The prominent producer of Kazakhstan lifts the booming creative industry, a strong unused potential

Astana – The creative industry has widely used the government in recent years when the next economic border and a soft electricity tool looked at. For Yerkebulan Kurishbayev, a producer and director of Qara Studios based in Almaty, creativity is not a new gold rush, but what was personal from the start. In an interview with the Astana Times, Kurishbayev shares his personal motivation, challenges and where today Kazakh music and cinema are.

A Space for something else

Global make up the creative industry, which includes art, culture, media, design and technology, almost 3.1% of global GDP according to the latest data from the United Nations. Experts project these figures to rise to 10% of global GDP by 2030.

The Kurishbayev team creates a room for something else in Kazakhstan, a country that is better known internationally for its oil and minerals and not for music and films. Studio was founded in 2017 by Kurishbayev and a well -known Kazakh director Aisultan sinceov and produces films, music videos and commercials. In addition to the creation of content, Qara Studios also organizes large-scale events such as the Oyu and the Qara Forum to bring artists together to promote the creative ecosystem of Kazakhstan.

When the Kurishbayev Qara Studios founded, everything started with a simple conversation.

“He said,” Let's create together. “(…) I told him:” I want to build a business out of it. “He replied:” Good – just don't stand in the way of my creative freedom. “This brief exchange has shaped everything,” said Kurishbayev.

“Today I think that both our company and I personally have grown a lot. This is because we have managed to increase a balance between economy and creativity. We have always tried to maintain this balance and to focus on discipline – something that unfortunately lacks many in the industry – while we still love what we love. As a result, our work is more than just a job.

The deletion of this balance is only possible with a professional and close team. Kurishbayev speaks proudly of the Qara Studios team of 18 people.

“Just like everyone else, I am out of the desire to create and leave a kind of cultural brand. Looking back, I realize that at some point I romantized the entire industry. I thought it would be fun, exciting, cool – people to make connections, but the truth is, just like in any other sector of the economy.

The difficult part is that there are no real flagships or benchmarks that can look up here.

“Not in Kazakhstan, not even in the neighboring countries. I did the research. But maybe that's a sign that we should be the benchmark,” he added.

Oyu firm

One of the company's flagship projects is the OYU, a festival of contemporary Kazakh music. The Oyu Fest 2022 was first brought out of the Oyu Live Music Project, a YouTube series that shows Kazakh artists in various genres.

“It has passed three years now, and although we did not have a clear position right from the start, the idea was always to create something national. The interesting thing is when they say” national “or” people “, imagine chapan immediately [a traditional Kazakh coat]Something nostalgic, something that is rooted in the past. But we wanted a national product and a national festival today, ”explained Kurishbayev.

In less than two years, the Oyu Fest has caught up with a popular place in the Almaty cultural calendar. Last year it debut in Astana and exceeded the team's expectations.

“Last year, which surprised me, it was Astana. It was our first time that the festival stopped there, and frankly, until the day, on day X, I kept thinking that that's a stupid idea. I wondered why I did it at all. Sure, it is the same country, but it is a difference.

All worries disappeared when Kurishayev saw the happy crowds.

“But when I saw this number of people – happy, free, open, joyful Astana residents – I was blown away. Real.

This year the team awaits about 10,000 people on the Oyu Fest in Astana on the Oyu Fest in Astana.

“Some say it is the same list, nothing new or exciting, and that's okay. We are not disturbed. We know what our style is, and this year I think the festival will be even better than before,” he said.

Kurishbayev said he was deeply grateful that tickets were sold quickly, even if no list was disclosed at this point. “I love these early bird buyers. I am always amazed by them because it shows how much trust they have in us. They don't care who the artists are – they only want to be part of the Oyu festival,” he said.

In Astana alone, the organizers have sold 1,500 tickets in one day since the start of ticket sales.

“This is crazy statistics. To be honest, I'm a little scared – we may not even be able to insert everyone into the event location. We may have to stop ticket sales at some point,” he added, “he added, assured that security remains a top priority.

Grow the Kazakh -speaking cultural scene

This intensive interest in the festival tells a greater story about what is happening in the country. In Kazakhstan, a growing number of young people appoint their culture and language back. What was once dismissed in the Soviet Union is now a tool for communication, expression and connection via music, art, films and everyday life.

“Everything in life is cyclical. I think we have just reached a moment when we as a society start to ask ourselves who we really are. For various reasons, people have started to ask themselves in recent years: Who am I? What is my country? What is my culture? What is my language?

Gone are the times when the success of a Kazakh artist was measured by visibility abroad or by changing in English or Russian to reach a wider audience.

“Artists no longer have the need to sing in other languages ​​just to pursue success abroad. At that time, nobody aimed to become popular in Kazakhstan – everyone dreamed of doing it somewhere else. Well, luckily this way of thinking fades.

“Today, when you knock in Kazakh, sings rock or appear in a genre in the Kazakh language and it is free on stage, of course and stylish, that's just incredible,” he added.

Every film has its audience

The Kazakh film industry is also entering a new era. Kurishbayev found that the audience becomes more selective and demanding from quality films.

“The other category is a author cinema. I think we are shortly before something big. In the next five to seven years I really believe that Kazakhstan will see his first Oscar, his first Cannes lion, a berlin bear and more,” he said.

Kurishbayev compares the current film industry with Kazakhstan's in South Korea, but 10-15 years ago.

“The Korean cinema had always been strong, but during this time it really started – with commercial films that dominated the local market and long for international recognition. The Korean government supported this ecosystem well and still does it,” said Kurishbayev.

He said Kazakhstan had incredibly talented directors and writers who are ready to break through internationally. There are only two things inhibiting this potential.

“Firstly, the number of cinemas. We are lacking. And secondly the state support system. The idea of ​​the state support of the cinema is great. There is nothing comparable in the region. Filmmaker,” he said.

​​Behind the scenes

Each single project requires a considerable amount of emotional, financial and temporal resources.

“Behind the scenes it is actually a large amount of work. For example, to produce a single film, you could spend a year to write the script and then prepare for another six months for the shoot – every day. Then there is a month filming, followed by six months to one year of processing.

“Take our music festival [OYU Fest] – It only takes one day a year, but preparation begins seven to eight months in advance, and our team works on it every day, ”he added.

Emotional tribute

Every creative work has a separate challenge of emotional tribute and burning out. Kurishbayev is also at this intersection.

“I try to grow all the time – I speak to various entrepreneurs, mentors, people in and outside the industry and people with more experience. They are surprised. Ask you ask how to manage everything? Where do you get the energy from? Because you should have a focus in a project,” he explained.

Kurishbayev admitted that he did not notice that he should concentrate on one thing. He just kept doing what he loved.

“I just wanted to create. My whole team is the same. I am very proud of them. They don't think about focus or efficiency – they just do what they love,” he added.