Kazakhstan Films Make SXSW London 2026 Splash With No Need for Borat
If you think that film from Kazakhstan equals Borat, the fictional character created by Sacha Baron Cohen, you may want to think again – and come out to the Screen Festival at SXSW London 2026 for the latest cinematic evidence. After all, Kazakhstan is back in town and ready to make a splash. Anna Bogutskaya, the head of screen at SXSW London, and her team have booked an eclectic mix of theatrical and series offerings. But Kazakhstani cinema features more prominently than most would expect from the Central Asian country with a population of about 21 million. “We’ve got two features from Kazakhstan this year,” which both get to celebrate their U.K. premieres at the fest, highlights Bogutskaya, along with a short. “That is a territory that is just exploding. There’s so much [going on].” The one film is Zhannat Alshanova’s debut feature Becoming, about teenage swimmer Mila (portrayed by Tamiris Zhangazinova), who takes care of the family home and her kid sister while her mother pursues affairs and opportunities. It premiered at Locarno 2025. ‘Becoming’ film …
