The feature film "Talaq," based on the stories of Beimbet Mailin, has been included in the main competition program of the 26th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF). A total of 14 films have been included in the main competition program. Films from Argentina, Germany, Kazakhstan, Iran, Spain, China, and Russia will compete for the main prize of the film festival.

"We planned to present our film at film festivals. And we are very pleased that we will be able to do this at the prestigious Shanghai International Film Festival - the largest in China. This is a big event for our entire cinema. I hope the historical picture will attract the attention of foreign viewers and be remembered by them for the special wisdom and values of the Kazakh people," said the film's director, Daniyar Salamat.

The film takes place in the second half of the 1920s. During these years, collectivization had already begun, and the country loudly declared the victory of socialism. One of the popular slogans was "the emancipation of women of the East." Daniyar Salamat's poignant picture tells about the last years of the traditional Kazakh nomadism and the tragic consequences of radical changes. The title of the film "Talaq" implies not only the dissolution of marriage, but also a cruel time that spares no one. The transition period changed the social system and the centuries-old way of life of the people.

"Our film is based on two stories by Mailin - "Әже" and "Талақ". They are very suitable for adaptation. The characters are well-written and understandable to the viewer. In addition, these works by Mailin are valuable because they truthfully reflect the events that took place in the 20s of the last century. I also read Mailin's works as a child. In adulthood, you perceive them differently, you want to convey the meaning to a wide audience. Unfortunately, in different years, only two short films based on Mailin's works were created by order of "Kazakhfilm", so the idea of creating a full-length feature film arose," said Daniyar Salamat.

The film was shot by SoftNet Film Company by order of the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan with the support of the State Center for Support of National Cinema. The historical picture was filmed in the Almaty region, near the village of Aulieagash.

According to film critic Gulnara Abikeeva, Daniyar Salamat belongs to those Kazakh-speaking directors who "write and think in Kazakh", therefore his films "Together with Father", "Kishkentai", "Sagintai's First Wife", "Our House" are imbued with the Kazakh mentality. The film critic calls the film "Talaq" "an important brick in the overall national memory."

Note: The Shanghai International Film Festival has been held since 1993. Oliver Stone, Karen Shakhnazarov, and other filmmakers have been on its jury at various times. SIFF has long ceased to be a regional event. Celebrities from not only Asian but also world cinema come to it. Applications for participation in the competition started in mid-December 2023. By the end of March, the organizers had received over 3.3 thousand works from 105 countries and regions of the world.