At seventeen, she was just beginning her film career, attending numerous auditions. A few years later, her name was announced at the international Golden Globes Silk Road Tribute Gala. Kazakh actress Shugyla Yeshen became the first representative of the Kazakh film industry to receive the special Beacon Award.
The ceremony, held in Tashkent, brought together representatives of the film industry from Central Asia and the Caucasus. The Beacon Award recognizes promising artists of the new generation for their creative achievements.
For Shugyla herself, the recognition came as a surprise. She learned of the award through her agent about a month before the ceremony and, by her own admission, still finds it hard to believe. The young actress has seven years of professional training under her belt, including work at the Gabit Musrepov Kazakh State Academic Theater for Children and Youth, and roles in popular films such as "Gashykpyn Sagan," "Kaytadan," "7 Karakshy," and "SHEKER. Last Chance."
Her first leading film role came while still a student, in the series "Soqqy" directed by Olzhas Nurbay, which was subsequently shortlisted for the Seoul International Drama Awards.
Now, Shugyla's creative horizons are expanding. She has already starred in a Kyrgyz film, received an invitation from Uzbekistan, and is preparing for the role of Juliet in a bilingual production of "Romeo and Juliet."