Sadyk Sher-Niyaz

Sadyk Sher-Niyaz is a director, producer, and public figure from the Kyrgyz Republic, most well known for his work on the film Kurmanjan Datka: Queen of the Mountains^[1]

Sadyk-Sher Niyaz

Biography

Sadyk Sher-Niyaz was born on March 10, 1969, in the village of Chon-Kapka, Talas region, Kyrgyzstan. An ethnic Kyrgyz, Sher-Niyaz is married, the father of three children.^[2] At the age of 38 he left Kyrgyzstan to attend High Courses for Scriptwriters and Film Directors in Moscow.^[3] His first feature film Kurmanjan Datka Queen of the Mountains was the Kyrgyz Submission to the 87th Academy Awards Best Foreign Language Film Category.^[4]

Sher-Niyaz is the founder of several organizations including, Aitysh Public Fund.^[5] "Kalemger" Literary Club,^[6] and Film Production Company Aitysh Film,^[7] In 2011 he started International Film Festival Kyrgyzstan-Land of Short Films^[8] In 2012 he became one of the founders of the Ak Ilbirs Awards^[9][10][11] Later in 2011 Sher-Niyaz became the Chairman of the Union of Cinematographers of Kyrgyzstan, and was again re-elected to the position January 2015.^[12]

In late 2014, Sher-Niyaz founded the Asian World Film Festival in Los Angeles, California. According to The Wrap Sher-Niyaz created the Festival to help other Asian filmmakers in their Oscar campaigns.

″I created the Asian World Film Festival to fill a void that I noticed was missing in America. There is a wealth of underrated filmmakers from our region that deserve recognition and this festival was designed to champion and promote them,″ Festival Chairman and creator Sadyk Sher-Niyaz said.^[13]

Education

• 2007-2009. - High Courses for Scriptwriters and Film Directors in Moskow (workshop Vladimir Khotinenko, Pavel Finn, Vladimir Fenchenko )^[14]
• 1994-2000 - Kyrgyz National University (KNU), Department of Law
• 1983-1987 - Frunze Engineering College, Technician^[15]

Political activity

• 2014 Sher Niyaz was nominated to the post of Minister of Culture^[16]
• 2010 - Minister of Culture and Information of the Kyrgyz Republic^[17]
• 2005 - Member of the State Commission for the stabilization of the political situation in the Kyrgyz Republic
• 2004-2007 – Elected to the Parliament Deputy Ombudsman (Akyikatchy)^[6]

Filmography^[18]

Film	Year
Pars (Son"s Duty)	2007	Producer and Writer
The Salt	2011	Producer
Kurmanjan Datka: Queen of the Mountains	2014	Director and Writer[19]

References

1. "Sadyk Sher-Niyaz, Queen of the Mountains". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
2. "Sadyk Sher-Niyaz". Who Is Who. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
3. "Female Warrior Stars in Kyrgyz Blockbuster Epic". Retrieved 27 February 2015.
4. Aguilar, Carlos. "Changing History: Sadyk Sher-Niyaz on ‘Kurmanjan Datka: Queen of the Mountains". IndieWire.
5. Finn, Peter. "In Central Asia, a Revival of an Ancient Form of Rap". The Washington Post. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
6. "People of Kyrgyzstan Personal History, Sadyk Sher-Niyaz". AKIpress. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
7. "Production of Movie about Kurmanjan Datka Queen of the Mountains in Kyrgyzstan". Retrieved 27 February 2015.
8. "Kyrgyzstan to Host International Short Film Festival of CIS, Baltic States, and Georgia". Retrieved 27 February 2015.
9. "National Cinema". Retrieved 27 February 2015.
10. "Opening Ceremony of Ak Ilbirs". Retrieved 27 February 2015.
11. "First Time Film Awards for Kyrgyzstan". Retrieved 27 February 2015.
12. "Sadyk Sher-Niyaz". Knews.kg. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
13. "TheWrap Partners With Asian World Film Festival for Inaugural Year". The Wrap. TheWrap. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
14. "Sadyk Sher Niyaz". AKIpress.
15. "Sadyk Sher-Niyaz". Retrieved 27 February 2015.
16. "5 Nominated for Minister of Culture". Retrieved 27 February 2015.
17. http://www.kyrgyz-embassy.ru/press/press.php_page_name=news&board_file=view&u_no=15&l_no=29&pagenum=3.html
18. February 2015 "Sadyk Sher-Niyaz" Check |url= value (help).
19. "Kyrgyzstan Latest Former Soviet Republic to Make Epic Historical Movie". Hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved 27 February 2015.