TCMA Students and Alumni Succeed at the UmutDoc Film Festival
September 21, 2026
From September 10 to 14, Bishkek hosted the 2nd UmutDoc International Documentary Film Festival. Projects and films created by students and alumni of AUCA's Television, Cinema and Media Arts (TCMA) Department earned high praise from industry experts and secured prestigious awards.
Our Award Winners and Achievements
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Alina Baitokova (TCMA '24)
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UmutDoc Industry Pitching: Her project Stitch by stitch (Saptan Sapka, produced by Adilet Karzhoev) won:
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100,000 KGS in production support from the Department of Cinematography of the Kyrgyz Republic;
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A one-on-one consultation with the French sales agency Stranger Films Sales;
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A recommendation for tuition-free mentorship sessions with the NIPKOW PROGRAMM;
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A $10,000 scholarship to the New York Film Academy (NYFA Kazakhstan).
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Short Film Competition: Her diploma documentary Long Distance (Uzak Zhol) received a Special Jury Mention, along with a special diploma from Qarash Lab "For the Sincerity of the Author鈥檚 Voice."
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Dongyun Kim (Yun) (TCMA '26)
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His coursework film Behind the Scenes was awarded a special prize by film critics from the SYNCHY media platform.
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Aigerim Iusupova (TCMA senior student)
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Her short coursework film I Wish Dad Were Here received an honorary diploma from the Union of Cinematographers of Kyrgyzstan.
Congratulations to our young filmmakers on this well-deserved recognition from the expert community! We wish Alina, Yun, and Aigerim inspiring new projects, continued victories, and major international premieres!
