GENERAL INFORMATION
ALMATY FILM LAB is organized as part of the BastauInternational Student and Debut Film Festival in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The lab provides young filmmakers with anopportunity to receive training from leading global and nationalfilm industry professionals during the festival. The program isconducted in person over three days, including workshops, masterclasses, and a final pitching session before a jurycomprising invited local and international experts.
The lab invites directors who are citizens of Kazakhstan andhave not yet directed a feature film to submit applications todiscuss their projects and ideas with industry professionals. Participants will also have the chance to secure funding for theproduction of one short fiction and one short documentary film, which will later be showcased at the next Bastau InternationalFilm Festival.
SELECTION PROCESS
— ALMATY FILM LAB will select 10 filmmakers fromKazakhstan (screenwriters, directors, writer-directors, andproducers):
5 short fiction projects
5 short documentary projects
— The final list of selected participants will be published on thefestival’s website. Applicants who are not selected will notreceive individual notifications. ALMATY FILM LAB doesnot disclose reasons for rejection.
Who can apply?
— This program is open to all directors who are citizens ofKazakhstan and have not yet directed their first feature film.
Required documents for application:
— A bio-filmography (no more than 3,000 characters) detailingyour professional experience and achievements, including yourfilmography.
— A synopsis (no more than 3,000 characters) of your currentproject.
— A motivation letter explaining why you want to participate inALMATY FILM LAB and how the lab will support yourprofessional growth.
Application deadline: Until 23:00 on December 8, 2024.
Projects selected for the pitching session will be chosen by thefestival’s selection committee. Participation in the pitchingsession is in-person and conducted in Kazakh/Russian/English. The lab requires the physical presence of selected participants inAlmaty. Travel and accommodation expenses for participantsoutside Almaty are not covered by the lab.
During the festival, pitching jury members and mentors will hosttraining sessions, panel discussions, masterclasses, and lectureson topics relevant to the projects. Participants will be dividedinto two groups (fiction and documentary), each led by a dedicated mentor.
The pitching session is free for all registered guests.
Responsibility:
Participants guarantee that they hold all necessary rights(exclusive ownership or appropriate permission from the rightsholder) for the materials submitted (idea, synopsis, treatment, script) and that these materials are free from third-partycontractual obligations. Participants assume responsibility forany claims or disputes regarding copyright or related rights. Incase of disputes, the festival organizers reserve the right towithdraw the participant’s project from consideration until allissues are resolved.
Almaty Film Lab will last three days:
DAY 1 — Training sessions with mentors, meetings with filmprofessionals.
DAY 2 — Pitching rehearsal.
DAY 3 — Open pitching session.
The total duration of each project presentation: no more than 5 minutes.
Project discussion and Q&A after the presentation: no more than7 minutes.
The pitching jury will select the best project presentations.
Awards:
— Financial support from the Eurasia International FilmFestival and Qara Studios.
— Technical support from Kazakhfilm JSC named after Sh. Aimanov.
Pitching results will be announced on the festival’s website.
All films must be produced during 2025.