On November 25, 2024, as part of the 17th Eurasia International Film Festival, a roundtable discussion was held featuring international guests to explore the growing importance of international co-productions. This topic has become increasingly relevant for Kazakhstan’s film industry as it seeks innovative pathways to growth and integration into the global cinematic arena.
The panel featured Mayra Karsakbayeva, Advisor to the Secretary General of TÜRKSOY on International Cinema; Salim Ezer, TÜRKSOY’s representative for cinematography; Baurzhan Shukenov, Deputy Chairman for Monitoring Film Projects at the State Center for National Cinema Support; Russian director Alexey Telnov; Kazakh directors Yerlan Nurmukhambetov and Bekbolat Shekerov; and Olga Khlashcheva, Head of International Promotion at Kazakhfilm JSC.
International co-productions offer Kazakhstan a wealth of opportunities. They not only enhance production quality but also expand the reach of Kazakh films by opening doors to international markets. However, as the panelists emphasized, the success of these projects requires a readiness to embrace compromise.
“The most important aspect of joint projects is the willingness to compromise. I’ve had extensive experience with this, co-directing with both Kazakh and Japanese teams. If you’re not prepared for this, significant challenges will arise during production,” said director Yerlan Nurmukhambetov.
One standout example of effective co-production highlighted during the discussion was an educational initiative.
“We invited French students to collaborate on a film project in Astana alongside students from the Kazakh National University. Later, our students traveled to France for a month to work on editing and post-production. The result was a completed film. Initiatives like these are crucial to support. Co-productions often begin with student collaborations, where small joint projects lay the foundation for professional networks,” Nurmukhambetov explained.
To streamline collaboration and foster the growth of international co-productions, the panelists proposed several key steps:
- Implementing educational programs to teach students the fundamentals of collaborative filmmaking.
- Finalizing international agreements and updating Kazakhstan’s legal framework to align with global standards.
- Establishing a unified platform to connect filmmakers across borders.
The discussion culminated with plans to formalize a memorandum of cooperation between Kazakh and international film organizations. This would mark a significant milestone in solidifying Kazakhstan’s presence on the global cinematic stage.
The festival is founded and traditionally organized by the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan, with the Kazakhfilm Studio named after Shaken Aimanov entrusted with the direct organization of the event, with the support of the Almaty City Akimat.
General partner: BAZIS-A company.
It is noteworthy that sponsors include KAZ Minerals group, Sarens Kazakhstan, Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), Salem Entertainment, the Kinopark Theatres cinema chain, Astana Motors, Kazakhtelecom JSC, and A-Event KZ.
Media Partners: "Khabar" JSC, Qazaqstan TV Channel, NTK TV Channel, Europa Plus Kazakhstan, Eldoradio, Qazaq Gazetteri, Egemen Qazaqstan, Kazakhstanskaya Pravda, Antenna Kazakhstan, New Generation, ORDA, Kazinform International News Agency, Arbat Media, El.kz, Baq.kz, BaigeNews.
