Kazakhstan to revive Shaken’s Stars Film Festival

Kazakh Culture and Information Minister Aida Balayeva revealed the plans to develop the country’s cinematography at the opening of the Eurasia International Film Festival in Almaty, Kazinform News Agency reports.

The minister said the country’s cinematography is facing challenges but the Government will develop it, improve its legal framework, make financing and content production processes more open, help talented film directors open up new opportunities, and revive and support the best projects of Kazakhstan’s cinema industry. She said the country will apply energies to revive the legendary Shaken’s Stars Film Festival in the future.

Aida Balayeva noted that 2024 will become important for the country’s film industry thanks to key changes at the Shaken Aimanov Film Studio. Thanks to a package of legislative initiatives the film studio embarks on a new stage of its development. The ministry will be eligible to directly fund the film studio since 2025. The draft law will be submitted to the Head of State by the year-end. If the law is adopted no less than 30% of the total backing of films throughout the country will be channeled directly to KazakhFilm.

As earlier reported, the XVII Eurasia International Film Festival kicked off in Almaty. It is organized by the Kazakh Culture and Information Ministry.

This year it runs between November 24 and 30 drawing the participation of over 15 countries. The film festival features two competition programs: the international competition and the competition of Central Asian and Turkic World countries. Notably, the festival also includes out-of-competition showings, master classes, film premiers, and panel discussions.