"Only Heaven Knows": World premiere at the 61st Chicago International Film Festival!

"Only Heaven Knows" is debut feature film made by Nurzhamal Karamoldoeva from Kyrgyzstan.

Dates of the 61st Chicago IFF: 15-26.10.2025

"Only Heaven Knows" / "Dünüyö"

DIRECTED By Nurzhamal Karamoldoeva

COUNTRIESЖ Kyrgyzstan, U.S.    

RUN TIME 80 minutes

PRODUCER: Aziza Khalbekova

SCREENWRITERS: Jeff Man, Güljan Toktogul

EDITOR: Ulukmyrza Ravshanbekov

CINEMATOGRAPHER: Mitchell Arens

PRINCIPAL CAST: Malika Kanatova, Dauren Tashkenbaev, Elmira Mirza

MUSIC: Ulan Moldousupov

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Nurzhamal Karamoldoeva

PRODUCTION COMPANY: Paradigma N

SYNOPSIS

Set in Chicago’s Kyrgyz community, this tense drama follows a Kyrgyz family thrown into turmoil as they try to find their footing in the U.S. Eric, the prodigal son, is a working truck driver trying to save enough money to buy a house for his wife Mira and his mother. This plan is complicated, though, when his mounting gambling debts begin to catch up with him. Suddenly left to her own devices, Mira is forced to navigate a maze of immigration appointments, interpersonal strife, and suspicion.

Documentary-turned-fiction filmmaker Nurzhamal Karamoloeva crafts an urgent and compelling story about a community on edge. Fresh and vital, Only Heaven Knows portrays a people struggling to assimilate, as they endure the perils of pursuing the American Dream—an ideal that can quickly turn combustible.