. It’s Urmat’s and Nick’s film. They made it. I was happy to help them get it over the finish line.  -JMWallace

The original Kyrgyz language film has English subtitles and will hopefully be selected for worldwide viewings via film festivals.

Film Festival TRAILER with ENGLISH TEXT