Ak Ilbirs, National Film Awards in the Kyrgyz Republic, was established to recognize the best achievements in the cinema in the country and to stimulate the artistic growth of national cinema in all areas of filmmaking.[1]
Film Award winners in each category are awarded statuettes of a snow leopard (ak Ilibris) a symbol of agility, luck and creative flight, sculpted by Sadyrbek Makeev.
The first film award ceremony of "Ak Ilbirs" was held on 27 October 2012.
"Ak Ilbirs Awards" is held annually and takes place in the Kyrgyz Republic, awarding each year's winners in different categories.
The main purpose of Ak Ilbirs Awards is to improve the quality of cinema, produced by national film production, as well as to provide an incentive for further development by selecting the best works in each category, approved by authority committee.
The Manager is accountable to the Directorate of the Founders of the National Film Awards and is responsible for conducting the National Film Ceremony.
Art director is accountable to the founders of the National Film Awards and is responsible for the selection of films nominated for the National Film Award.
Accountant reports to the Manager and is responsible for the financial activities of the National Film Awards ceremony.
The Administrator reports to the Manager and is responsible for conducting the ceremony of the National Film Awards.
The Manager has the right, according to estimates, to hire, as necessary, a technical and creative professionals for the award period of the ceremony.
Organization of the Ak Ilbirs Awards Ceremony are financed by personal contributions of the founder and partner support of individuals and entities, public and private initiatives, as well as International organization.
For the purposes of accounting and control of financial contributions and the optimal allocation of funds, the Organization Ceremony Founders established the General Executive Directorate of National Film Awards Ceremony.
The budget of the ceremony is set and approved by the founders of the National Film Awards on the basis of their confirmation on the schedule of the ceremony.
The Scythian snow leopard, made of gold and bronze in the first half of the 5th century. BC, was the inspiration for the statuette. It is made of bronze and black marble monolith, weighing 2.0 kg. The name of the National Film Award is carved on it in ancient Kyrgyz alphabet.
Any film of any genre, produced in the previous year, can be nominated for Ak Ilbirs National Film Awards.
Anyone has right to apply for the Ak Ilbirs National Film Awards with films of any genre, produced in the previous year.
Management of the ceremony registers each claimed film and organizes a screening for the members of the Kyrgyz Republic National Film Academy for rating.
After viewing a film, Members of the Academy record their assessments according to a 10-point system on the Nominations column form (Best Picture, Best Cinematography, etc.) and sign. Upon request Members of the Academy can apply to sign their forms individually on a separate sheet. The Administration shall satisfy such a request only for valid reasons. Members of the Academy are deprived of the right to participate in the films' ratings if they are the director of the nominated movie . Members of the Academy have the right to submit three names in the "Outstanding Contribution to National Cinema" category. Evaluation forms are put into a sealed ballot box.
The Ballot box containing the evaluation forms is opened on the day of delivery in the presence of the Founders of the National Film Awards and 2-3 representatives of the National Academy Awards. The calculated results are recorded, sealed in envelopes and announced only at the Awards Ceremony.
Along with the National Film Awards Ak Ilbirs, a special award "Outstanding Contribution to National Cinema" and "Outstanding Contribution to World Cinema" was established.
In order to promote Kyrgyz cinema, the founders of Ak Ilbirs National Prize announced a national "Perspective"[2] competition for the best articles in the media about the Kyrgyz cinema.
Any article about Kyrgyz cinematography, film, or portraits of filmmakers published in the national media can participate in a competition.
The prize fund of 200 thousand soms was established by the General Partner of the "Perspective" contest, Aitysh Public Fund, and is distributed as follows:
"Grand Prix" – 75,000 Soms.
"The Best Analytical Article on Kyrgyz Cinema" – 55,000 Soms
"The Best Analysis of the Kyrgyz Film" – 35,000 Soms
Organization of Jury – 35,000 Soms
The contenders may send electronic versions of their articles with the title "Perspective" - Ak Ilbirs and a link to the published article. If it is printed, then provide the edition, where this article was published.
Articles published from 1 January to 30 April can participate in the competition.
The Award Ceremony of "Perspective" competition is held the day before Ak Ilbirs National Film Award Ceremony, in the first half of the May.
The Jury and assessment criteria are determined by the founders of the "Ak Ilbirs" National Film Awards
"Perspective"contestants cannot be members of the Jury.
Nomadic - 6 awards in 2012 (Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Sound, Best Editing)
The Princess Nasik - 6 awards in 2013 (Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Artist, Best Actress)
Salaam New York - 7 awards in 2014 (Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Editing, Best Artist, Best Composer, Audience Award)[3]
Kurmanjan Datka - 10 awards in 2015 (Best Film, Best Screenplay, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Composer, Best Sound, Audience Award)
Heavenly Nomadic - 10 awards in 2016 (Best Film, Best Screenplay, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Artist, Best Editing, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Composer, Best Sound)
A Father's Will - 7 awards in 2017 (Best Film, Best Screenplay, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Artist, Best Editing, Best Actor)
The Audience Award is given to the producer of the highest box office film. This Award was given to the Producer of the film Salam, New York, Nurbek Aybashov.
Prize "Outstanding Contribution to the Kyrgyz Cinema" was awarded to Film Director Bolot Shamshiev
Best Documentary: Teacher, River and Gold, dir. Amanbek Ajymat
Best Short Fiction Film: Topurak dir. Cholponay Borubaeva
The Audience Award is given to the producer of the highest box office film. This Award was given to the Producer of the film Kurmanjan Datka, Zhyldyzkan Zholdosheva.
Best Picture of Central Asia: The Hosts, dir. Adilhan Erjanov (Kazakhstan)
Prize "Outstanding Contribution to the Kyrgyz Cinema" was awarded to Artist Sagynbek Ishenov
Prize "Outstanding Contribution to the World Cinema" was awarded to Film Director Ali Hamraev