Joint Korean-Kazakh Film Lab announced winners

From September 19 to 23, 2022, a joint Korean-Kazakh Film Lab dedicated to cinema arts was held in partnership between AlmaU Media and Film School and outstanding KAFA school (South Korea) at two main locations – AlmaU Campus at Qazaqfilm and university main campus.

Leading KAFA faculty and experts, as well as well-known Kazakh filmmakers delivered lectures and trainings for the participants of the Laboratory events. The Lab’s activity was focused on co-producing based on the stages of film project development and pitching. This was the first Lab that run in such format in Kazakhstan.

The program of the KAFA Cinema Laboratory included the Round table “Support for young filmmakers in Kazakhstan and South Korea”, the press conference, the screening of the film “Hwai: Little Monster” directed by Jang Jun-hwan, as well as lectures on producing, directing and promoting projects, series of meetings and other joint events.

Laboratory participants were selected on a competitive basis among applicants from Kazakhstan and South Korea. Totally, 6 young directors and producers from each country participated in the project.

Starting from September 5 till September 18 delegates were running discussions of selected projects in the format of online meetings.

This framework was finalized on September 19 in the format of the round table "Education of future talents in the film industry of both countries", supported by series of trainings and lectures. 

Satellite screenings of South Korean and Kazakhstani films were publicly presented during Lab’s activities. One of the most important pictures was the film "Hwaui: The Monster Boy" screened on September 20. 

A press conference was held with participation of guests from South Korea on September 21.  Lab’s working day on September 22 was dedicated to meetings and trainings.

The final pitching of Lab’s projects took place on September 23 aimed to select the best pictures based on the results of mutual networking and activity.

The project "14.5" directed by Aizhan Kasymbek and producer Rolen Zheon was named the as best film. It is the story of a 14.5-year-old teenage girl who lives in a village and looks after her younger sisters. Her dream is to escape to the city and start a new life.

The project “Kore-saram” by Kyoengsu Son and Zarina Kisikova, was awarded as an "audience sympathy project". It is the story of an elderly Korean woman living in Kazakhstan, who has the opportunity to return to her historical homeland.

The Kazakh-French producer Yulia Kim acted as the project manager from the Kazakh side. Film directors and producers Darezhan Omirbaev, Yana Skopina, Dina Zhumabek run lectures. The mentors from the South Korean side were Director Jang Jun-hwan, Producer Chul Shin, Screenwriter Ji Hae Sung.

Faculty of the AlmaU Media and Film School took an active part in the work of the KAFA Cinema Laboratory amomng them were film critic Gulnara Abikeeva, screenwriter Efrat Sharipov, cinematographer Chingiz Abirov, PR specialist Laura Barysova.