The sci-fi action film «Alter,» directed by Timo Vuorensola and starring Tom Felton, spotlights Astana as the nucleus of a futuristic society. The city’s bold architecture, needing minimal alteration, vividly conveys the cyberpunk aesthetic central to the film’s worldbuilding.
«Alter» follows Leon (Tom Felton), a wheelchair-bound rebel championing society’s marginalized «specials» with genetically modified flowers, while unraveling the societal consequences of genetic regulation. The film’s script may lack clarity, but Felton’s performance and Astana’s immersive urban landscape anchor its futuristic vision.
Kazakhstani talent also left a mark: actors Daniyar Alshinov, Linda Nigmatulina and Aleksey Filimonov appear, and cinematographer Mikhail Siryanov helped capture the city’s futuristic look. With «Alter,» Astana joins the ranks of global film locations, such as Prague and Tokyo. The film’s success could put Kazakhstan’s capital on the map for more international productions and inspire further stories, establishing Astana as a lasting symbol of cinematic futurism.
Kazakhstan is emerging as an international filming destination. With Astana’s futuristic skyline, Almaty’s dramatic mountain backdrops, and vast steppe landscapes, the country offers a rare mix of modernity and natural beauty.
