Stories of Bishdoclab Stories of Bishdoclab
Success Stories of Bishkek Documentary Laboratory (BishDocLab) 2025 Participants
Film Achievements of Tynymgul Eshieva, Alina Baitokova, and Nazgul Omurjanova
Film Achievements of Tynymgul Eshieva, Alina Baitokova, and Nazgul Omurjanova
In 2025, director Nazgul Omurzhanova joined BishDocLab with the idea for her documentary film Suubashy(Waterkeeper). Just one year later, the project is in active production and steadily gaining momentum on the international stage.
During this time, with the support of our laboratory, Nazgul took part in the DomDok documentary residency in Almaty and later presented the project at Banff Pitch in Canada, where she was awarded a grant of CAD 10,000.
The project’s success did not stop there. The film also received financial support from the Bashat Foundation, which made it possible to carry out a full development and pre-production period and create a strong teaser that meets international standards for documentary filmmaking and pitching. Throughout this journey, the BishDocLab mentoring team supported the project, helping to refine and strengthen its international dossier: the logline, synopsis, treatment, director’s vision, and visual concept.
In June 2026, Nazgul presented Suubashy at the international EurasiaDoc pitch, where the project attracted significant interest from European producers and representatives of film funds and festivals.
Today, the project already has an international team in place: Adilet Karzhoev serves as the local producer, while Ava Karvonen (Canada) is the executive producer.
We are proud that BishDocLab is becoming a platform where ideas grow into strong international projects.
And this is only the beginning of Suubashy’s journey.
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Another inspiring BishDocLab story is Saptan Sapka, a documentary project by director Alina Baitokova.
Like Suubashy, the film is currently in active production and has significantly strengthened its international position over the past year.
In March 2026, Alina presented the project at East Doc Platform, one of Europe’s leading industry platforms for documentary film.
It was there that international partners joined the project, resulting in the formation of a strong producing team: local producer Adilet Karzhoev, together with Marianna Kaat (Estonia) and Christian Pop (France).
Participation in East Doc Platform marked an important milestone for the project. In addition to gaining new international partners, Saptan Sapka received a Sheffield DocFest Special Award – an invitation to take part in one of the world’s major documentary forums and pitching events.
The project also received financial support from the Central Asian Studies Institute and ArtDocFest, which will allow the team to continue filming and further develop the film.
Throughout the project’s development, BishDocLab supported the film team, helping to refine its international dossier, strengthen the project’s dramaturgy, and prepare materials for international pitches and film funds.
We are delighted to see projects that originated at BishDocLab becoming part of the international documentary community, finding partners abroad, and confidently continuing their journey toward screens around the world.
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In 2025, director Tynymgul Eshieva joined BishDocLab with the idea for the documentary film Voices of Glaciers.
At the laboratory, the project was given space to develop, work with mentors, and shape its story and future strategy more precisely.
Today, the project continues to develop actively. In 2026, Voices of the Glaciers was selected for the Producing Lab of the international Docs by the Sea program in Indonesia, where Tynymgul will continue working on the film’s production strategy and searching for international partners.
Before that, she also took part in Moonlighter Film Camp: Field Skills in Canada – an international program for women filmmakers working in documentary film and shooting in natural environments.
The program helped her gain new practical skills for working in the mountains and build professional connections with women directors and cinematographers from different countries. Another important milestone was the financial support the film received from the Embassy of France in Kyrgyzstan.
The BishDocLab team is proud of Tynymgul’s achievements and of how a project that began as an idea is gradually becoming a fully developed film, reaching international platforms, and finding new partners.
During this time, with the support of our laboratory, Nazgul took part in the DomDok documentary residency in Almaty and later presented the project at Banff Pitch in Canada, where she was awarded a grant of CAD 10,000.
The project’s success did not stop there. The film also received financial support from the Bashat Foundation, which made it possible to carry out a full development and pre-production period and create a strong teaser that meets international standards for documentary filmmaking and pitching. Throughout this journey, the BishDocLab mentoring team supported the project, helping to refine and strengthen its international dossier: the logline, synopsis, treatment, director’s vision, and visual concept.
In June 2026, Nazgul presented Suubashy at the international EurasiaDoc pitch, where the project attracted significant interest from European producers and representatives of film funds and festivals.
Today, the project already has an international team in place: Adilet Karzhoev serves as the local producer, while Ava Karvonen (Canada) is the executive producer.
We are proud that BishDocLab is becoming a platform where ideas grow into strong international projects.
And this is only the beginning of Suubashy’s journey.
*************
Another inspiring BishDocLab story is Saptan Sapka, a documentary project by director Alina Baitokova.
