As a dedicated cinephile with a soft spot for films that resonate deeply with their cultural context, I am thoroughly excited about the prospect of watching Askhat Kuchinchirekov’s Bauryna Salu on the international stage. Having been captivated by his stellar performances in Tulpan and Ayka, I can’t help but feel a sense of anticipation for this talented director’s feature-length debut.
Many countries are eagerly submitting their films for the “Best International Feature” category at the 97th Oscars, with the November 14 deadline fast approaching. The most recent entry comes from Kazakhstan, who have chosen Askhat Kuchinchirekov’s coming-of-age story “Bauryna Salu” as their national contender.
Last year, this film had its debut at the San Sebastian Film Festival and was a notable winner at Kazakhstan’s national film awards, the Tulpars, receiving the award for best film. This is Kuchinchirekov’s first directorial venture in feature-length films. Cinephiles around the world may recall him from his acting roles in Sergei Dvortsevoy’s “Tulpan”, which won the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes in 2008, and “Ayka” in 2018, which made it to the Oscar shortlist for Best International Feature but did not get nominated.
The film, “Bauryna Salu,” centers around a young boy in rural Kazakhstan who, following a traditional nomadic practice, is raised by his grandmother instead of his birth parents. When his grandmother passes away at the age of 12, he moves in with his parents for the first time and faces difficulties reconnecting with them. The director, Kuchinchirekov, based this story on his personal experiences growing up under the Bauryna Salu tradition, and Wide Management is taking care of international sales for the movie.
Kazakhstan was once nominated in the category of Best International Feature Film, specifically for Sergei Bodrov’s “Mongol” in 2007, but it hasn’t taken home the prize yet.
The shortlist for the best international feature contenders will be announced on Dec. 17. Nominations will be announced on Jan. 17, 2025. The 2025 Academy Awards will be held on Sunday, March 2.
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2024-09-23 16:54