Kazakh Film Garners Awards at Shanghai International Film Festival
Kazakh Film “Talaq” Wins Best Film Award at Shanghai International Film Festival
ASTANA—The Kazakh film “Talaq” (The Divorce) made waves at the 26th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) Golden Cup Award ceremony in Shanghai on June 22. Directed by Daniyar Salamat, “Talaq” took home the Best Film award, while lead actress Amira Omarova was named Best Actress.
The main competition program at SIFF featured two Kazakh films, with “Talaq” selected for the feature film section, marking its world premiere. Another film, co-produced by Kazakhstan, Russia, and Italy titled “Longer Than a Day” and directed by Malika Mahamedzhan, premiered in the New Asian Talents program.
In the Full-Length Feature Films category, 14 films vied for the main prize, with “Talaq” emerging victorious. The film is set in the late 1920s, a period marked by the onset of collectivization and the country’s proclamation of socialism’s triumph. It portrays the final years of traditional Kazakh nomadism and the tragic consequences of societal changes during that time.
The Shanghai International Film Festival, held annually since 1993, received over 3,700 applications from 105 countries and regions this year. After a rigorous selection process, 50 films from 29 countries and regions were chosen for the Golden Cup Award in five categories, with 38 making their world premieres.
Kazakhstan’s film industry continues to make its mark on the global stage, with “Talaq” standing out as a shining example of the country’s cinematic talent and storytelling prowess.
