Retrospective of Central Asia films presented at French film festival

Several Kazakh films were presented at Europe's largest Asian film festival. These included the historical action film “Mongol,” which was the first film made in our country to be nominated for an Oscar, the dramas “Wounded Angel” by director Emir Baigazin and “Student” by Darezhan Omirbayev. The festival also held the presentation of a Kazakh-Japanese film - “The Horse Thieves.”

“All the films that were shown in their own way were interesting for the viewers in our country. I've seen only positive feedback, and people ask me all the time, how you can visit Kazakhstan after covid to see the steppes, the mountains. What good-looking people you have on screen. Thanks to the film industry, and in our case, the Kazakh film industry, people, who are completely unfamiliar with our culture, can travel,” noted Andre Ivanov, President of the Association of Kazakh Cinema in France002E

There was also an extensive selection of paintings from other Central Asian countries.

“For 28 years now, we have been introducing our audiences to the magic of Central Asian cinema. And I draw attention to the fact that these films are rare, you can't miss the opportunity to see them. Festival-goers heard the message and appreciated the effort to organise such a retrospective, absolutely unique in its kind. These are truly masterpieces, rarities that were difficult to bring to be shown in Vesoul,” said Jean-Marc Therouanne, spokesperson of the28th Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinemas.

According to the festival organizer’s, the retrospective screenings of Central Asian films were a good opportunity for cinephiles to see the best works of the region's talented filmmakers.

 

Translation by Aruzhan Bizhigitova

Editing by Galiya Khassenkhanova