The development of women's cinema in Kazakhstan is becoming an increasingly significant topic. Female filmmakers are not only pushing artistic boundaries but also addressing pressing social issues. A meeting held at the T. Zhurgenov Kazakh National Academy of Arts, as part of the 17th Eurasia International Film Festival, provided a valuable platform to discuss the challenges women face in the film industry, their achievements to date, and the prospects for future development.
Sharipa Urazbayeva, one of the event's participants, shared a key insight:
“It is heartening to see women’s cinema thriving in our country. Today, many female directors are showcasing their films and achieving remarkable success. While women previously focused mainly on auteur cinema, we now hope for support from the state. Our dream is to bring the lives of Kazakh women to the screen – their emotions, struggles, and societal challenges – and share these stories with the Kazakh audience.”
The event also featured contributions from Venera Kairzhanova, a film critic and expert on Kazakh cinema, alongside screenwriters and directors Elena Lisasina and Gulshat Smagulova. The discussions underscored the growing popularity of women’s cinema in Kazakhstan, with new opportunities emerging for female directors to express themselves and gain recognition.
State support is crucial to fostering this sector. Events like those at the Eurasia Film Festival serve as vital stepping stones toward realizing these aspirations and building a more equitable and inclusive film industry.
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.
