Beshkempir

Beshkempir the Adopted Son
Directed byAktan Abdykalykov
Written byAktan Abdykalykov
Avtandil Adikulov
Marat Sarulu
Produced byIrizbaj Alybayev
Marc Baschet
Frédérique Dumas
Cédomir Kolar
StarringMirlan Abdykalykov (Beshkempir)
Adir Abilkassimov
Mirlan Cinkozoev
Bakit Dzhylkychiev
Albina Imasheva (Aynura)
CinematographyKhassan Kydyraliev
Edited byTilek Mambetova
Music byNurlan Nishanov
Distributed byKyrgyzfilm
Noé Production
Release date
  • 1998 (1998)
Running time
81 minutes
CountryKyrgyzstan
LanguageKyrgyz

Beshkempir (released as Beshkempir the Adopted Son in Anglophone countries, Le fils adoptif: Beshkempir in Francophone countries) is a 1998 Kyrgyzstani film. Shot and produced in Kyrgyzstan, it is representative of the first wave of independently produced cinema in the country after its independence from Soviet Union. It was directed by Aktan Abdykalykov, and stars the director's son Mirlan Abdykalykov in the lead role. This simple bildungsroman went on to receive critical acclaim, and won numerous international awards including the Silver Leopard Prize at the 1998 Locarno International Film Festival. The film was selected as the Kyrgyzstani entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 71st Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee.