The Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan has announced the death of renowned film director Ardak Amirkulov, as reported by infohub.kz.
The ministry expressed condolences to the master's family and friends, noting that he devoted his entire life to the development of national cinema and made an invaluable contribution to this field. "As a talented director, qualified teacher, and mentor, he contributed to the formation of several generations of filmmakers," the official statement reads.
The ministry emphasized that Amirkulov's films such as "The Fall of Otrar," "Abai," and "Farewell, Gulsary!" have entered the golden fund of Kazakh cinema. "His works are distinguished by a deep understanding of the country's history, the spiritual values of the people, and the fate of man, and are highly valued by audiences and professionals. The bright image of Ardak Zhamansaryuly, his exemplary life, and significant contribution to the development of Kazakh culture and cinema will forever remain in the people's memory," the press service added.
According to the portal Vokrug.tv, Ardak Amirkulov was born on December 10, 1955, in the small village of Ak-Kul in Kazakhstan. After school, he entered a pedagogical university, but ultimately did not become a teacher. Instead, he began working at the Kazakhfilm studio while studying by correspondence at the directing department of the All-Union State Institute of Cinematography. In 1992, Amirkulov took the post of director of Kazakhfilm.
In addition, the director taught at the Almaty Theater and Art Institute, and in 1996 he was awarded the title of professor. In 2008, he made the film "Farewell, Gulsary!" based on the novella of the same name by Chingiz Aitmatov.