ALUMNI MEETING IN THE CREATIVE INDUSTRY SPHERE

Today marked the conclusion of the BOLASHAK AND CREATIVE INDUSTRY event, which took place at the Presidential Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Astana.

In his address to the people of Kazakhstan, «The Economic Course of a Just Kazakhstan», President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized the importance of developing the industry in Kazakhstan this September.

«In today's world, 'creative production,' based on the creative potential and intellectual capital of citizens, serves as a source of development for a truly inclusive economy. Moreover, the creative economy is becoming a driving force for the development of large cities, attracting talented, creative people», said Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

The event attracted the attention of key players in Kazakhstan's creative industry and brought together outstanding representatives of the sector in one place. The evening's guests included renowned journalists, directors, actors, and producers, creating a unique atmosphere of idea exchange and inspiration.

Guests who attended the event:

• Gulmira Dairabayeva, a well-known Kazakhstani TV presenter, media manager, and University of Southern California alumna
• Aidie Aidarbekov, director, graduate of the New York Film Academy («Retired Life», «The Untold»)
• Yelzhas Rakhimbekov, actor («Sheker», TV series «Mystan: Night Witches»), graduate of the New York Film Academy
• Anara Zhunusova, producer, graduate of VGIK (TV series «Black Yard», «The Player»)
• Olzhas Baymagambetov, head of music projects at VK Partner Service, former CEO of Skriptonit's label Musica36, graduate of University College London.

Bolashak program graduate Aidie Aidarbekov shared his thoughts on fulfilling work obligations after returning to Kazakhstan.

«Bolashak provided the opportunity to study abroad in America, in Los Angeles. For a boy from a village, that’s a lot of money. What Bolashak invested in me, I wanted to pay back to the fullest», said speaker Aidie Aidarbekov.

Participants of the event had the opportunity to learn about the unique projects of Bolashak program graduates and share their experiences in the creative industry. At the end of the meeting, the speakers held a Q&A session with the evening's guests and offered valuable recommendations for improving the country's creative industry.

Yelzhas Rakhimbekov spoke about the situation in the film industry.

«At present, it makes little sense to produce films in Kazakhstan with a budget of more than 100 million tenge. There's a high chance they won't recoup—especially if it’s not a comedy and doesn't feature a recognizable figure from the Kazakh 'toy' business. Therefore, it might be worth considering the percentage of revenue from cinema ticket sales», added actor Yelzhas Rakhimbekov.

The closing words of gratitude to the alumni and guests of the evening were delivered by Aliya Ospanova, Chairwoman of the Board of the Board of the Center for International Programs.

«The creative industry is one of the most rapidly developing industries on planet Earth, as always mentioned by the Head of State. If we look at the facts, out of the 12,500 Bolashak program graduates, only 211 are from the creative industry. We would very much like to see this number increase. We are working on increasing the number of applicants, scholars, and quotas for this field», said Chair of the Board, Aliya Ospanova.

The Center for International Programs expresses its gratitude to all participants and guests for their contribution to the success of this event. We are confident that BOLASHAK AND CREATIVE INDUSTRY will become an important step towards further development of Kazakhstan's creative scene.