Kyrgyzstan's Film Claims International Acclaim at Asia’s Top Film Festival

The Kyrgyz film Kurak has achieved significant international acclaim by winning two prestigious awards at the 30th Busan International Film Festival.

A strong delegation of Kyrgyz filmmakers participated in the milestone anniversary edition of Asia’s leading film festival, The Caspian Post informs via Kyrgyz media.

Kurak, co-directed by Erke Zhumakmatova and Emil Atageldiev, was honored with both the Bangladesh July Memorial Award and the Kim Jiseok Award in the Asian Perspective competition-a notable moment for Kyrgyz cinema on the global stage.

Kyrgyz participation extended beyond competition entries. Director Samara Sagynbaeva showcased her documentary Warning Call in the Wide Angle program, underlining the increasing international presence of Kyrgyz storytelling in documentary cinema.

Meanwhile, emerging filmmaker Tomiris Orozoeva was accepted into the renowned Busan Asian Film School with her project In the Desert of Time. In parallel, Dastan Japar Ryskel presented his project Baby, Like a Baby at the Asian Project Market, a prominent platform for connecting filmmakers with potential co-producers and investors.

The Bishkek International Film Festival, an official partner of the Asian Vision competition, also contributed to Kyrgyzstan’s representation at the festival. It was represented by the Indonesian film Sitting in Embrace, which festival curator Ulan Adamaliev praised for its emotional storytelling and portrayal of maternal courage.

The Busan International Film Festival remains a crucial hub for cinematic exchange in Asia and beyond. This year’s strong showing by Kyrgyz creatives not only highlighted the depth and diversity of the country’s film industry but also reinforced its growing influence on the international stage.