Until 1917, there was one cinema installation in Pishpek (now Bishkek). From the very first years of Soviet power, cinemas were built in the cities and villages of the republic.
In 1941, the Frunze Studio of Newsreels was established. The studio produced short newsreels such as "Soviet Kyrgyzstan," "In the Valley of Susamyr," and others. In 1956, the Frunze studio of documentary films was transformed into a studio for documentary and feature films.
In 1946, the Frunze studio of newsreels created the first full-length documentary film "Soviet Kyrgyzstan." The film was shot by operators from Moscow, Tashkent, Almaty, and Kyrgyzstan — A. Frolov, A. Rakhmanov, M. Aranychev, S. Avloshenko, F. Mamuralieva.
The first Kyrgyz feature film — the color film "Saltanat" (directed by V. Pronin, script by R. Budantsev) — was released in the republic's cinemas at the end of 1956. The appearance of this film essentially marks the beginning of the history of Kyrgyz national feature filmmaking. For the first time, the modern life of the Kyrgyz people and the fate of the Kyrgyz woman were shown on screen. The role of Saltanat was vividly and passionately played by the talented actress B. Kydykeeva.
Bolot Shamshiev — People's Artist of the Kyrgyz SSR, Honored Artist of Kyrgyzstan, laureate of the Lenin Komsomol Prize of the republic and the State Prize of the USSR — is one of the most interesting and productive directors working in Kyrgyz cinema. His first work, the documentary film "Manas chi," won the Grand Prize at the International Short Film Festival in Oberhausen (Germany, 1966), the second prize at the All-Union Film Festival in Kyiv (1966), and a first-degree diploma at the competition of filmmakers from Central Asia and Kazakhstan in Almaty (1965).
His subsequent works led to great success and were awarded various prizes at all-Union and international film festivals.
Those interested in the art and cinema of Kyrgyzstan know the name of director Gennady Bazarov. He is the author of the film "Mother's Field" — one of the best works of the "Kyrgyzfilm" studio. The film received a special diploma at the film festival of the republics of Central Asia and Kazakhstan in Frunze in 1968. Other films by the director ("Street," "The Eye of the Needle") are also popular among viewers.
Speaking of the creativity of Kyrgyz cinema workers, it is necessary to mention the talented director, People's Artist of the Kyrgyz SSR, laureate of the Lenin Komsomol Prize of Kyrgyzstan and the State Prize of the Kyrgyz SSR named after Toktogul Tolomush Okeev. The films of this director ("The Sky of Our Childhood," "Bow to the Fire," "Fierce," "Red Apple," "Ulan," "Descendant of the White Leopard") are talented, original, and psychologically rich. They have been awarded various prizes both in the country and abroad.
The Kyrgyz have an old and wise proverb: "If you have one horse, you are rich; if you have two horses, you are doubly rich." Indeed, Suymenkul Chokmorov, People's Artist of the Kyrgyz SSR, laureate of the Lenin Komsomol Prize of the republic in the field of art, and laureate of the Toktogul Prize, is doubly rich. In art, he has two "horses" — painting and cinema.
He graduated from the Leningrad Academy of Arts named after Repin and is known for his paintings "Portrait of Sayakbay Karalaev," "My Son," and others. At the same time, he is popular as the performer of the role of Baktygul in the film "Shot at the Karash Pass," Karabalta in "Scarlet Poppies of Issyk-Kul," Akhangul in "Fierce," Daniyar in the film "Jamilya," Commander Maksumov in "The Seventh Bullet," Temir in "Red Apple," and others.
Suymenkul Chokmorov is a part of his people. As a painter, he captured the beauty of his land, the character of his people, and their life on canvas. As an actor, he conveyed this from the screen. His heroes are convincing and carry great human truth.
The first professional film actor, Honored Artist of the Kyrgyz SSR — Bolot Beyshenaliev. From 1965 to 1977, he appeared in more than 30 films from the studios "Mosfilm," named after A.P. Dovzhenko, "Belarusfilm," "Uzbekfilm," "Moldova-film," "Kyrgyzfilm," "Barrandov" (Czechoslovakia), "Ma-film" (Hungary), and others.
The most significant roles of the actor include Azizov ("Bow to the Fire"), Dyushen ("The First Teacher"), Erkin ("The Eye of the Needle"), Kasym ("Mother's Field"), and many others.
Not every film can receive as many awards at various film festivals as the feature film "Heat" from the "Kyrgyzfilm" studio (script by I. Olshansky based on the story by Ch. Aitmatov "The Camel's Eye," directed by L. Shepitko, operators Yu. Sokol, V. Arkhangelsky, artist A. Makarov). The main roles were played by: N. Zhanturin, D. Kuyukova, K. Yusupjanova, B. Shamshiev.
The film "Heat" has been awarded: the highest award, the Grand Prix, at the International Film Festival in Karlovy Vary (1964); the highest award, the Grand Prix, at the International Film Festival in Frankfurt am Main (1965); a diploma for best direction at the Second All-Union Film Festival in Leningrad (1964); a first-degree diploma for best feature film at the film festival of the republics of Central Asia and Kazakhstan in Dushanbe (1963); and a diploma for the creative debut of actors B. Shamshiev and K. Yusupjanova.