In 1990 Mongolia’s socialist system ended, a process preceded by the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and followed by the collapse of the USSR one year later in 1991. During this period Mongolia transitioned from a centrally planned, one party state to a free market democracy governed by a semi-presidential and parliamentary system. The process of transition included economic shock therapy. In the film industry this involved downsizing Mongolkino’s operations. Artists, engineers, technicians, and workers at this organization,