The first series festival in Central Asia has kicked off in Almaty. It brought together directors, screenwriters, producers, and representatives from digital services, streaming platforms, and online cinemas across the region. According to organizers, 67 applications were submitted. The festival opened with a non-competitive screening of the first three episodes of Kazakh Scary Tales, a dark fantasy series. Directed by Adilkhan Yerzhanov, the detective series draws on myths, superstitions, and Kazakh folklore. The Almaty Series Festival is held as part of the BAIQONYR International Festival of Debut and Short Films.
«This work is, on one hand, noir in style, and on the other, Kazakh Scary Tales. It follows a single overarching storyline, but at least three monsters have their own arcs, which are presented in a looping, intertwined manner,» shared filmmaker Adilkhan Yerzhanov.
In addition, the program features a Central Asian competition for the best series, a national competition for independent pilot episodes, as well as masterclasses, lectures, and panel discussions. For the first time, the Serial Bridges workshop from the French Series Mania festival will be held.
«We have established our first partnership in Lille, France,
with the Series Mania festival, which
runs the Serial Bridges workshop
program annually—in Rio de Janeiro, Istanbul, and Taiwan. Now, in Central Asia,
this program will also take place every year in Almaty in collaboration with Series Mania,» said Anuar
Kenzhibayev, President of BAIQONYR Film Festival.
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