Kazakh Cinema at International Film Festivals

Alshanov R.A.
Rector of Turan University,
Doctor of Economics, Professor

In recent years, Kazakhstan’s film industry has been steadily growing despite developmental challenges. Currently, 98 film companies operate in the country, mainly in Almaty, Astana, and Shymkent. Training for film professionals is provided primarily by the T. Zhurgenov Kazakh National Academy of Arts, Turan University, and the Kazakh National University of Arts (Astana).

In 2024, 514 films were produced in Kazakhstan compared to 387 in 2023, with one-fourth of them being feature-length. The audience for national films reached 8.2 million people. As of December 30, 2024, the total gross revenue of domestically produced films amounted to 22.5 billion KZT, a 33% increase compared to 2023. Cinema revenues in Kazakhstan grew by 17.7% in 2024, totaling 43.9 billion KZT. The growth rates of revenues from domestic and foreign film screenings were nearly identical: 17.8 billion KZT (+19.3%) and 24.2 billion KZT (+17.8%), respectively.

Box office performance of Kazakh films in 2024: “Dastur” – 1.7 billion KZT,
“Peyish. Heaven Lies Beneath a Mother’s Feet” – 1.4 billion KZT,
“Zamanback” – 1.4 billion KZT.

Since independence, Kazakh cinema has actively positioned itself at numerous prestigious international film festivals, including Cannes, Venice, Berlin, and Locarno.

 “Oscar” Award.

The Oscar is the most prestigious American film award, presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences since 1929. Its membership exceeds 6,000 professionals across 15 guilds (actors, directors, screenwriters, producers).

• 2008 – “Kelin”. Director is Yermek Tursunov, shortlisted for “The Best Foreign Language Film”.
• 2012 – “Shal”. Director is Yermek Tursunov, included in the long list for “The Best Foreign Language Film”.
• 2018 – “Aika”. Director is Sergey Dvortsevoy. The film is shortlisted for “The Best Foreign Language Film”.

Cannes Film Festival. (fr. Festival international du film de Cannes). Established in 1946, the Cannes Film Festival awards the “Palme d’Or” as its highest prize.

“Certain Regard” section:

• 1988 –“Killer”. Director is Darejan Omirbayev.
• 2001 – “The Road” Director is Darejan Omirbayev.
• 2004 – “Shiza”. Director is Gulshad Omarova, nominated for the “Camera d’Or” for the best debut.
• 2008 – “Tulip”. Director is Sergey Dvortsevoy.
• 2012 – “Student”. Director is Darejan Omirbayev.

Special Screenings:

• 2014 – “The Owners”. Director is Adilkhan Yerzhanov.

Cinefondation (student film program):

• 2001 – “Antiromance”. Director is Nariman Torebayev.
• 2002 – “End of Season”. Director is Zhannat Alshanova, graduation project at The London Film School.

“Certain Regard”:

• “The Gentle Indifference of the World”. Director is Adilkhan Yerzhanov.

“Palme d’Or” competition:

• “Aika”. Director is Sergey Dvortsevoy. Samal Yeslyamova awarded “Best Actress”.
• Total: 10 Kazakh films presented, including three by Darejan Omirbayev and two by Adilkhan Yerzhanov.

Venice Film Festival (ital. Mostra Internazionale d’Arte Cinematografica). Founded in 1932, the main award is “The Golden Lion”.

Orizzonti Extra section:

• 2018 – “Sex, Fear, and Hamburgers”. Director is Yeldar Shibanov. Short film.
• 2019 – “The River”. Director is Emir Baigazin. “Best Director”.
• 2020 – “Yellow Cat” Director is Adilkhan Yerzhanov.
• 2021 – “Goliath”. Director is Adilkhan Yerzhanov.
• “Mountain Onion”. Director is Yeldar Shibanov.
• Total: 5 Kazakh films, including two by Adilkhan Yerzhanov.

Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) (germ. Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin). Established in 1951, Berlinale’s highest award is the “Golden Bear”.

• 2013 – “Harmony Lessons”. Director is Emir Baigazin. Award for Outstanding Artistic Achievement is presented to cinematographer Aziz Zhambakiyev

Generation Section (films about children and youth):

• 2022 – “Scheme” Director is Farkhat Sharipov. Grand Prix of the Generation 14 plus section.

Panorama Program:

• “Bakyt” (“Happiness”). Director is Askar Urazbayev. Audience Award.

Forum Program:

• “Akyn” Director is Darejan Omirbayev.

VFF Talent Highlight Award:

• 2024 – “Astana Internet Stars”. Director is Assel Aushakimova), Encouragement Prize is €1,000.
• 2025 – “Ürei”. Director is Erkezhan Baizhan, short film.

Total: 6 films.

Locarno Film Festival (Switzerland)

Founded in 1946, the Locarno Film Festival’s top prize is the “Golden Leopard”.
1993. “A Place on the Gray Tricorne”. Director is Yermek Shinarbayev, “Golden Leopard”.
1992. The feature film “Kairat” by Darejan Omirbaev was awarded the “Silver Leopard” and the Fipresci Prize (International Federation of Film Critics Award).

August 14, 2020 – At Locarno (Switzerland), the short film History of Civilization by Zhannat Alshanova received the Silver Leopard and a cash prize of 5,000 Swiss francs.

2016. “Tomorrow Sea”. Documentary film by Yekaterina Suvorova.

August 2019 – The film “Mariam” by Kazakh director Sharipa Urazbayeva and Russian producer Anna Kachko entered the main competition program of the Locarno Film Festival in the Cineasti del Presente (“Filmmakers of the Present”) section.

August 2024 – The debut film “Joqtau” by Kazakh director Aruan Anartay was included in the competition program of the 77th Locarno International Film Festival.

August 2025 – In the Cineasti del Presente section, the debut feature film “Becoming” by Zhannat Alshanova was shortlisted alongside 14 films from France, Spain, Canada, Argentina, South Korea, and other countries.

In total, eight Kazakh films were presented in Locarno, with Zhannat Alshanova represented twice.

Across the four leading European film festivals, 26 Kazakh films have been showcased, in addition to two films by Yermek Tursunov submitted for the American Oscar. This includes: 9 films at Cannes, 6 at Berlinale, 6 at Locarno, 5 at Venice.

Darejan Omirbayev leads with 5 films (Cannes and Locarno), including “Kairat” (1992), which received the “Silver Leopard”. Adilkhan Yerzhanov presented 4 films (2 at Cannes and 2 at Venice). Zhannat Alshanova had 3 films presented (1 at Cannes, 2 at Locarno), with History of Civilization winning the “Silver Leopard”.

In 1993, Yermek Shinarbaev’s film “A Place on the Gray Tricorne” awarded the “Golden Leopard” in Locarno.

“Scheme” (dir. Farkhat Sharipov) – Grand Prix of the Generation 14plus section at Berlinale. Emir Baigazin – Best Director in the Orizzonti program at the Venice Film Festival. Samal Yeslyamova – “Best Actress” at the Cannes Film Festival.

Aziz Zhambakiyev – Award for Outstanding Artistic Achievement as cinematographer in Emir Baigazin’s “Harmony Lessons”.