The end of the Second World War resulted in the beginning of international recognition for the MPR. In October 1945 a national referendum unanimously affirmed the independence of the country. But it also coincided with a period of difficulty in Mongolia’s film making history. After finishing work on Tsogt Taij, Yu. Tarich returned home to the USSR. At the same time, the writer and director T.Natsagdorj and director of translated films B.Gombo were removed from their positions at Mongolkino on politically motivated grounds. The period of the late 1940s was marked by political difficulties for the film industry, an acute absence of film directors, and changes to conditions of employment. As a result Mongolkino did not make a feature film for another nine years, until 1954. Instead it made a number of historically significant documentaries. Some focused on the military. Others documented the rapid post-war development of Ulaanbaatar, giving a real-time insight into the building of a new National University of Mongolia, railway network, and industrial and power complexes. In 1946 a 10-part series, Independent Mongolia, was made to commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the People’s Revolution.

The post-war years also saw the emergence of new directors and producers, the development of new training programs and film making techniques, and the exploration of new film genres. In 1948 D.Ganjuur graduated from BHKUDS (VGIK) as a cinematographer, whilst Ts. Zandraa became one of the first professional film makers. His career was inextricably linked to the historical development of Mongolian documentary film, which expanded after the 1940s to include a number of classic productions. Among his output were People’s Republic of Mongolia (1951), Beijing-Ulaanbaatar (1959), Ulaanbaatar (1959), Rainbow of the Ancient Land (1968), and Guard of the Motherland. Other programs made as part of Ts. Zandraa’s later output included Secrets of Dirty Hands (1962), Repentance (1965), Mongolian Motherland (1971) and 40 Years of Famous Victory (1979). In 1963 he also made the animation Two Friends.

This period also witnessed the development of interest in international films. Between 1948 and 1952 directors B.Gombo, M.Bold, M.Luvsanjamts and sound operators U.Choijilsuren, L.Naidan and Ch.Turmunkh pioneered the translation of films made elsewhere in the world into Mongolian. These included Village Teacher, Novel about a Real Man, and the two-episode Fall of Berlin. This allowed international films to be shown to Mongolian audiences in their native language. From 1963 a 10-member translation actor class was established to translate foreign films into Mongolian.