When cinema becomes a cultural bridge between Kazakhstan and Belgium

Kazakh Cinema Days in Brussels

When cinema becomes a cultural bridge between Kazakhstan and Belgium

By Kadir Duran – Bruxelles Korner

Brussels, December 12, 2025 , The Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Belgium, in cooperation with Kazakhfilm Studio and the French Association of Kazakh Cinema, organized the Kazakh Cinema Days in Brussels, offering the Belgian public a remarkable immersion into the history, spiritual values, and cultural richness of Kazakhstan through the lens of the seventh art.

Two major works were screened: Baqyt Qushağynda (In the Embrace of Happiness) and Myn Bala: Warriors of the Steppe. These films reflect essential chapters of Kazakh history while highlighting a strong cultural identity rooted in collective memory and traditions. The screenings brought together representatives of Belgian society, students, and members of the Kazakh diaspora, turning the event into a genuine space for intercultural dialogue and discovery of contemporary Kazakh cinema.

A musical and identity-driven tribute

A special focus was given to Baqyt Qushağynda, directed by Sanat Shapashov and inspired by the work of renowned Kazakh composer Shamshi Kaldayakov, whose 95th anniversary is being celebrated this year. Kaldayakov’s musical legacy deeply marked by universal themes such as love, human sincerity, and national identity forms the emotional core of the film. This lyrical dimension lends the work a unique depth and a resonance that transcends cultural boundaries.

Myn Bala: Warriors of the Steppe , a historical epic

Myn Bala: Warriors of the Steppe
2011 ‧ War / Action ‧ 2h 13min

The film transports viewers to Kazakhstan in 1729, at a time when the Dzungars, a Mongol tribe feared for its brutality, advanced across the vast steppes, burning villages and massacring populations in their wake.

Driven by vengeance and by his love for Zere, portrayed by Aliya Anuarbek, the young Sartai, played by Kazakh actor Asylkhan Tolypov, gathers a detachment of Kazakh warriors to oppose this bloodthirsty tribe. Through this unequal struggle, the film depicts the birth of collective resistance and the awakening of a national consciousness in the face of oppression.

An epic fresco filmed in the heart of the steppes

Following the screenings, exchanges with lead actress Aliya Anuarbek highlighted the exceptional scale of the production. She explained that the film required more than five months of intensive training for the actors, followed by four months of shooting on natural locations, without studio sets, deep in the Kazakh steppes.

Preparation spanned nearly a full year, devoted to costume design, props, cinematography, and historical reconstruction to ensure complete authenticity. With an estimated budget of 70 million dollars, this ambitious production saw its revenues nearly balance its production costs, a notable achievement for a film of this magnitude.

Conceived as a 12-episode saga, the work is often described as a film that “ages like fine wine,” gaining depth and intensity over time. A true must-see epic, it offers a powerful immersion into the Kazakh soul, revealing a people deeply attached to horses, the vast steppes, and a way of life shaped by nomadic history.

Audience engagement and professional recognition

The meeting with Aliya Anuarbek sparked strong interest and a warm response from the Belgian audience, eager to discover the behind-the-scenes story of this extraordinary production.

The event was also praised by Frank Depayfv, Secretary General of the Belgian Association of Independent Authors, Directors, and Producers, who highlighted the emotional expressiveness of the films and their ability to engage audiences through the universal language of cinema. He also expressed interest in broader distribution of contemporary Kazakh cinema in Belgium.

Culture as a diplomatic lever

Organized as part of Kazakh Culture Week in Belgium, the Kazakh Cinema Days demonstrated genuine public interest in Kazakhstan’s history and culture. They underscored the central role of cultural diplomacy as an effective tool for bringing peoples closer together and strengthening intercultural dialogue.

By bringing Belgian and Kazakh audiences together around cinema, this event made a meaningful contribution to the development of cultural and humanitarian cooperation between Kazakhstan and Belgium, sustainably reinforcing bilateral cultural ties.