Ruslan Akun

Ruslan Akun (Kyrgyz: Руслан Акун; born November 30, 1984) is a Kyrgyz director, producer and screenwriter who has worked on films and TV shows. He is best known for Salam, New York (2013), Herding (2014) and Kok boru: Time persistent (2018).

Ruslan Akun
Ruslan Akun at Seoul International Drama Awards
Born	(1984-11-30) November 30, 1984 (age 40) Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Occupation(s)	Director, screenwriter, producer

Early life

Akun grew up in the small town of Naryn bordering China. As a student and TV producer, he covered two revolutions, ethnic clash, and witnessed turbulent changes happening in his newly independent country of Kyrgyzstan.^[1]

Career

After graduating from American University - Central Asia, Akun's advocacy for positive social changes in his country made him direct and produce educational films.^{[citation needed]} He was commissioned by Swiss Red Cross to write and direct health-related educational films for school children and young people in Kyrgyz countryside. Follow-up effectiveness evaluations showed that, for instance, a fictionalized educational film on dental health were successful with number of children brushing their teeth twice a day growing from 37% to 71%.^[2] In addition, Akun created and produced several prime-time political TV shows on Kyrgyz National Public TV.^{[citation needed]}

In 2011, Akun and his friends wrote a script and filmed non-actors. The movie came out about 110 minutes long and was about Bishkek. Friends also negotiated the theatre release of his film Bishkek, I love you!].^[3]

His second independent film Salam, New York became the biggest box office hit in a history of Kyrgyz Republic.^{[citation needed]} The film won Best Film, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Music, Best Editing awards at the Kyrgyz National Cinema Awards. During the theatre release, pirates leaked the film^[4] but were stopped by Akun's company and Intellectual Property Agency Kyrgyz Patent.^[5] It was the first time piracy was persecuted in Kyrgyzstan's history.^{[citation needed]}

Akun's short film Herding was selected to more than 50 film festivals international competition section worldwide including Clermont-Ferrand,^[6] San Paolo,^[7] and Brussels.^[8]

Since 2014, Akun pursuing his master's degree at School of Cinematic Arts, University of Southern California; he holds a bachelor's degree from Mass Communications, American University - Central Asia.^{[citation needed]}

Filmography

• My Girlfriend's Hero (Герой моей девушки), 2015
• Director's Cut, 2015
• Herding, 2014
• Salam, New York (Салам, Нью-Йорк), 2013
• Bishkek, I Love You (Бишкек, я тебя люблю), 2011
• Thank You! (Рахмат), 2010
• No Regrets(Не тужить), 2009
• Am I Really Going to Die Being Such a Beauty? (Я такая красивая, неужели я умру?)
• Time persistent (Время стойких), 2018
• Heaven Is Beneath Mother's Feet (Бейиш - эненин таманында), 2024