The XIX International Documentary Film Festival took place in Bishkek, organized by the NGO "Bir Duyno Kyrgyzstan," dedicated to the theme of human rights and titled "Resilience in Times of Crisis."
The festival attracted a large audience, including representatives from government and international organizations, students, and women leaders from various regions of Kyrgyzstan.
During the festival, 22 documentary films were presented, of which 14 were national and 8 were foreign. Among them were films awarded at international competitions, including an Oscar nominee.
The Grand Prix of the festival was awarded to the film "Our Land, Our Freedom," created in Kenya, the USA, Portugal, and Germany. The directors of the film are Mina Nandi and Zippy Kimundu. The film analyzes the struggle of indigenous communities in Kenya to restore their historical land rights, emphasizing the significance of this right for cultural identity and freedom from colonial legacy.
The best international film was "Killing the Tiger" (Canada), directed by Nisha Pahuja. The film tells the story of the courage of an Indian father who fights against patriarchal traditions for justice for his daughter, highlighting the right to protection from violence and resistance to systemic injustice.
The best national film was recognized as "The Path" (Chyir) (Kyrgyzstan), created by Aibek Bayimbetov. This ethnographic documentary is dedicated to the oral tradition of the Kyrgyz epic "Manas" and the role of the storyteller Kulmat from the Talas region in its preservation, including aspects of gender equality in contemporary storytelling art.
The jury's special prize was awarded to the film "Medikha" (USA, Iraq), directed by Hasan Oswald, which presents the personal experiences of a young Yazidi woman returning to normal life after captivity by ISIS and her quest for recovery and justice.
The best film dedicated to gender equality was "Kickoff" (Spain, Italy). Directors Stefano Obino and Roser Corella show how women from the village of Kek-Tash, through playing football, overcome gender stereotypes and find strength in solidarity.
The best film on social, labor, and economic rights: "What About Petya?" (Martin Trabalička, Czech Republic). The film explores the life of a father who faces challenges caring for his two children, one of whom suffers from autism, after the death of his wife.
The best film on environmental rights: "I Am a River, a River Is Me" (Peter Lom, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand), which tells the story of a Māori river guardian of the Whanganui River and his connection to nature. The film explores the rights of nature and the importance of environmental protection.
In the "Breakthrough" nomination, the films "Are We Home?" (Sh. Mirakova and D. Gusmanova, Uzbekistan/Kazakhstan) and "Children of the Mountains" (G. Abdykamilova, Kyrgyzstan) were noted, while in the "Ulan Ulan" nomination, the film "Dogs" (A. Toktogulova and K. Zhanishov, Kyrgyzstan) won, telling the story of a woman who dedicated her life to helping stray dogs.
It is important to note that experts from the International Federation for Human Rights were unable to enter Kyrgyzstan to participate in the festival; they were deported without explanation. In 2026, the "Bir Duyno Kyrgyzstan" team will continue its efforts in the fight for justice.
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