Becoming Named Best Debut Film at Kazakhstan’s Baiqonyr Festival
Zhannat Alshanova’s feature debut Becoming won Best Debut Film at the 11th Baiqonyr festival. The story of a 17-year-old open-water swimmer was produced with partners from Kazakhstan and four European countries, showing how a young auteur film can travel while retaining a distinct local voice.
An award for a debut
Zhannat Alshanova’s Becoming received Best Debut Film at the 11th Baiqonyr International Short and Debut Film Festival. The director’s first feature follows Mila, a 17-year-old who joins an open-water swimming team while seeking independence and a different life.
Why the co-production matters
Accidental Films made the picture with support from Kazakhstan’s culture ministry and national cinema support center. Partners came from France, the Netherlands, Lithuania, and Sweden. Such collaboration gives an independent film access to several professional traditions and distribution routes while retaining a local voice.
Connecting generations
Critic Inna Smailova received a special award for her contribution to film studies. The closing screening was Alpamys Goes to School, marking Abdulla Karsakbayev’s centenary. The program connected a new debut with Kazakh cinema history and can help Alshanova’s film reach a wider public.
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