Kazakhstan’s Film Critics Join FIPRESCI
Kazakhstan Association of Film Critics Joins International Federation
The Kazakhstan Association of Film Critics, led by President Gulnara Abikeyeva, has officially become a member of the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI), as announced by the association’s press service on Jan. 21.
FIPRESCI, established in 1930, is a global organization that brings together film critics and scholars to promote world cinema and safeguard the rights and interests of film experts.
Abikeyeva, a renowned Kazakh film scholar and critic, has written several books on Kazakh and Central Asian cinema. She previously served as the art director of the Eurasia International Film Festival in Almaty from 2005 to 2013. As a member of FIPRESCI and the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema, she has been part of critics’ juries at various international film festivals.
Her writings on cinema have been featured in both Kazakh and international media outlets. She has contributed reviews of Central Asian cinema to publications such as the International Film Guide yearbook, the FIPRESCI website, the British online magazine KinoKultura, and the Indian film magazine Cinemaya.
The Kazakhstan Association of Film Critics was established in 2014, with the creation of the Critics’ Choice Film Award to honor the best achievements in Kazakh cinema. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the award has been presented nine times. Starting with seven members, the association has expanded to include 26 members by 2024.
In addition to Abikeyeva, Kyrgyz representatives Sultan Usuvaliev, a film critic and director, and Gulbara Tolomushova, a film critic and journalist, have also been granted membership in FIPRESCI. This recognition highlights the growing presence and influence of Central Asian film critics on the international stage.