Like Suubashy, the film is currently in active production and has significantly strengthened its international position over the past year.
In March 2026, Alina presented the project at East Doc Platform, one of Europe’s leading industry platforms for documentary film.
It was there that international partners joined the project, resulting in the formation of a strong producing team: local producer Adilet Karzhoev, together with Marianna Kaat (Estonia) and Christian Pop (France).
Participation in East Doc Platform marked an important milestone for the project. In addition to gaining new international partners, Saptan Sapka received a Sheffield DocFest Special Award – an invitation to take part in one of the world’s major documentary forums and pitching events.
The project also received financial support from the Central Asian Studies Institute and ArtDocFest, which will allow the team to continue filming and further develop the film.
Throughout the project’s development, BishDocLab supported the film team, helping to refine its international dossier, strengthen the project’s dramaturgy, and prepare materials for international pitches and film funds.
We are delighted to see projects that originated at BishDocLab becoming part of the international documentary community, finding partners abroad, and confidently continuing their journey toward screens around the world.
*************
In 2025, director Tynymgul Eshieva joined BishDocLab with the idea for the documentary film Voices of Glaciers.
At the laboratory, the project was given space to develop, work with mentors, and shape its story and future strategy more precisely.
Today, the project continues to develop actively. In 2026, Voices of the Glaciers was selected for the Producing Lab of the international Docs by the Sea program in Indonesia, where Tynymgul will continue working on the film’s production strategy and searching for international partners.
Before that, she also took part in Moonlighter Film Camp: Field Skills in Canada – an international program for women filmmakers working in documentary film and shooting in natural environments.
The program helped her gain new practical skills for working in the mountains and build professional connections with women directors and cinematographers from different countries. Another important milestone was the financial support the film received from the Embassy of France in Kyrgyzstan.
The BishDocLab team is proud of Tynymgul’s achievements and of how a project that began as an idea is gradually becoming a fully developed film, reaching international platforms, and finding new partners.
Applications are now open for Bishkek Documentary Lab (BishDocLab)!
BishDocLab is a unique opportunity for Kyrgyzstani filmmakers to develop their first or second feature-length documentary under the guidance of renowned masters of the genre.
This free six-month program includes an offline intensive workshop, one-on-one mentorship, lectures by international experts, and pitch sessions.
Important information:
🔹 Open to filmmakers from Kyrgyzstan aged 18+ with prior filmmaking experience
🔹 Only feature-length creative documentaries are eligible
🔹 Selection criteria: originality of the idea, authorial vision, and strong visual style.
Download the project application template, fill out the form, and join the documentary filmmaking community!
❗Application deadline — July 27, 2026, 23:00 (Bishkek time).
This year, the project is supported by the Department of Cinematography under the Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy of the Kyrgyz Republic.
This free six-month program includes an offline intensive workshop, one-on-one mentorship, lectures by international experts, and pitch sessions.
Important information:
🔹 Open to filmmakers from Kyrgyzstan aged 18+ with prior filmmaking experience
🔹 Only feature-length creative documentaries are eligible
🔹 Selection criteria: originality of the idea, authorial vision, and strong visual style.
Download the project application template, fill out the form, and join the documentary filmmaking community!
❗Application deadline — July 27, 2026, 23:00 (Bishkek time).
This year, the project is supported by the Department of Cinematography under the Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy of the Kyrgyz Republic.
Intensive Production Camp for Young Documentary Filmmakers Concludes in Kyrgyzstan
A six-day production camp for emerging documentary directors and producers took place at the ololoAkJol coworking resort.
The program became a key event of the Bishkek Documentary Lab, implemented with the financial support of Kyrgyzfilm National Film Studio as part of the implementation of clauses 2 and 3 of the Decree of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic on the Development of the National Film Industry No.159 dated May 20, 2022.
This year’s intensive brought together nine emerging documentary filmmakers, selected through a competitive process. The jury consisted of the program’s mentors, representatives of Kyrgyzfilm, and the laboratory team. Under the guidance of experienced international mentors, participants developed their projects, preparing them for entry into the international market. The program’s goal is to provide both theoretical and practical skills necessary for creating competitive films.
International mentors of the program:
Bishkek Documentary Lab helps emerging authors fill knowledge gaps, learn international standards, and establish connections with film industry professionals. Going forward, participants will continue working within a six-month mentorship program. They will have monthly online consultations and guidance up to the stage of preparing a film package and a finished teaser.
“We are witnessing the rise of a new generation of documentary filmmakers in Kyrgyzstan, ready to speak to the world in a shared language. This intensive is not only about filming and editing—it’s about confidence, networking, and the opportunity to make your voice heard on the international stage,” noted Adilet Karzhoev, Head of Bishkek Documentary Lab.
