Adilkhan Yerzhanov
Adilkhan YERZHANOV (1982, Kazakhstan) was born in the Jezkazgan region of Kazakhstan. He was educated as a filmmaker at the Kazakhstan National Academy of Arts. Yerzhanov is a two-time participant of the Cannes Film Festival’s Official Programme (The Owners, 2014 and The Gentle Indifference of the World, 2018, Un Certain Regard Section) as well as the Venice International Film Festival (Yellow Cat, 2020 and Goliath, 2022). The Owners received awards at many film festivals all over the world and was included in the 100 Best Asian Films catalogue, published in 2015 by Busan International Film Festival. Yerzhanov was a participant at Atelier Cinefondation (2014), Berlinale Talents (2014) and Open Doors Locarno (2010). The Plague at the Karatas Village had its world premiere at IFFR 2016. Yerzhanov won the Asia Pacific Screen Award for Achievement in Directing for his A Dark, Dark Man (2019) and is a member of the European Film Academy.
Filmography
(selection) Self-portrait (2007, short), Bakhytzhamal (2007, short), Brothers Shorty (2008, short), Karatas (2009), Disc Seller (2009, short), Rieltor (2011), Stroiteli/Constructors (2013), Ukili kamshat/The Owners (2014), Chuma v aule Karatas/The Plague at the Karatas Village (2016), Night God (2018), The Gentle Indifference of the World (2018), Atbai’s Fight (2019), Chyorniy, chyorniy chelovek/A Dark, Dark Man (2019), Yellow Cat (2020), Assault (2022), Goliath (2022), Ademoka’s education (2022), FROZEN (2022, TV series), Nosorog/Steppenwolf (2024)
More Info: Adilkhan Yerzhanov
Adilkhan Yerzhanov at IFFR
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Steppenwolf
A visceral, absurdist revenge thriller, embracing elements of the Western, set across the Kazakh steppes.
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A Dark, Dark Man
Jet-black, absurdist, anti-Hollywood action film about corrupt Kazakh village. Detective Bekzat disrupts the vicious circle of fear and violence.
The Plague at the Karatas Village
Surrealistic parable denounces political wrongs in Kazakhstan. The new mayor arrives in an isolated village where the inhabitants are dying of the
Assault
Anonymous terrorists taking hostages at a school forces the members of an impromptu assault team to face their personal fears.