The opening ceremony featured a screening of the film "Mandate" by Swiss director Stefan Ziegler. This work provides a deep analysis of the work of international organizations such as the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross, exploring their accountability in the context of current conflicts.
The "Bir Duyno – 2025" festival became a platform for sharing experiences and best practices in overcoming crises, gathering experts and human rights defenders from various countries, including Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Hungary, and Moldova. Participants included professionals in international law, representatives of NGOs, and journalistic organizations.
The event's program included workshops and thematic labs covering a wide range of issues: from climate security and children's rights to gender equality and combating discrimination. Discussion labs provided opportunities for interaction between civil society, government structures, and international organizations.
One of the key moments was the presentation of an analytical report by Evgeny Shatsky, coordinator of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Central Asia, on the impact of the "Non-Profit Organizations" Law on civil society in Kyrgyzstan.
There were also labs on implementing the UN "Business and Human Rights" Guidelines, organized in collaboration with Forum Asia, and discussions dedicated to labor rights and business responsibility towards vulnerable groups.
From December 13 to 15, film screenings and discussions took place in the "Flutter" cinema of the Technopark, gathering hundreds of viewers, including representatives of government structures, international organizations, students, and women leaders from the regions. This created an inclusive space for open dialogue about citizens' rights.
The competitive program of the festival featured 22 documentary films, including 14 national and 8 foreign films, among which was an Oscar nominee.
The closing ceremony on December 16 awarded the winners. The laureates received diplomas and "Umai Ene" statuettes.
The winners of "Bir Duyno Kyrgyzstan – 2025" included:
Grand Prix — "Our Land, Our Freedom" (Kenya / USA / Portugal / Germany), directors Mina Nandi and Zippy Kimundu.
Best International Film — "Killing the Tiger" (Canada), director Nisha Pahuja, an Oscar nominee.
Best National Film — "The Path" (Chiyir, Kyrgyzstan), director Aibek Bayimbetov.
Special Jury Prize — "Medihah" (USA / Iraq), director Hasan Oswald.
Best Film on Gender Equality — "Kickoff" (Spain / Italy), directors Stefano Obino and Roser Corella.
Best Film on Social and Economic Rights — "But What About Petya?" (Czech Republic), director Martin Trabalika.
Best Film on Environmental Rights — "I Am the River, the River Is Me" (Netherlands / Norway / New Zealand), director Peter Lom.
The films "Are We Home" (Uzbekistan / Kazakhstan) and "Children of the Mountains" (Kyrgyzstan) received awards in the "Breakthrough" nomination, while "Dogs" (Kyrgyzstan) won in the "Ulan Ulan" category.
The closing also summarized the results of six innovative labs covering topics of information security, human rights through art, and youth leadership development.
The "Bir Duyno Kyrgyzstan" festival once again confirmed its significance as an international platform for dialogue and the promotion of human rights in Central Asia.
