

Seven minutes that'll make you want to quit your job and herd sheep in Kyrgyzstan.
We get to meet Aslanbek—a teenage shepherd in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan. “Aslanbek” is a story exploring the dynamics of relationship between humans and animals, what we can learn from the mountains, and about dreams. In short, it's a story about our forgotten values.
Cinematography
Mountains so beautiful they hurt your feelings.
Direction
Seven minutes, zero waste, maximum impact.
Director
Kevin van den Heuvel
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Kyrgyzstan's nomadic culture has survived Soviet collectivization and modern borders, but young shepherds like Aslanbek are increasingly rare as urban migration accelerates.
Director Kevin van den Heuvel shot this during a broader Central Asia project, capturing Aslanbek in his final years before the shepherd left for city work.