Kyrgyz Film Wins UNESCO Cultural Diversity Award at APSA Awards

Kyrgyz director Aktan Arym Kubat has scored a major international win: his film Kara Kyzyl Sary has been awarded the UNESCO Cultural Diversity Award at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA), announced producer Altynai Koichumanova.

The awards ceremony is set for November 28 in Gold Coast, Australia, as part of the 18th APSA Awards, which celebrate the achievements of filmmakers from over 70 countries, representing roughly half of the world’s film industry, The Caspian Post reports via Kyrgyz media.

Often called the “Asian Oscars”, APSA is known for its prestigious Film Academy, including over 1,380 top directors and filmmakers, with members who have won Cannes, Berlin, Golden Globe, and Oscar awards.

The UNESCO Cultural Diversity Award honors films that preserve cultural traditions and tackle humanistic and socially significant themes. This is not Kubat’s first APSA accolade: his film Esimde won the Grand Jury Prize in 2022.

Kara Kyzyl Sary is adapted from a short story by Topchugul Shaidullaeva and was filmed in the Batken region. The story follows Turdugul, a carpet weaver whose craft reflects the lives and personalities of her community. The film touches on love, moral choices, migration, and life in border regions, highlighting both the artistry and everyday struggles of Kyrgyz life.