The Kazakhstan premiere of the documentary "River Dreams" by director Kristina Mikhailova took place in Almaty. The screening took place at the Tselinny Center for Contemporary Culture as part of the QYZQARAS Film Festival.
The film opened the festival program and marked the first opportunity for Kazakhstani audiences to see the film on the big screen since its international premiere. The premiere screening was held to a full house, and afterward, viewers met with the filmmakers for a Q&A.
"River Dreams" tells the story of the 130-kilometer journey of the Aksai River—from glaciers to the steppe. The film centers on the stories of women living along its banks. Documentary interviews are combined with dreams, poetic imagery, and observations of nature, and the river itself becomes a metaphor for feminine strength, memory, and inner movement.
The film took five years to complete. During this time, the team collected over 100 interviews, which gradually coalesced into a unified collective voice of women in Kazakhstan. This approach allowed the filmmakers to go beyond mere documentary observation and create a film in which personal testimonies become part of a larger conversation about life, the earth, and human resilience.
The international premiere of "River Dreams" took place at the Berlin International Film Festival, where it won the Ecumenical Jury Prize. Kristina Mikhailova served as director, producer, and production designer. Dana Sabitova served as producer.
Due to strong audience interest, the organizers have added additional screenings. The next screening will take place on August 31 at 7:00 PM at the Arman Cinema. Following the screening, there will be a meeting with the film's director and actresses.