Askhat Kuchinchirekov

Askhat Kuchinchirekov
Асхат Күшіншіреков
Born (1982-04-03) April 3, 1982
Blagoveshchenka, Altai Krai, Soviet Union
Occupations
  • Film director
  • screenwriter
  • actor
Years active2003–present

Askhat Kuchinchirekov (Kazakh: Асхат Күшіншіреков; born 3 April 1982) is a Kazakhstani film director, screenwriter, and actor. He is best known internationally for his leading role in Sergey Dvortsevoy's Tulpan (2008), which won the top prize in the Un Certain Regard section at the 61st Cannes Film Festival.[1] His feature directorial debut, Bauryna Salu (2023), was selected as Kazakhstan's official submission for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards.[2]

Biography and career

Askhat Kuchinchirekov was born on 3 April 1982. He later enrolled at the Kazakh National Academy of Arts named after Temirbek Zhurgenov, where he studied film direction.[3]

Acting career

While still a student at the academy, Kuchinchirekov was cast in the lead role of Tulpan (2008), directed by Sergey Dvortsevoy.[3] The film, in which he plays Asa, a young man recently discharged from the Russian Navy who attempts to build a life as a shepherd on the Kazakh steppe, premiered in the Un Certain Regard section of the 2008 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the top prize.[4] Variety described the film as winning the top prize in Cannes' Un Certain Regard sidebar, noting its organic naturalism and documentary realism.[5] The Hollywood Reporter described the film as "polished, funny and utterly charming."[6]

From 2014 to 2018, Kuchinchirekov worked as an assistant director alongside Dvortsevoy.[7] In 2018, he appeared in Dvortsevoy's follow-up feature Ayka, which competed in the main competition at the 71st Cannes Film Festival and was shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film.[2]

Directing career

In 2013, Kuchinchirekov made his directorial debut with the short film Gas Is Over (Закончился бензин), for which he also served as screenwriter and producer.[3][8] The film won the Best Short Film award in the Asia/Africa category at the Dubai International Film Festival.[9] The short also screened in competition at the Tampere Film Festival.[3]

His feature directorial debut, Bauryna Salu (2023), draws on his own childhood experience of being raised by his grandparents in accordance with the traditional Kazakh custom of the same name, a nomadic practice in which a family's firstborn child is entrusted to grandparents for upbringing.[2][10][11] The film had its world premiere in the New Directors sidebar of the San Sebastián International Film Festival in 2023.[12]

Variety praised the film's approach, writing that it demonstrates a stunning commitment to cinematic realism, and described it as "a rare, naturalistic gem."[13] Afghan director Siddiq Barmak, known for Osama, joined the film as executive producer.[14]

In September 2024, Bauryna Salu was officially selected as Kazakhstan's submission for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards.[2][15][16] The film was also named best film at Kazakhstan's national film awards, the Tulpar Awards.[17][18]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
2008TulpanActor (lead role as Asa)Dir. Sergey Dvortsevoy; Un Certain Regard Prize, 61st Cannes Film Festival[19]
2013Gas Is Over (short)Director, screenwriter, producerWinner, Best Asia/Africa Short, Dubai International Film Festival[20]
2018AykaActor; assistant directorDir. Sergey Dvortsevoy; main competition, 71st Cannes Film Festival[2]
2023Bauryna SaluDirector, screenwriter, producerKazakhstan's submission, 97th Academy Awards[2][13]

Awards and nominations

As director

YearAward / FestivalFilmResult
2013Dubai International Film Festival — Best Asia/Africa Short FilmGas Is OverWon[21]
2023Asia Pacific Screen Awards — Best Youth FilmBauryna SaluWon[22]
2023San Sebastián International Film Festival — New Directors sectionBauryna SaluSelected[2]
2024Tulpar National Film Award — Best FilmBauryna SaluWon[23]
202497th Academy Awards — Best International Feature Film (Kazakhstan submission)Bauryna SaluSubmitted[2]
2024goEast Film Festival — Special Prize (ZDF)Bauryna SaluWon
2024Fajr International Film Festival — Special Jury PrizeBauryna SaluWon
2024Bishkek International Film Festival — Best DirectorBauryna SaluWon
2024Baku International Film Festival — Best FilmBauryna SaluWon
2024Asia World Film Festival — Best CinematographyBauryna SaluWon
2025Ischia International Film Festival — Best FilmBauryna SaluWon

