Famous Kyrgyz director and producer Ruslan Akun shared his thoughts on the current state of national cinema, the difficulties faced by directors, and how Kyrgyz films can enter the international arena.
“Currently, we are observing positive dynamics. Last year we reached an important milestone, and now 56% of gross revenues come from local cinema. This is a significant achievement for us,” he noted.
Akun emphasized that new horizons are opening up for the film industry in the modern world, and it is important to seize these opportunities. “This is a fortunate time: the whole world is open to us, and all possibilities are available. We cannot complain; we just need to find ways. Everything is possible if we put in the effort,” he added.
“With a population of about seven million people, Kyrgyzstan has seven million unique stories. Everyone has their own interesting story if presented correctly,” he emphasized.
Regarding entry into the international market, he noted that a film should remain local while also being understandable to foreign audiences.“If we continue in the same spirit, develop and improve, we have a chance to become at least like Indonesia, if not Korea. This is quite realistic,” the director stated, reflecting on the future.
In response to a question about his role in the development of cinema, Akun succinctly remarked: “I want to make what I like.”
Bermet Jumabekova
