Postcard from Bishkek

Ernest Abdyjaparov was born in Bishkek in 1961.

After finishing High School, in 1978, he made several applications to enter the All Union Cinematography Institute in Moscow – ironically, as it turned out, unsuccessfully.  Instead, he launched himself into a varied career which included: a year with the Music School of the Osh Pedagogical Institute; work as an explosives expert in Issyk Kul; a period of study at the Institute for Russian Language and Culture, (where he made his first amateur films) and working as a teacher at the Katyrina and Enilchek High Schools.  The range and richness of his experiences have been reflected – and help to determining the topics of – his later films.

In 1988, by now married, he joined Kyrgyzfilm Studios as a production manager and location manager.  During this period he also worked on a satirical film magazine named “Korogoch”.   Later he became an editor, assistant director and since 1993 as a director.  He also wrote screenplays which attracted attention and he was invited by Aktan Abdikalikova to write the screenplay for “Selkinchek” (also known as “The Swing“). The two also worked together on another short film: “Bus Stop”.

Also in 1993, he had his debut as a Director - a short documentary called “Menin Pirim Almanbek” which was featured in several international film festivals.  His first major success, however, was a feature called “Taranchy” which won over ten awards at international fetivals, including the Grand Prix in the International Film Festival in Greece.  Since then he has directed over 15 short features – many of them based on his own screenplays – and in two he also acted as producer.

His best known film is “Aiyl Okmoto”, (also known as “Saratan“).  It marks his debut as a feature film director, and has also won several prizes, including the Gold Star in the Marakesh Film Festival.  It also features two of his own songs: Saratan and Jol.