The project is implemented with the financial support of the National Film Studio Kyrgyzfilm and in partnership with the American University of Central Asia (AUCA).
Contact us:
Adilet Karzhoev, Head of the Lab
📞 +996 551 500 111
✉️ bishdoclab@gmail.com
IG: https://www.instagram.com/bishdoclab/
https://www.instagram.com/adilet_karzhoev/
The program became a key event of the Bishkek Documentary Lab, implemented with the financial support of Kyrgyzfilm National Film Studio as part of the implementation of clauses 2 and 3 of the Decree of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic on the Development of the National Film Industry No.159 dated May 20, 2022.
This year’s intensive brought together nine emerging documentary filmmakers, selected through a competitive process. The jury consisted of the program’s mentors, representatives of Kyrgyzfilm, and the laboratory team. Under the guidance of experienced international mentors, participants developed their projects, preparing them for entry into the international market. The program’s goal is to provide both theoretical and practical skills necessary for creating competitive films.
International mentors of the program:
- Marianna Kaat (Estonia) — An award-winning director and producer with more than 20 years of experience, founder of Baltic Film Production, Associate Professor at Tallinn University, and curator of the Doc@PÖFF program at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. Her films include Life of Ivanna, Close Relations, and Pit No 8, all winners at major international festivals. Recipient of the Charles E. Guggenheim Emerging Artist Award and the European Trailblazer title (MIPDOC Cannes). She actively mentors, teaches, and serves on juries at leading industry events.
- Katerina Suvorova (Kazakhstan) — A filmmaker known for vibrant, socially significant documentaries exploring environmental and cultural transformations in Central Asia. Her film Sea Tomorrow, about the fate of the Aral Sea, was released on Netflix Europe; Face The Music had a national theatrical release; and her Qoryqpa: Streets Loud With Echoes premiered at Hot Docs in 2024. Founder of the atelier Tihiy Svet, co-founder of QAZDOC, and author of the channel DOCUSTAN.
- Askold Kurov — Documentary director and producer, instructor at the online film school Un/Filmed, and member of the American Television Academy. He has led projects that screened at prestigious international festivals such as the Berlinale and Sundance. His expertise covers all aspects of documentary filmmaking—from research and pre-production to post-production and distribution.
Bishkek Documentary Lab helps emerging authors fill knowledge gaps, learn international standards, and establish connections with film industry professionals. Going forward, participants will continue working within a six-month mentorship program. They will have monthly online consultations and guidance up to the stage of preparing a film package and a finished teaser.
“We are witnessing the rise of a new generation of documentary filmmakers in Kyrgyzstan, ready to speak to the world in a shared language. This intensive is not only about filming and editing—it’s about confidence, networking, and the opportunity to make your voice heard on the international stage,” noted Adilet Karzhoev, Head of Bishkek Documentary Lab.
The project is implemented with the financial support of the National Film Studio Kyrgyzfilm and in partnership with the American University of Central Asia (AUCA).
Contact us:
Adilet Karzhoev, Head of the Lab
📞 +996 551 500 111
✉️ bishdoclab@gmail.com
IG: https://www.instagram.com/bishdoclab/
https://www.instagram.com/adilet_karzhoev/
Applications are now open for Bishkek Documentary Lab (BishDocLab)
BishDocLab is a unique opportunity for Kyrgyzstani filmmakers to develop their first or second feature-length documentary under the guidance of renowned masters of the genre.
This free six-month program includes an intensive workshop at Issyk-Kul, one-on-one mentorship, lectures by international experts and a final presentation in Bishkek.
Important information:
Important information:
🔹 Open to filmmakers from Kyrgyzstan aged 18+ with prior filmmaking experience
🔹 Only feature-length creative documentaries are eligible
🔹 Selection criteria: originality of the idea, authorial vision, and strong visual style
Download the project application template, fill out the form and join the documentary filmmaking community!
❗Application deadline - July 10, 2025
Organizers: BishDocLab, Kyrgyzfilm National Film Studio, AUCA
This free six-month program includes an intensive workshop at Issyk-Kul, one-on-one mentorship, lectures by international experts and a final presentation in Bishkek.
Important information:
Important information:
🔹 Open to filmmakers from Kyrgyzstan aged 18+ with prior filmmaking experience
🔹 Only feature-length creative documentaries are eligible
🔹 Selection criteria: originality of the idea, authorial vision, and strong visual style
Download the project application template, fill out the form and join the documentary filmmaking community!
❗Application deadline - July 10, 2025
Organizers: BishDocLab, Kyrgyzfilm National Film Studio, AUCA
