Askhat Kuchinchirekov

Askhat Kuchinchirekov (Kazakh: Асхат Күшіншіреков; born 3 April 1982) is a Kazakhstani film director, screenwriter, and actor. He is best known internationally for his leading role in Sergey Dvortsevoy's Tulpan, which won the top prize in the Un Certain Regard section at the 61st Cannes Film Festival. His feature directorial debut, Bauryna Salu (2023), was selected as Kazakhstan's official submission for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards.

Biography and career

Askhat Kuchinchirekov was born on 3 April 1982. He later enrolled at the Kazakh National Academy of Arts named after Temirbek Zhurgenov, where he studied film direction.

Acting career

While still a student at the academy, Kuchinchirekov was cast in the lead role of Tulpan (2008), directed by Sergey Dvortsevoy. Variety described the film as winning the top prize in Cannes' Un Certain Regard sidebar, noting its organic naturalism and documentary realism. The Hollywood Reporter described the film as "polished, funny and utterly charming."

From 2014 to 2018, Kuchinchirekov worked as an assistant director alongside Dvortsevoy. In 2018, he appeared in Dvortsevoy's follow-up feature Ayka, which competed in the main competition at the 71st Cannes Film Festival and was shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. The film won the Best Short Film award in the Asia/Africa category at the Dubai International Film Festival. The short also screened in competition at the Tampere Film Festival. The film had its world premiere in the New Directors sidebar of the San Sebastián International Film Festival in 2023.

Variety praised the film's approach, writing that it demonstrates a stunning commitment to cinematic realism, and described it as "a rare, naturalistic gem." Afghan director Siddiq Barmak, known for Osama, joined the film as executive producer.

In September 2024, Bauryna Salu was officially selected as Kazakhstan's submission for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards. The film was also named best film at Kazakhstan's national film awards, the Tulpar Awards.

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes 2008 Tulpan Actor (lead role as Asa) Dir. Sergey Dvortsevoy; Un Certain Regard Prize, 61st Cannes Film Festival 2013 Gas Is Over (short) Director, screenwriter, producer Winner, Best Asia/Africa Short, Dubai International Film Festival 2018 Ayka Actor; assistant director Dir. Sergey Dvortsevoy; main competition, 71st Cannes Film Festival 2023 Asia Pacific Screen Awards — Best Youth Film Bauryna Salu 2023 San Sebastián International Film Festival — New Directors section Bauryna Salu Selected 2024 97th Academy Awards — Best International Feature Film (Kazakhstan submission) Bauryna Salu Submitted 2009 Asian Film Awards — Best New Performer Tulpan