Cinematographer. Honored Worker of Culture of the Kyrgyz SSR (1969). Born on March 11, 1925, in the city of Kokand, Fergana region of the Uzbek SSR in a working-class family. After finishing seven grades of secondary school, he volunteered to go to the front in 1942. He served as a machine gunner in the 2nd Guards Army of the 3rd Belarusian Front. After being wounded and treated in a hospital, A. Kochetkov was invited to a front-line film group by director Alexander Ivanovich Medvedkin. He completed a short-term course for training film machine gunners.
From 1944 to 1945, he was a front-line cinematographer in the 5th Army of the 3rd Belarusian Front, conducting chronicle filming of the combat actions of the Red Army units. Since 1946, A. Kochetkov began his long-term work at the "Kyrgyzfilm" studio. As the oldest film chronicler of Kyrgyzstan, he shot hundreds of stories for the newsreel "Soviet Kyrgyzstan," of which 360 were accepted for the union screen and used by the Central Documentary Film Studio for their periodic releases ("News of the Day," "Pioneer," "Soviet Sport").
Notable films distinguished by their photographic and plastic solutions include "October Walks on Earth" (1957, Central Documentary Film Studio), "In the Valleys of Kyrgyzstan" (1958), "Melody of the Komuz" (1960), "Birth of a Song" (1961), "This is My Land" (1963), "Osh, Oshane, Sunday" (1966), "Erkin-Too" (1966).
In the late 60s and early 70s, A. Kochetkov successfully took on the role of director for lyrical and visual films such as "Nature of Kyrgyzstan" (1967), "Golden Fleece" (1969), "Monument to the Fighters of the Revolution" (1979).
As the oldest cinematographer, he dedicated considerable effort to the training of young staff at the studio. Several well-known masters received his selfless help and support at the beginning of their creative paths.
Awards — Certificate of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Kyrgyz SSR (1966). Medals "For Courage," "For Military Merit," "For the Capture of Königsberg," "For Victory over Germany," "For Victory over Japan."
Member of the Union of Cinematographers of the USSR since 1962.
WORKS ON THE CREATIVE ACTIVITY OF THE OPERATOR
Belokon G. The Time of His Students.— "Evening Frunze," August 11, 1977.
