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The Gift
The film BELEK (The Gift), based on true events, tells the story of a seven-year-old girl named Arno, growing up in a traditional Kyrgyz family in the stunning mountains of Central Asia. In a family with five daughters, her parents are anxiously awaiting the birth of a son, seen as the continuation of the family line and a symbol of familial pride. This expectation creates tension within the family, especially for Arno, who feels she falls short of her father’s hopes.
Arno, a brave and energetic girl, deeply loves her father, a horse breeder who dreams of having a son. In her desire to earn his affection, she begins to believe in an old superstition that the birthmark on her lip is a divine gift capable of making her wishes come true. Growing up with this belief, she feels her words hold real power. Desperate to please her father, Arno decides that if she cannot be a son in the literal sense, she can try to symbolically become the boy her father longed for.
The story unfolds against the backdrop of remote mountain pastures, where Arno and her family spend their summer. Here, surrounded by unspoiled nature, she finds solace and tries to implement her unusual solution—to become the son her father never had. However, her naive attempt does not bring the desired outcome; instead, it deepens the family’s internal conflicts. The family's emotional bond is tested as the pressure of fulfilling traditional gender expectations weighs heavily on everyone.
The film explores complex themes of gender expectations, family traditions, and self-identity. Through Arno’s journey, as she grapples with her fears and unmet hopes, the film reveals a profound internal struggle familiar to those facing societal pressure to conform to traditional roles. Ultimately, the story leads to a realization that each individual must take responsibility for their desires and actions, regardless of external pressures.
Written and Directed by DALMIRA TILEPBERGEN
Director of Photography - AKJOL BEKBOLOTOV
Production Designer - URMAT OSMOEV
Editor - DALMIRA TILEPBERGEN
Music Composer - EUGENE KIM
Production Sound Designer - KALYBEK SHERNIAZOV, MARS TUGELOV
Editing Consultant - AKTAN ARYM KUBAT
Producers DALMIRA TILEPBERGEN SADYK SHER NIYAZ GULMIRA KERIMOVA
СAST
Arno JANNAT KURUCHBEKOVA
Ultu TALAIKAN ABAZOVA
Iman RUSLAN OROZAKUNOV
Grandfather NASREDIN DUBASHEV
Sangam SEZIM NURMANBETOVA
Zita AIPERY JANTAEVA
Trailer:
Dalmira Tilepbergen
Dalmira is a film director, screenwriter and poet and has more than 20 years’ experience of working in film and literature. After completing a post graduate film course in Moscow she made numerous documentaries and short films in Russia and Kyrgyzstan. Her first feature film Under Heaven premiered at the Montreal World Film Festival and has been screened at many International Film Festivals in Canada, USA, Russia, Kazakhstan, Japan, Turkey, India, Sri-Lanka etc. The film has won several awards and prizes. In 2015, at the Montreal World Film Festival, it received a Special Jury mention for best feature film debut and at the Bengaluru International Film Festival, won the Grand-Prix as well as the NETPAC prize. At the New York International Film Festival, the film won the Jury prize, whilst in Yakutsk (Russia) it won the award for Best Actor.
The Gift is her Second feature film. It was screened at the 80th Venice Film Festival as part of the "Venice Production Bridge" program. The film received two Brilliant Prizes for Best Directing and Best Performance at the STARS International Film Festival in Los Angeles, USA. It also earned two awards for Best Performance and the Jury Prize at the Schlingel Film Festival in Germany. Additionally, the film won the Best Film Prize at the Travels International Film Festival in Northern Cyprus and the Grand Prix for Best Film at the Women's Film Festival "I am Tomorrow" in Belgium. The Central Asian Film Award "Snow Leopard" awarded the film "The Gift" with three prizes: BEST COMPOSER, BEST SOUND, BEST DIRECTOR. At the Bishkek International Film Festival 2024 «The Gift» won the main award «Grand Prix The Best Film» and the main actress won award for «Best Acting». At the Silk Road International Film Festival, Dalmira received the Best New Director award. The film is still invited and participated in various film festivals. The film has currently been selected for the main program of the Tour International Film Festival in Rome, Italy and the Tripoli Film Festival in Lebanon. Dalmira's poems and stories have been translated into Chinese, English, Finnish, Azerbaijan, Korean and other languages. In addition, she is a member of NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema), the Director’s Guild of Russia and the Union of Filmmakers in Kyrgyzstan.
She graduated: 1. Kyrgyz National University in Bishkek (Philology faculty); 2. High Courses for Filmmakers and Scriptwriters in Moscow; 3. New York Film Academy (Producing class) in Los Angeles.