For media
Checked short biographies, a portrait, details of the mandate and media reports about Kairat Birimkulov.
Kairat Birimkulov is a journalist, film producer and member of the Kriens City Parliament (SP). Born in Frunze (today Bishkek), he worked as a television journalist and editor-in-chief in Kyrgyzstan from 1994. He has lived in Switzerland since 2007. He produced the feature film “Kurak” (Busan 2025) and presides over two associations in Central Switzerland.
Kairat Birimkulov is a journalist, film producer and, since 5 November 2026, a member of the Kriens City Parliament (SP), where he sits on the Committee for Building, Transport and Environment. From 1994 to 2007 he worked in Kyrgyzstan as a television journalist, commentator and editor-in-chief, and founded the Bishkek municipal information centre. After threats and an attempt on his life he left the country in 2007. In Switzerland he writes for the press, contributes to television projects and is a member of Reporters Without Borders. In 2021 he founded Kairat Birimkulov Production; he produced “Snowstorm” (2021) and is a producer of the feature film “Kurak”, which had its world premiere at the Busan International Film Festival in 2025. He presides over Verein zusammen and the Bridge to Kyrgyzstan association.
Kairat Birimkulov is a journalist, film producer and civic advocate. Since 5 November 2026 he has been a member of the Kriens City Parliament (SP), sitting on the Committee for Building, Transport and Environment for the rest of the 2024–2028 term. The city’s official records spell his name Kairatbek Birimkulov. He was born in Frunze, today’s Bishkek. From 1994 to 2007 he worked in Kyrgyzstan as a television journalist, commentator and editor-in-chief, and founded the Bishkek municipal information centre. His work focused on social issues and corruption. After threats and an attempt on his life he left the country in 2007 and started anew in Switzerland. Here he writes for the press, contributes to television projects and is a member of Reporters Without Borders. In 2016 he was one of five refugees who shaped an edition of the SRF programme “Kulturplatz”. In 2021 he founded Kairat Birimkulov Production and has since been dedicated to independent auteur cinema from Central Asia, with a focus on human rights. His first film as a producer, “Snowstorm”, premiered at Stattkino Lucerne on 4 June 2021; its post-production was funded by more than 40 supporters. As a producer he has accompanied the feature film “Kurak”, about women’s lives in today’s Kyrgyzstan. The film had its world premiere at the 30th Busan International Film Festival in 2025 and has won awards in Busan, Vesoul and Dhaka, among others. As Swiss co-producer he is involved in the Kazakh feature film “PAY THE BILL”, now in post-production. In Central Switzerland he presides over Verein zusammen, which integrates migrants through cultural dialogue and participation, and the Bridge to Kyrgyzstan association, which supports children’s homes and hospitals in Kyrgyzstan and organised the Kyrgyz Days in Kriens in 2014. As initiator and project lead he is developing the Lucerne Asian Film Festival, a festival of contemporary Asian cinema in Lucerne organised by Verein Mountain Dragon; a pilot edition is planned for 2028. He speaks German, Russian, Kyrgyz and English.
Official source: Stadt Kriens, 05.11.2026 (opens in a new window)
Reports
Articles stay in the language they were published in. Interviews and appearances are listed under Journalism. Journalism →
Get involved
A concern from Kriens, an invitation to a talk, a media request or a film project — write to me.
AI assistant · Alpine Ascent
Connecting…
0:00
Answers are generated by AI and may be inaccurate. Please do not share personal data. Privacy