As actor

YearAwardFilmResult
2008Nika Award — Discovery of the YearTulpanNominated[24]
2009Asian Film Awards — Best New PerformerTulpanNominated[25]

References

  1. ↑ "Un Certain Regard: "Tulpan" by Sergey Dvortsevoy". Festival de Cannes. May 22, 2008. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Kroll, Justin (September 23, 2024). "Oscars: Kazakhstan Submits 'Bauryna Salu' To Best International Feature Film Race". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Askhat Kuchinchirekov – Profile". Asia Pacific Screen Awards. October 2, 2023. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
  4. ↑ ""Tulpan" : une jolie fable en Asie centrale" (in French). 2009-03-03. Retrieved 2026-06-17.
  5. ↑ "Film Review: Tulpan". Variety. May 23, 2008. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
  6. ↑ Bennett, Ray (May 26, 2008). "Tulpan – Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
  7. ↑ "Bauryna Salu". Festival del Cinema Africano, d'Asia e America Latina. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
  8. ↑ "Irrfan Khan bags best actor trophy at DIFF". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 2026-06-17.
  9. ↑ "Muhr Award winners celebrate as curtains begin to close on Dubai film festival". The National. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
  10. ↑ Gómez, Rosa María Corona (2025-06-12). "Los estrenos de cine se adelantan un día para seguir la estela del dragón de DreamWorks - EFE". EFE Noticias (in Spanish). Retrieved 2026-06-17.
  11. ↑ EFE (2025-06-12). "'Bauryna salu', un drama kazajo". Diario ABC (in Spanish). Retrieved 2026-06-17.
  12. ↑ "Oscars 2025: Kazakhstan Picks 'Bauryna Salu' for International Feature Race". IMDb News. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
  13. 1 2 Adlakha, Siddhant (December 6, 2024). "'Bauryna Salu' Review: Kazakhstan's Oscar Entry Captures a Child's Abandonment". Variety. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
  14. ↑ "'Osama' Director Siddiq Barmak Boards Kazakhstan's Oscar Entry 'Bauryna Salu'". Variety. December 11, 2024. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
  15. ↑ Davids, Brian (2024-12-03). ""I Wanted This Movie to Be a Reflection of Myself": 'THR Presents' Q&A With 'Bauryna Salu'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2026-06-17.
  16. ↑ Roxborough, Scott (2024-09-23). "Oscars 2025: Kazakhstan Picks 'Bauryna Salu' for International Feature Race". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2026-06-17.
  17. ↑ "Oscars 2025: Kazakhstan Picks 'Bauryna Salu' for International Feature Race". IMDb News. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
  18. ↑ ANSA, Agenzia (2024-04-23). "Torna Festival del Cinema Africano d'Asia e America Latina - Cinema - Ansa.it". Agenzia ANSA (in Italian). Retrieved 2026-06-17.
  19. ↑ "Un Certain Regard: "Tulpan" by Sergey Dvortsevoy". Festival de Cannes. May 22, 2008.
  20. ↑ "Muhr Award winners celebrate as curtains begin to close on Dubai film festival". The National.
  21. ↑ "Muhr Award winners celebrate as curtains begin to close on Dubai film festival". The National. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
  22. ↑ "Winners of the 16th Asia Pacific Screen Awards Announced". Asia Pacific Screen Awards. November 4, 2023. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
  23. ↑ "Oscars 2025: Kazakhstan Picks 'Bauryna Salu' for International Feature Race". IMDb News. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
  24. ↑ "Askhat Kuchinchirekov – IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
  25. ↑ "Askhat Kuchinchirekov – IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
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