NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh feature film “Baqyt” (“Happiness”) directed by Askar Uzabayev entered the main competition program of the 72nd Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) in Panorama category, reports thevillage.kz news agency.
Assem Zhapisheva acted as film’s scenarist while Bayan Maksatqyzy was producer. Photo credit: Instagram account of Assem Zhapisheva
The Panorama category presents films with potential commercial and audience success.
Being one of the largest worldwide film festivals, it was created in 1951. This year, it will kick off on Feb. 10-20, bringing new talents and big stars of international cinema together in person.
The story centers around parents and their adult daughter living in a small seaside town. This family seems to be ordinary, but actually they are engaged in a long-term and vicious cycle of domestic violence, which they try to escape.
“It is a simple story about a rough life,” said the movie’s producer Bayan Maksatqyzy.
In early 2021, Maksatqyzy initiated crowdfunding to raise funds for a social drama film, and she raised 10 million tenge (US$22,891) thanks to the responsiveness of Kazakh film lovers.
Along with this film, two Kazakh movies “Skhema” (“Scheme”) directed by Farkhat Sharipov and “Akyn” (“Poet”) directed by Darezhan Omirbayev entered the programme of Berlinale.
