The APSA Academy NETPAC Development Prize was awarded to actor turned director Mirlan Abdykalykov for his debut feature film Heavenly Nomadic (Sutak) from Kyrgyzstan. The prize of US$10,000 is supported by Griffith Film School, Griffith University and is awarded to a first or second time feature filmmaker in the Asia Pacific Screen Awards’ Best Feature narrative competition and determined by the APSA NETPAC Jury drawn from the APSA International Nominations Council.

HEAVENLY NOMADIC (SUTAK), 2015, Kyrgyzstan, 78 min., Aitysh-film production

Producer: Sadyk Sher-Niyaz

Co-producer: Altynai Koichumanova

Director: Mirlan Abdykalykov

Synopsis. The poetic sketch about traditions that are slowly disappearing. A family of nomads lives in the high, remote mountains of Kyrgyzstan; elderly herdsman Tabyldy, his wife Karachach, their daughter-in-law Shaiyr and their 7 year old granddaughter Umsunai. Shaiyr’s son studies in the city and visits them only during the summer holidays. Her husband died many years ago when he was drowned in a mountain river, trying to save a foal. Shaiyr decided to stay with the family due to her strong attachment to the wonderful land and its people. The family breeds horses and life goes on as normal amidst the beautiful scenery of the mountain gorge. But another resident of the area appears in Shaiyr’s life, meteorologist Ermek, whose weather station is located near to the family’s home

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