The Dara Foundation, under the Presidential Initiatives, is set to advance mobile filmmaking in Kazakhstan. Assel Shildebayeva, the foundation’s head, announced this after a group of young professionals completed a week-long training at the New York Film Academy (NYFA) campus in Los Angeles in January.
NYFA, renowned for its innovative curriculum and immersive learning experiences, hosted the group from Kazakhstan. The academy provided them with crucial insights and practical training in mobile filmmaking techniques.
Participants of initiative
The group comprised 20 winners of the national mobilography festival. These winners were selected from over 7,000 applications and were allowed to refine their skills at NYFA’s Los Angeles campus.
Shildebayeva expressed satisfaction with the project, stating it has achieved its mission. The national mobile filmmaking competition aimed to popularize creative professions, support emerging talents and provide opportunities for self-realization.
Recognition of mobile filmmaking
Shildebayeva noted that acclaimed directors like Zack Snyder, Steven Soderbergh, and Timur Bekmambetov have already acknowledged the potential of smartphones. Films shot on mobile phones are already winning awards at prestigious film festivals. She expressed confidence in the ability of many talented young Kazakhs to excel in this field.
Alignment with government efforts
The initiative is in line with the broader efforts of the Kazakh government to promote creative industries as catalysts for economic development. This support also comes from the country’s top leadership.
Rigorous training program
The training program was intensive. Myrzabek Kuatbay, one of the youngest participants at 18 years old, shared his optimism after the first day of classes, stating, “A few miles start with small steps. We took the first step, and I am sure everything will work out for me.”
Participant’s experience
For Saparbek Zhaksylyk, NYFA became the fourth university where he studied. He described the opportunity as a previously “unattainable dream.” He noted that the course began with studying the basics of directing, the technical characteristics of manual cameras, and the stages of shooting and editing.
Future plans
The final assignment of the training was to produce their films. The next task for the finalists will be to share the knowledge gained at NYFA with their colleagues and community in Kazakhstan.
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