In this episode of Voices From Central Asia, Kazakh filmmaker Alisher Utev discusses his journey to combine artistic realism with national stories to inspire young creators and promote Kazakh cinema on a global scale.
ADVERTISEMENTA pioneer of Kazakh cinema, Alisher Utev creates films rooted in local traditions with global appeal. Known for his "artistic realism", he emphasises screenwriting as the soul of filmmaking.
Utev's projects, including the acclaimed 1286 series, highlight Kazakhstan's culture and natural beauty. Despite low budgets, he finds "magic" in filmmaking and aims to inspire future generations by showing that success, even an Oscar, is possible.
With his latest film, Dästür, Utev continues to redefine Kazakh storytelling for international audiences.
