Alternativa Film Days free screenings return to Almaty

Alternativa Film Days (formerly known as Alternativa Film Screenings) celebrates cinema as a force for change — bringing together filmmakers and audiences who see storytelling not only as art, but also as a path to awareness and action. The first edition in 2024 drew over 1,500 viewers across 15 screenings. In 2025, the event expands with more films, more impact discussions, and new interactive formats: masterclasses, public talks, and direct audience engagement opportunities. Also for the first time, the film program — which includes titles from the Alternativa Film Festival 2024, works by participants in the Alternativa Film Labs, and films by Alternativa’s international partners — is organized into curated thematic sections: “She”, “Teen Stories”, and “Welcome Home”. Alternativa Film Days will take place at the ARTiSHOK Theatre and Almaty Creative Hub. All events are free to attend with prior registration.

“The Alternativa project started in Central Asia, in Kazakhstan — and while we are expanding our presence in other parts of the world, our team continues to work actively in this region and in this country. A vivid example is Alternativa Film Days — an event that this year not only returns to Almaty, but does so on a larger, more diverse, and more dynamic scale. This time, we’ve made an even greater effort to ensure that the films we screen don’t end with the closing credits, but continue through public dialogue and real change.”
— Liza Surganova, Head of Alternativa

The program spans fiction, documentary, and animation — both short and feature-length. Many of the selected films were shortlisted or awarded at the Alternativa Film Festival 2024 and include stories from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Also featured are works by participants in the Alternativa Film Labs, including We Live Here by Kazakh filmmaker Zhanana Kurmasheva (a graduate of the Alternativa Development Lab 2023), and shorts created by teens from Tashkent during the Alternativa Teen Lab 2024. This year marks the inclusion of Latin America as Alternativa’s new focus region, with screenings of films from Mexico and Colombia — the latter being the host country of the Alternativa Film Festival 2026.

For the first time, the program is organized into curated thematic sections that reflect urgent contemporary issues. “She” highlights women’s voices and perspectives in cinema. “Teen Stories” presents stories told by and about youth, challenging the world and themselves. “Welcome Home” explores home as both a personal and political space, not only a source of comfort but a cause to fight for.

“Last year, during Alternativa’s first public film screenings in Almaty, I was struck by how deeply and openly people responded to stories set far away — in the mountains of Nepal or on the streets of the Philippines. Audiences found something personal in them, because it’s not about geography — it’s about shared emotions: the longing for justice, the fight to protect what matters, the hope for a better life. This year, we’re bringing even more powerful and honest stories from around the world, and we’ll be discussing them with local activists and changemakers who are working for progress right here, every day. We also give viewers the chance to get involved — whether by donating, volunteering, or sharing important information. Alternativa Film Days is about building a community of people who care — connecting everyday audiences with businesses, media, and NGOs. Because cinema isn’t just about what happens on screen — it can be the beginning of real change.”
— Masha Shcherbakova, Impact Distribution Manager at Alternativa

More than 35 speakers, including human rights advocates, journalists, psychologists, and environmentalists, will lead impact discussions following selected screenings — connecting global issues to local realities in Kazakhstan and Central Asia, and inspiring audiences to consider their role in driving change. Among them are lawyer Zhanna Urazbahova, journalist and screenwriter Asem Zhapisheva, women's financial and digital literacy advocate Roza Ashirbaeva, documentary filmmaker Rinat Balgabaev, actress and social activist Ainur Ilyasova, and environmentalist Evgeniy Muhamedzhanov. A dedicated series of public talks will explore cinema as a tool for social transformation. These sessions are linked to Alternativa’s Impact Distribution Lab — a program for producers and changemakers from Central Asia, launching in fall 2025. 

New in 2025 is an emphasis on direct audience participation in social change. Working with local partners, Alternativa invites viewers to go beyond the screen and take meaningful action. One such initiative is tied to the Mexican film State Of Silence,  which addresses the challenges journalists face today, including the spread of disinformation. The independent fact-checking platform Factcheck.kz will help educate audiences on media literacy. A campaign with EcoMuseum, an environmental NGO in Karaganda, is inspired by We Live Here, about life near the Semipalatinsk nuclear testing site. EcoMuseum will offer a free course module and invite viewers to become ambassadors for environmental justice.

Partners of Alternativa Film Days 2025
Technical Partner — Panasonic Kazakhstan
Venues — ARTiSHOK Theatre, Almaty Creative Hub
Media Partners — Orda.kz, Caravan.kz
Impact Partners — Factcheck.kz, EcoMuseum

The full program of Alternativa Film Days is available here. Register for the events of your choice — and join us for change on screen and change within!