At the Kazakh National Academy of Choreography, a meeting of the film club "Cinema Clab" (which has existed at the Academy since the 2023-2024 academic year and is organized by the Faculty of Arts — editor’s note) took place with director Erlan Nurmukhambetov and cinematographer Talgat Taishanov.

The discussion focused on Erlan Nurmukhambetov’s film The Walnut Tree, whose plot centers on a young man, Gabit, who is in love with the beautiful Aisulu and wants to marry her. He plans to abduct the bride following an old Kazakh tradition, but the girl’s parents are unaware of the lovers’ intentions. The story unfolds into an amazing adventure involving not only the future newlyweds and their close ones. The film consists of several stories told within one narrative.

The Walnut Tree is a Kazakhstani comedy film that premiered on October 4, 2015, at the Busan International Film Festival, where it won the main prize in the New Currents section, and it was also shown at other film festivals.

The Academy students responded positively to the film and actively participated in the discussion. Everyone had the opportunity to share their opinions about the characters’ behavior, agree or disagree with them, and ask questions to the guests. The film left no viewer indifferent, which speaks to the thoughtfulness and analytical tendencies of our youth, as well as to the warmth and realism of Kazakh cinema.

Erlan Nurmukhambetov is also the screenwriter of this film. Notably, to fully immerse himself in the atmosphere and realism of the story and visuals, the director lived in a village for some time. Talgat Taishanov, who attended the meeting as a guest, is a cinematographer and director. He presented the magazine Jas Óner, one of the few publications dedicated to film art and film education, film festivals, and film schools.

Erlan Nurmukhambetov shared his impressions of the meeting:

“Overall, it’s really great that we held such a meeting today, like neighbors, since I work at the Kazakh National University of Arts. It was wonderful to learn that your Academy has a film club. There are many young people in our city, and it would be great if we could collaborate in the future. Perhaps the Academy students could visit our university and film sets, meet the students. This might create a symbiosis for new stories and films because cinema requires many creative people and mutual support. I am very glad that your Academy keeps up with the times, new trends, and follows the currents of modernity in its direction.”