Bolotbek Shamshiyev

Bolotbek Shamshiyev was born on January 12, 1941, in Frunze, Kirghiz SSR, USSR (now Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan). Before entering the film industry professionally, he worked as an assistant sound engineer at the Frunze Studio of Feature and Documentary Films, later known as Kyrgyzfilm. In 1959, he enrolled in the directing department of VGIK in Moscow, where he studied under director Aleksandr Zguridi.

While still a student, he made his acting debut in Larisa Shepitko’s film “Heat,” in which he played the lead role of Kemel. Shamshiyev graduated from VGIK in 1964. His diploma project, the documentary film “Manaschi” (1965), was dedicated to the Kyrgyz epic storyteller Sayakbay Karalayev. After graduation, he joined Kyrgyzfilm as a film director and worked there from 1964 until 1990.

During this period, he directed a number of feature and documentary films, including “Shot at the Karash Pass,” “The Red Poppies of Issyk-Kul,” “The White Ship,” “Among People,” “Early Cranes,” “The Wolf Pit,” “Snipers,” and “The Ascent of Mount Fuji.” Several of his films were based on works by Kyrgyz writer Chyngyz Aitmatov.

His 1976 film “The White Ship” was entered into the 26th Berlin International Film Festival. In 1977, he received the USSR State Prize for the film. He was awarded the title of People’s Artist of the Kirghiz SSR in 1975 and People’s Artist of the USSR in 1991. In the 1990s, Shamshiyev was also involved in public and cultural administration in Kyrgyzstan.

He founded the private film company Salam-Alik in Bishkek and later served in several governmental positions, including Chairman of the Organizing Committee for Cultural and Sports Events under the Government of Kyrgyzstan and General Consul of Kyrgyzstan to the United Arab Emirates. Bolotbek Shamshiyev died on December 21, 2019, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.