Selected work
Kurak (2025)
Kurak is the traditional Kyrgyz art of creating patterns and objects from colourful pieces of fabric. In the same way, several stories of violence against women, based on real events, are closely interwoven against the backdrop of a patriarchal society.
Directed by Erke Dzhumakmatova and the late Emil Atageldiev, Kurak had already received six international awards by February 2026: two in Busan, Best Film in Dhaka and three in Vesoul, including the Grand Prix of the International Jury. Further recognition followed at DEA OPEN AIR and ANONIMUL.
In June 2026, the planned national premiere at the Bishkek International Film Festival was cancelled after the film was denied distribution authorisation. The production team reports that it was notified the day before the premiere, without an official explanation.
Beyond the screen, Kurak has become part of Kyrgyzstan’s cultural conversation and the wider movement against domestic violence — bringing women’s experiences into public view and insisting that their voices be heard.
Select an image to view it full screen.
Images · KurakFilm.com / OYMO Studio
89 min- Directors: Erke Dzhumakmatova, Emil Atageldiev
- Screenplay: Erke Dzhumakmatova
- Languages: Kyrgyz, Russian
- Co-production: Kyrgyzstan / Switzerland / Serbia / France / Luxembourg / Netherlands / Italy
- Swiss production: OYMO Studio GmbH (among others)
- World premiere: 30th Busan International Film Festival (2025)
Festivals and nominations
Festival history and announced screenings, ordered by the start of each event. Cross-checked against festival programmes and the filmmakers’ published history. Updated 13 October 2026.
30th Busan International Film Festival
Busan, South Korea
World premiere · Vision Asia
SourceAwards
- Bangladesh July Memorial Prize
- Vision of Jiseok Award
BOGOCINE · Bogotá International Film Festival
Bogotá, Colombia
Official selection · Latin American premiere
SourceDhaka International Film Festival
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Asian Film Competition
SourceAwards
- Best Film · Asian Film Competition
32nd Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinemas
Vesoul, France
Feature competition · European premiere
SourceAwards
- Grand Prix of the International Jury
- Critics’ Jury Award
- High School Jury Award
Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival
Minneapolis–Saint Paul, USA
Official selection · North American premiere
SourceDEA OPEN AIR International Film Festival
Tirana, Albania
Feature Film Competition
Awards
- Media Award · Feature Film
SourceNominations
- Best Screenplay · Erke Dzhumakmatova
Da Nang Asian Film Festival · DANAFF IV
Da Nang, Vietnam
Asian Cinema Panorama · Vietnamese premiere
SourceANONIMUL International Independent Film Festival
Sfântu Gheorghe, Romania
Main competition · Romanian premiere
SourceAwards
- ANONIMUL Trophy · Audience-voted main prize
KINENOVA International Film Festival
Skopje, North Macedonia
Announced
Main programme · Screening scheduled for 16 October
SourceAsian Film Festival Barcelona
Barcelona, Spain
Announced
Official section · Screening scheduled for 31 October
Source
Official sources and catalogues
Media and press
- National premiereMedia Policy Institute report on the cancelled Bishkek screening (11 June 2026, Russian)
- The Film VerdictEnglish-language festival review (Busan)
- FIPRESCITrends in the Vision Asia Films of the 30th Busan International Film Festival
- zentralplusLuzerner Produzent gewinnt zwei Filmpreise
- Luzerner ZeitungKurak · Kirgistan
- CineuropaErke Dzhumakmatova · Oymo Studio
- KlassikiTelling women’s stories in Central Asia: reporting from Qyzqaras Film Festival
- EastAsiaFICA 2026 – Kurak d’Erke Dzhumakmatova et Emil Atageldiev
Producers, partners and allies
Our Movie venture focuses on auteur cinema. It all begins with an idea: we develop stories worth telling and take responsibility for bringing them to life. From the first line of the script to the final cut, we guide each film through the entire production process — as producers, partners, and allies of the auteur's voice.
But our work doesn't end at the premiere. We support each film's release in German-speaking countries and actively take them to international festivals — helping stories find their audience far beyond the set.
We focus exclusively on socially important themes, which demand courage from both their authors and the producers who take them on.
Contact
For submissions and enquiries: info@alpineascent.ch
