Postcard from Bishkek

On 14th April, 1894, … the first ever motion picture house opened in New York … however, it wasn’t exactly what we would recognize as a cinema.

It operated ten Kinetoscopes, a device for “peep-show” viewing of films … inside the carcass was a long strip of perforated film which passed between a light source and the “peephole” viewer, giving the illusion of movement.  The original concept was created by Thomas Edison, following a demonstration  Eadweard Muybridge of his studies of motion … which was developed by one of his employees in the late 1880s. Somewhat unusually, Edison didn’t apply for a patent, which meant that others were free to work on the further development.  

The first cinema, as such, the Berlin Wintergarten Theater – which presented a short movie by the Skladanowsky brothers on 1st November the following year.

No-one is certain when the first film was shown in Kyrgyzstan but the first film to be shown in Central Asia was screened in Tashkent as early as 1897.

The Soviet Union built a number of cinemas in the main cities, and Social Clubs in many of the villages where films were shown … and they also developed the Kyrgyz Nomadic Cinema as a propaganda weapon, to take films to remote communities in the country’s rugged mountain regions by horse.

According to Finnish director, Arto Halonen, whose film “The Star’s Caravan” tells of two modern day projectionists trying to keep the system alive: “In Kyrgyzstan 80% of the films came from the Soviet Union and 20% from the other Eastern European countries.

There are several cinemas and many have undergone renovations to offer a modern experience, with multiscreens, quality sound and some even facilities for showing 3D films. Most of them show films in Russian or Kyrgyz – very rarely in other languages, however there are occasional festivals where “foreign” films can be encountered.

Ala Too

The oldest and probably the most recognized cinema in Bishkek – partly because of the architecture … the curved entrance facade on the corner of Prospects Chui and Ekindik with its pillars and colourful  mosaics – including one featuring a cosmonaut.  The floor inside is also intricately tiled.

2 screens
Bishkek, Prospect Chui, 187
Phone: 661957 , 665143  661957

Bishkek Park

On the fourth floor in the shopping center on Kievskaya, between Prospect Manas and Isanovna, Bishkek Park opened in 2013

3 screens – 2 which can accommodate 145 people and the third has a capacity for 84.
All are equipped with facilities for 3D films.
Phone: 312054

City Cinema

Zhukeeva Pudovkin, 87 A
Phone: 510184, 510184 

Dom Kino

Home to the Cinematographer’s Union, which often hosts seasons of international films. Films are often shown twice – once in their original form and the second time dubbed into Russian. Other events often take place here, such as jazz concerts and poetry readings.

Logvinenko 13 (just south of Bokonbaeva – opposite Yusa)

Frunze Cinema

Ahunbaeva-Baytik Baatyr
Phone: 939845, 939845

Movie Star Cinema

Yunusalieva, 177 / 2, Beta Stores-2, 3rd floor
Phone: 460444, (770) 446464, 460444, (770) 446464

KINOdrom

Autokinoteatr … a Drive in movie – but, to honest, I’ not sure that it works now.

Prospect Manas, Shcherbakov (near to the Republican GAI)
Phone: 358877, 770878, 358877, (555) 770878

Kosmopark Cinema

On the outskirts of town with 5 screens, and another number of other attractions, (Bowling, Games Zone, Rollerdromw), Kosmopark opened in 2011

Karl Marx Street, (at the intersection with Donetskaya)
Phone:  299494, 299494

Kyrgyz Kinos

The only cinema in Bishkek, specializing in showing only films produced domestically – part of a network throughout the country – opened in 2011.

2 screens
Ahunbaeva 92A, (at the intersection with Sovietskaya)
Phone: 474716, 510399
Website: kyrgyzkinosu.kg

Manas Cinema

The Manas Cinema opened its doors in 1966 and at that time was the largest widescreen cinema in the Soviet Union with a hall seating 740 people.  The modern cinema has a capacity for 550 people with a large screen, (as tall as a three storey building – the biggest in Central Asia), as well as two smaller halls.  It has facilities for 3D films and 8 channel sound system.

Prospect Mira 53
Phone: 545826 , 545827, 545826
Website: manascinema.kg

October Cinema

Shows films in Kyrgyz. Recently undergone reconstruction. Equipped with Dolby Digital Surround

2 screens
Prospect Chui 184
Phone: 392091, 392091

Rossiya Cinema

Originally built – as a “present” from the people of Russia to their brothers in Kyrgyzstan (hence the name), as a single auditorium, it has undergone reconstruction and the complex now has four screens, a bowling alley, a cafe and a restaurant and a “games zone”. 

Prospect Chui 213
Phone: 092366 , 660960, 660923
Website: cinema.kg

Vefa Center

Part of the Cefa Center Shopping Complex opened in 2006

2 screens,
Gorkiy Street, 27 / 1, Vefa Center, 3rd Floor (At the intersection of Sovietska and Gorky Streets)
Phone:  596688,  596688

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