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. 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.
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.
Acting career
While still a student at the academy, Kuchinchirekov was cast in the lead role of Tulpan (2008), directed by Sergey Dvortsevoy. 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. Variety described the film as winning the top prize in Cannes' Un Certain Regard sidebar, noting its organic naturalism and documentary realism. The Hollywood Reporter described the film as "polished, funny and utterly charming."
From 2014 to 2018, Kuchinchirekov worked as an assistant director alongside Dvortsevoy. 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.
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. The film won the Best Short Film award in the Asia/Africa category at the Dubai International Film Festival. The short also screened in competition at the Tampere Film Festival.
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. The film had its world premiere in the New Directors sidebar of the San Sebastián International Film Festival in 2023.
Variety praised the film's approach, writing that it demonstrates a stunning commitment to cinematic realism, and described it as "a rare, naturalistic gem." Afghan director Siddiq Barmak, known for Osama, joined the film as executive producer.
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. The film was also named best film at Kazakhstan's national film awards, the Tulpar Awards.
Filmography
Year Title Role Notes 2008 Tulpan Actor (lead role as Asa) Dir. Sergey Dvortsevoy; Un Certain Regard Prize, 61st Cannes Film Festival 2013 Gas Is Over (short) Director, screenwriter, producer Winner, Best Asia/Africa Short, Dubai International Film Festival 2018 Ayka Actor; assistant director Dir. Sergey Dvortsevoy; main competition, 71st Cannes Film Festival 2023 Bauryna Salu Director, screenwriter, producer Kazakhstan's submission, 97th Academy Awards
Awards and nominations
As director
Year Award / Festival Film Result 2013 Dubai International Film Festival — Best Asia/Africa Short Film Gas Is Over 2023 Asia Pacific Screen Awards — Best Youth Film Bauryna Salu 2023 San Sebastián International Film Festival — New Directors section Bauryna Salu Selected 2024 Tulpar National Film Award — Best Film Bauryna Salu 2024 97th Academy Awards — Best International Feature Film (Kazakhstan submission) Bauryna Salu Submitted 2024 goEast Film Festival — Special Prize (ZDF) Bauryna Salu 2024 Fajr International Film Festival — Special Jury Prize Bauryna Salu 2024 Bishkek International Film Festival — Best Director Bauryna Salu 2024 Baku International Film Festival — Best Film Bauryna Salu 2024 Asia World Film Festival — Best Cinematography Bauryna Salu 2025 Ischia International Film Festival — Best Film Bauryna Salu
As actor
Year Award Film Result 2008 Nika Award — Discovery of the Year Tulpan 2009 Asian Film Awards — Best New Performer Tulpan
References
External links
Askhat Kuchinchirekov at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards