At the 30th edition of the Busan International Film Festival, the movie “Kurak,” presented in Kyrgyz, received the prestigious Bangladesh July Memorial Prize. The award was bestowed upon Erke Dzhumakmatova, one of the co-directors of the film, by Cultural Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki. The film was a collaborative effort with Emil Atageldiev, who sadly passed away the previous year.
In commemoration of the July 2024 mass uprising in Bangladesh, the Ministry of Culture established the Bangladesh July Memorial Prize at the Busan festival for the first time this year. This esteemed award, valued at 100,000 South Korean won, falls under the festival’s Vision program and recognizes artistic works that delve into themes like social justice, freedom of speech, civil liberties, and the fight against inequality.
Expressing his thoughts on social media, Farooki shared, “The inaugural July Memorial Prize, initiated by MOCA to honor the very essence of Bangladesh’s July uprising, was presented to the Kyrgyz film ‘Kurak’ by Erke and Emil. They also secured another award. ‘On Your Lap,’ an Indonesian film by Reza Rahadian, claimed four accolades that evening. Noteworthy awards were also conferred to films from Korea, India, Iran, and Kazakhstan. Congratulations to all the winners and to the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) on its 30th anniversary and fresh start.”
The week-long festival kicked off on September 19 in Busan, South Korea, with the winners being revealed during the closing ceremony.
“Kurak” commences with scenes from the 2020 women’s protest in Bishkek, depicting the dispersal of demonstrators by male assailants and law enforcement. The narrative then follows two young women—Mirim, a clandestine webcam model, and Nargiza, who has recently found love. Their stories intertwine with the women’s rights movement, art exhibitions, and archival performance footage, delivering a poignant portrayal of current realities. True to its title, “Kurak” (which translates to “patchwork” in Kyrgyz) illustrates how diverse female voices unite to shatter barriers of oppression and forge a resounding collective voice.