Shambala: There was National premiere today 

«Shambala», drama, 93 min., DCP, color, 2020, Kyrgyzstan

Production: National Film-Studio “Kyrgyzfilm” named after T.Okeyev with the participation of the Film-Studio "Aytysh-film"

Based on the motives of Chingiz Aitmatov’s story “The White Ship”

Director and Scriptwriter: Artykpay Suyundukov

Directors of photography: Akjol Bekbolotov and Murat Aliev

Production Designer: Tolgobek Koichumanov

                           Composer: Murzali Jeenbaev

                           Sound: Bakut Niyazaliev, Kalybek Sherniyazov

                           Producers: Aybek Djangaziev, Meder Suyundukov ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ),

                                           Eldiyar Madakim

                           Cast: Artur Amanaliev (Shambala), Nasret Dubashev (granddad Momun),

                                   Talant Apyev (Orozkul), Djamilia Sydykbaeva (Karyz), Taalaikan Abazova (Bekey) 

  Festivals & awards:

●World premiere 23^rd Shanghai IFF, 25.07 – 02.08.2020

●Best music: Murzali Jeenbaev and Special Diploma jury for the best performance of the role Shambala gone to Artur Amanaliev at the 29^th Kinoshock OFF, Anapa, Russia, 17-23.10.2020

●Best male role: Nasret Dubashev (granddad Momun), 2^nd Moscow Premiere IFF, 12-17.11.2020

●Best direction: Artykpay Suyundukov, 26^th Kolkata IFF, 8-15.01.2021

●«Nika» award in nomination «The best film of CIS and Baltic countries» of the national film award in Russia presented by the Russian Academy of Cinema Arts and Science, Moscow, 25.04.2021

Synopsis. The film Shambala based on the story White Ship written by Chingiz Aitmatov.

On a forest cordon, lost high in the mountains, an old man with an old woman and an old man's daughter with a husband live with a patriarchal way of life. It is a peculiar model of society - four adults and the fifth is the seven year old grandson of an old man, named Shambala. "Sham" by Kyrgyz means "candle", and "bala" means "a boy", "child". That is, literally "boy candle" or "a boy emitting glow". Shambala firmly believes into the ancient fairy tale - the myth about Mother Deer, who saved the last baby of their kinship from its enemies and fed it with her milk. Despite the fact thet over time people have killed Deer, the boy believes and looking forward that someday deer will still return to their edges.

Review here

Trailer here

Artykpay Suyundukov

Artykpay Suyundukov, well-known director, scriptwriter, actor, in 1978 he graduated from the  VGIK, Moscow. He had made three feature films and about 15 documentaries during Soviet period. Since 2000 to present time he teaches film-directing in the Kyrgyz-Turkish University “Manas”.

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