– Restart and Moment have triumphed in the Central Asian Competition and KyrgyzBox, respectively, while Italian actor Malich Cissé earned himself a Special Mention for On Edge
Davide Angiuli picking up the Special Mention for On Edge on behalf of actor Malich Cissé
From 7-12 June, the Kyrgyz capital played host to the fourth edition of the Bishkek International Film Festival (BIFF), which continues to position itself as a key meeting point for Central Asian and international cinema. The event presented dozens of world and national premieres, while also bringing together filmmakers, industry professionals and guests from over 30 countries.
The festival’s competitive strands comprised the International, Central Asian and KyrgyzBox sections, while its closing ceremony also unveiled the winners of its industry platforms, Bars in Progress (see the report) and CAF Pitch (see the report), both designed to support new regional projects and strengthen international cooperation.
In the International Competition, Best Film was awarded to On Your Lap by Indonesian actor-filmmaker Reza Rahadian. His feature-length directorial debut centres on a pregnant young woman searching for a better life for herself and her unborn child. She then finds work in a coastal coffee bar where women serve male customers while sitting on their laps.
The Iranian title The Divine Ideal of Killing also emerged as one of the main winners, earning AriobarzaN the Best Director Award, whilst Shabnam Dadkhah received Best Actress for her performance in the film. The Jury Special Prize for Best Screenplay went to Topchugul Shaidullaeva and Aktan Arym Kubat for the Kyrgyz feature Black Red Yellow, while the Jury Special Mention was bestowed upon young Italian actor Malich Cissé for his leading role in Davide Angiuli’s Bif&st-premiered winner On Edge.
In the Central Asian Competition, Restart by Kazakhstan’s Duman Erkinbek clinched Best Film. Kyrgyz helmer Nurzhamal Karamoldoeva was named Best Director for Only Heaven Knows, while the Best Actress Award went jointly to Shukrona Navruzbekova and Shoira Abdulgaezkhonova for Isabelle Kalandar’s Another Birth. Moreover, the Jury Special Prize was awarded to Avtandil Batyrbekov’s The Final Stretch, and the Jury Special Mention went to Aman Azhimatov’s Backstage Madness.
Meanwhile, the KyrgyzBox section, spotlighting local productions, crowned Almaz Zhangaziev’s Moment as Best Film. Ruslan Akun was named Best Director for Paradise 2: A Letter to My Mother, while Ailin Talaibekova won Best Actress for Kyial. In addition, the Jury Special Prize for Best Cinematography went to Kerim Kasymaliev for Jez Kempir.
Finally, the FIPRESCI Prize, awarded by the International Federation of Film Critics, went again to Another Birth. The pic also received the Union of Cinematographers of Kyrgyzstan Prize for Authentic Auteur Cinema.
The festival’s industry strand also handed out several prizes, announced on 11 June. In Bars in Progress, the Work in Progress platform dedicated to films in the final stages of production and post-production, the Main Prize, worth 500,000 KGS (approximately €5,000), went to Kalandar’s next effort, Life Says: Still We Must Live. The Jury Special Mention was awarded to Teacher, directed by Ayana Nurdinova and produced by Aruzhan Dossymkozha.
In CAF Pitch, the Central Asian Film Pitch platform for projects seeking partners and funding, the Grand Winner Award, carrying a 500,000 KGS industrial grant, was presented to The Taste of Shawarma After a Tipsy Night, directed by Amir Amenov and produced by Zarina Kissikova. The award provided by the Red Sea Film Festival Foundation, comprising a 500,000 KGS grant and $2,000, went to Alma, directed by Nargiza Mamatkulova and produced by Tynymgul Eshieva. The Shabyt Astana NG Foundation Award, worth $2,000 (approximately €1,700), was bestowed upon Izat, directed by Ilimbek Maksatbekov and produced by Amina Satarova, while the Jury Special Mention went to Bekki, helmed by Aigul Bakanova and produced by Chyngyz Narynov.
Here is the full list of winners of this year’s festival:
International Competition
Best Film
On Your Lap – Reza Rahadian (Indonesia)
Best Director
AriobarzaN – The Divine Ideal of Killing (Iran)
Best Performance
Shabnam Dadkhah – The Divine Ideal of Killing
Jury Special Prize for Best Screenplay
Topchugul Shaidullaeva, Aktan Arym Kubat – Black Red Yellow (Kyrgyzstan)
Jury Special Mention – Performance
Malich Cissé – On Edge (Italy)
Central Asian Competition
Best Film
Restart – Duman Erkinbek (Kazakhstan)
Best Director
Nurzhamal Karamoldoeva – Only Heaven Knows (Kyrgyzstan)
Best Actress
Shukrona Navruzbekova, Shoira Abdulgaezkhonova – Another Birth (Tajikistan/USA/Qatar)
Jury Special Prize
The Final Stretch – Avtandil Batyrbekov (Kyrgyzstan)
Jury Special Mention
Backstage Madness – Aman Azhimatov (Kyrgyzstan)
KyrgyzBox
Best Film
Moment – Almaz Zhangaziev, Suyum Sulaimanova (Kyrgyzstan)
Best Director
Ruslan Akun – Paradise 2: A Letter to My Mother (Kyrgyzstan)
Best Performance
Ailin Talaibekova – Kyial (Kyrgyzstan)
Jury Special Prize for Best Cinematography
Kerim Kasymaliev – Jez Kempir (Kyrgyzstan)
FIPRESCI Prize
Another Birth – Isabelle Kalandar
Union of Cinematographers of Kyrgyzstan Prize
Another Birth – Isabelle Kalandar
Industry awards
Bars in Progress
Main Prize
Life Says: Still We Must Live – Isabelle Kalandar (Tajikistan/USA)
Producer: Isabelle Kalandar
Jury Special Mention
Teacher – Ayana Nurdinova, Aruzhan Dossymkozha (Kazakhstan)
Producer: Aruzhan Dossymkozha
CAF Pitch
CAF Pitch Grand Winner
The Taste of Shawarma After a Tipsy Night – Amir Amenov, Zarina Kissikova (Kazakhstan)
Producer: Zarina Kissikova
Red Sea Film Festival Foundation Award
Alma – Nargiza Mamatkulova, Tynymgul Eshieva (Kyrgyzstan)
Producer: Tynymgul Eshieva
Shabyt Astana NG Foundation Award
Izat – Ilimbek Maksatbekov, Amina Satarova (Kyrgyzstan)
Producer: Amina Satarova
Jury Special Mention
Bekki – Aigul Bakanova, Chyngyz Narynov (Kyrgyzstan/France)
Producer: Chingiz Narynov
