XIII Forum of the young cinema Umut-2026: Winners of the National competition

Winners of the National competition:

Best film:

♦ «Balyk»/«Балык» by Tolomush Janybekov, Kyrgyzstan-France, 2025, 12'52

Synopsis:

Bek is 17 years old and lives with his uncle in a dorm in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. His lonely daily life is marked by school and his job at the market, where he watches his uncle flirt with a local shop assistant every day. But after yet another humiliation during a school trip, he returns home overcome with emotions he can no longer control.

Best director:

♦ «Obonchu»/«Обончу» by Daniyar Abirov, Kyrgyzstan, 2025, 22'22

Synopsis.

Young Aynazik was once an unwanted child and was raised by her grandfather, whom she calls her father. She doesn't know how to read music, but she has a gift for composing. A wealthy local man helps her pursue a career as a composer, but she must eventually uncover the truth about her parents — the ones who gave her up.

Special jury prize:

 ♦ «Тоолор мени кучактагыла» / «Dogdurbek Kydyraliev» by Gulzhan Iresh, Kyrgyzstan, 2025, 45’, doc., Kyrgyz with Russian subtitles.

Film of the Opening: 04.03.2016 at 2 pm, Ala-Too cinema, Bishkek

This is documentary about famous Kyrgyz actor & artist Dogdurbek Kydyraliev.

Dogdurbek Kydyraliev as Kojojash - the star of the Tolomush Okeyev's "The Descendant of the Snow Leopard". This film won the Silver Bear prize at the Berlinale-1985. His second famous film was “The Fall of Otrar”, 1991, Kazakhstan directed by Ardak Amirkulov. He played in many Kazakh films.

Last several years Kyrgyz directors invited him for starring.

Special jury prize:

♦ «Гүлбара»/«Gulbara» by Aiperi Ryspekova, Kyrgyzstan, 2025, 19'32, doc.

Award "Umut"

 ♦ «Байдылданын сөзү» | «Baydylda’s Words» by Nurkanat Kubatov, Kyrgyzstan, 2026, 10'19, doc., Kyrgyz with Russian subtitles

Sinopsis. The film was shot on the outskirts of Bishkek, where there is a past and a present. Kurbatov Nurkanat's film tells the story of a man who has experienced conflict with his father, the horrors of war and family differences. The hero lives alone in his barn and longs for the old days, occasionally remembering his deceased friends. The plot focuses on his memories, which he has no right to forget, because all he has is the memory of the past.