Kazakhstani drama film «Spark,» directed by Aqtolgai Rakhmatulla, earned two awards at the Pigeon International Film Festival, which took place in the Icelandic town of Ísafjörður.
Judges awarded Best Support Acting to Aigerim Sharipbek in the Features category, and Best Directing to Aqtolgai Rakhmatulla in the same category.
The film tells the story of a boy named Akan, a talented musician whose life changes after the tragic death of his father. His mother, afraid that her husband’s fate will repeat, forbids her son from playing the dombra or even going to school. Deprived of his main calling, the hero goes through a painful journey of growing up to return to music, overcoming his fear and inhibitions.
The screenings took place at Ísafjarðarbíó, the movie theater in Ísafjörður, and at the Kaupfélagið Súðavík Cultural Centre in Súðavík.
Separately, in April, the Kazakh ethnic-inspired horror movie «Zheztyrnak» was recognized by the Bloody Horror International Film Festival in Canada, reaching the semifinals of the festival at the time.
