“Kazakhstan Film industry” Conference at the Marché du Film

May 17, 2023 at 5 PM at the Marché du Film-Festival de Cannes. Palais des Festivals et des Congrès.

Conference Short Description:

Themes:

1. The rise of the cinema of Kazakhstan after the pandemic and the role of film schools in the national film industry.
2. Kazakhstan film industry: figures and market development prospects.
3. Kazakhstani film festivals as a driver for the development of the film process.
4. Shooting locations in Kazakhstan and the work of the film commission.

Conference Speakers:

1. Mrs. Mussakhajayeva Aiman, Rector of the Kazakh National University of Arts (KazNUA), outstanding violinist, People’s Artist of the Republic of Kazakhstan, professor, UNESCO “Artist of the World” title holder, and a well-known public figure.
2. Mr. Shukenov Baurzhan, Vice-chairman of the State Center for National Cinema Support (SCNCS). Mr. Shukenov has extensive experience in the field of film distribution and management of cinema chains. Organizer of the French Cinema Today Film Festival in association with Unifrance. Knight of the Order of Arts and Literature of France.
3. Mrs. Abikeyeva Gulnara, President of the Association of Kazakhstan Film Critics, program director of the IFF “Eurasia”, member of APSA Academy, FIPRESCI and NETPAC. Knight of the Order of Arts and Literature of France. Mrs. Abikeyeva was Fulbright scholar in USA (2001-2002) and read lectures in Pittsburgh, Harvard, Yale, Tafts Universities. Mrs. Abikeyeva was a research scholar in Japan (2018-2019) and read lectures in Hokkaido, Tokyo and Kyoto Universities. Mrs. Abikeyeva is the author of twelve books about cinema.
4. Mr. Muratov Gani, Head of the cinematography division of the Culture Committee of the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Conference Moderator:

Miss. Majanova Dinara, KazNUA student, department of Cinema and Television

Project manager:

Mrs. Anara Musrepova, president of the “Silk Road Production” Cannes Association.

Conference Full Description:

The purpose of this conference is to present the Kazakhstan film industry from different points of view. Today, about 60 full-length feature films are shot in Kazakhstan a year, more than 50 film production companies operate in the country, and the share of Kazakh cinema in the box office is about 30 percent.

The Kazakh national pavilion has been represented in Cannes for second year by the Kazakh National University of Arts, so the conference was opened by the rector of the university, Mrs. Mussakhajayeva Aiman.

She spoke about the situation in the cinema of Kazakhstan after the pandemic – what has changed, what transformations have taken place in the film industry.

Mrs. Mussakhadjayeva also touched upon the issue of film education: there are four film schools in the country, two of which are public and two private, what they focus on, and how they cooperate with each other.

Mr. Shukenov Baurzhan speech was devoted to the film industry of Kazakhstan in terms of the number of cinema halls and cinemas in the country, in relation to the population. An analysis of the country’s box offices for 2021-2022 was also offered. in comparison with the pre-pandemic period and the work of the main distribution companies. Mr. Shukenov spoke about the activities of the State Center for National Cinema Support, the creation of a film commission and new legislative acts related to this. Also, Mr. Shukenov spoke about various locations in Kazakhstan, about the opportunity to shoot films for foreign filmmakers, about paying rebates and other conditions for the work of film crews.

Film critic Mrs. Abikeyeva Gulnara spoke about the festival movement in Kazakhstan. In addition to the Eurasia IFF, which will be held for the 17th time in 2023, Kazakhstan hosts the Almaty IFF, focused on the film business, and two short film festivals – Baikonur and Bastau – which are especially important for young people. Also, Mrs. Abikeyeva spoke about the leading trends in Kazakhstani cinema over the past two or three years, highlighting the most important film projects for the country.

Mr. Muratov Gani concluded the conference by talking about the main areas of work of the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the field of cinematography.

In particular, on the adoption in 2019 of the Law “On Cinematography” and the creation in the same year of the State Center for the Support of Domestic Cinema, whose activities are primarily aimed at accumulating and distributing budgetary and extrabudgetary funds allocated for the production, distribution, display and further promotion domestic films.

Mr. Muratov also spoke about the significance of the modernization of the “Kazakhfilm” film studio named after Shaken Aimanov, which began in 2021 and will be completed in 2025.

At the end of his speech, Mr. Muratov spoke about the highly professional technical teams for film production, as well about the diverse natural landscape of the country, inviting international filmmakers to Kazakhstan.

“International conferences at such large class A events have a big impact on getting the speakers heard by a large community in the professional field.
Therefore, I suggested that the management take part in the first conference for Kazakhstan at the Marché du Film of the Cannes Film Festival. I did all the work from signing a contract with the Marché du Film to compiling the conference program. I also selected the speakers of the conference, focusing on their professionalism, experience and significance in this area. I am also very pleased that Mr. Muratov Gani, Head of the Cinematography Department of the Ministry of Culture and Sports of Kazakhstan, joined us and spoke at the conference, noting the important tasks set and fulfilled by the Ministry in the field of cinematography.
At the end of the conference, distributors, film companies from Africa, Great Britain, Germany, China, France lined up to organize meetings and discuss proposals and ask questions. All meetings were held in the pavilion of Kazakhstan.
I hope that the Kazakhstan film industry will expand cooperation with international filmmakers.
I thank the rector of KazNUA, Mrs. Aiman Mussakhajaeva, for supporting participation in the first Kazakhstani conference at the Marché du Film of the Cannes Film Festival, as well as all those who worked with me on this project.”-
said Anara Musrepova, “Silk Road Production” Cannes Association president.

Anara Musrepova

Video for the conference was kindly provided by KazNUA and Kazakh Tourism.

The conference was broadcast live from the Marché du Film from the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès during the 76th Cannes Film Festival on May 17.

Designer: Nariman Rakhimbekov

Please join us to watch the full conference recording