TCA Interviews - The Times Of Central Asia

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Yerkinbek Ptyraliyev

From VHS Tapes to Cannes and the Academy: Kazakh Cinematographer Yerkinbek Ptyraliyev on His Craft

Kazakh cinematographer Yerkinbek Ptyraliyev has built an international reputation through his collaborations with director Adilkhan Yerzhanov. Their film The Masters, released in 2014, was selected for the Cannes Film Festival and later screened at major festivals in Venice, Berlin, and other international venues. In 2024, Ptyraliyev became the first Kazakh cinematographer invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. In an interview with The Times of Central Asia, he spoke about the role of a cinematographer, the technical challenges of filming night scenes in the steppe, and why the Kazakh school of cinematography is increasingly recognized as a distinct brand. TCA: You recently returned from the Berlin International Film Festival, where your team’s new film, Adilkhan Yerzhanov’s Turghaud, was screened. What are your impressions? Yerkinbek: Very positive. Our film was received very warmly. There was an engaging discussion after the screening, and it is always valuable to receive immediate feedback rather than hearing reactions later. We sat in the theater and listened to what the audience was saying. It was especially interesting to hear their interpretations. There were many different perspectives. TCA: Does the perception of foreign audiences differ significantly from that of Kazakh audiences? When I watched the film, it seemed primarily aimed at a domestic audience. Yerkinbek: I think every filmmaker wants their work to be seen everywhere. I am convinced that cinema has no borders. This year, the Golden Bear at the Berlinale went to a Turkish film, a movie entirely in Turkish, about Turks and Turkey, but shot in Berlin. That did not prevent it from winning. Language and national context are not limitations; on the contrary, they are resources. We need to support them both in everyday life and in cinema. Adilkhan’s films are universal precisely because he speaks about issues that matter to any modern person. That is why they resonate beyond our own country. TCA: I remember receiving accreditation for the Cannes Film Festival as a journalist when Adilkhan Yerzhanov was invited there for the first time with the film The Hosts, which you shot. Did that open the door to major cinema for you? Yerkinbek: Absolutely. It was my debut film and such an immediate success. After that project, foreign directors began to notice me. For example, I started receiving invitations to work in Turkey, where I shot two contemporary dramas. The first passed relatively quietly, but the second attracted significant attention from Turkish audiences. It was directed by Nazif Tun. Until then, he had spent his career making television films and series, but that project was his feature-film debut. I watched his previous work, it was very close to cinematic language, even though he himself insisted it was television rather than cinema. TCA: Did you ever consider moving to Turkey? The market there is still larger than ours. Yerkinbek: No. In recent years I have not even had the opportunity to go there. First, the timing has not worked out. Second, not every story resonates with me. So far,...

Chocolate

How a Family-Run Mini-Factory in Almaty Ships Chocolate to Belgium and Switzerland

Nurlan and Zhaniya Orynbayev are Kazakhstani chocolatiers known for creating distinctive desserts inspired by national traditions. Their creations include sweet yurts, chocolate mountain landscapes, a chocolate version of the Kazakhstan Hotel filled with zhent (a traditional dessert made from roasted millet, butter, and honey), chocolate with kurt, and other culinary experiments. Nurlan is also a musician and a member of the Kazakhstani hip-hop group Dayinball. In an interview with The Times of Central Asia, the couple spoke about how the chocolate version of one of Almaty’s main landmarks was created, what sweets Kazakh consumers prefer, how to choose high-quality kurt, and how the global cocoa bean shortage has affected their business. TCA: Nurlan, you are sometimes called the “Kazakh Willy Wonka.” It seems you were among the first chocolatiers in Kazakhstan. How do you feel about that? Nurlan: In fact, my wife Zhaniya was the one who started our chocolate business. She was the first to learn confectionery techniques and how to work with chocolate, and then she taught me. I simply began posting videos of the process on social media, and they became popular. Now the brand is often associated with me, but the real mastermind behind the project is Zhaniya. She develops all the ideas and recipes. Our coffee shops, our confectionery line, the brand image, and at least 60% of our products are thanks to her. TCA: So is Zhaniya the driving force behind your chocolate mini-factory? Nurlan: You could say that. She has a deep understanding not only of confectionery but of gastronomy in general. She can taste a dish and almost break it down into its components, what has been added and which ingredients work well together. I did not have that kind of intuition. I had never worked with food or desserts before. But gradually I became more involved and began to understand the process better. TCA: Zhaniya, you are said to have come up with the chocolate shaped like the Kazakhstan Hotel. Tell us about it. Zhaniya: Yes, that was my idea. It is a chocolate structure weighing about 130 grams, made in the shape of the famous hotel. We produce it in both milk and dark chocolate. We experimented with fillings for a long time, but eventually settled on zhent, a traditional Kazakh dessert made from roasted and ground millet with butter and sugar. Customers really like it. TCA: You used to make this dessert only for Nauryz, but now you produce it year-round? Zhaniya: Yes, and it happened almost by accident. Once, a restaurant critic connected with the World’s Best Restaurants ranking visited us. We treated her to various chocolates, but she liked the chocolate with zhent the most. She wanted to buy more, but we had run out. We did not want to disappoint her, so we urgently decided to make a new batch and began searching for good talkan, one of the ingredients in zhent. We found it and quickly prepared everything. The process was quite chaotic. Our daughter...

Frankfurt Book Fair

Frankfurt Book Fair Director: Kazakhstan Could Become Future Guest of Honor

In recent years, Kazakhstan has become increasingly active at the Frankfurter Buchmesse, the Frankfurt Book Fair. Each year, a national stand brings together publishers and literary institutions that engage with international partners and expand professional networks. Participation in this global event has supported a range of initiatives aimed at introducing Kazakh literature and culture to a broader international audience. On this occasion, we spoke with Juergen Boos, Director of the Frankfurter Buchmesse, about opportunities for entering the global publishing market and the significance of becoming a Guest of Honor at the Frankfurt Book Fair. TCA: As the world’s largest book fair, what new mission or direction is the Frankfurter Buchmesse pursuing today? Juergen Boos: Frankfurter Buchmesse today serves not only as the world’s leading marketplace for rights and content but also as a global platform for cultural exchange and professional dialogue. In a rapidly evolving geopolitical and technological environment, our mission is to strengthen international publishing networks, uphold freedom of expression, and facilitate sustainable cooperation across regions. We aim to connect established and emerging markets alike, encouraging long-term partnerships that extend well beyond the fair itself. TCA: What major changes have you observed in the global publishing industry in recent years? Juergen Boos: The publishing industry is undergoing significant structural transformation. Digital distribution channels, audio formats, evolving licensing models, and the growing application of artificial intelligence are reshaping the sector. At the same time, we are witnessing gradual diversification in the global publishing landscape. Regions that previously had limited international visibility are increasingly seeking engagement beyond their domestic markets. Central Asia is among those regions demonstrating a clear interest in strengthening its international profile, which adds valuable perspectives to the global literary conversation. [caption id="attachment_45243" align="alignnone" width="300"] Photo credit: Frankfurter Buchmesse[/caption] TCA: How are digital technologies and artificial intelligence transforming the book market? Juergen Boos: Digital technologies and AI are influencing translation processes, metadata management, copyright issues, discoverability, and market analysis both positively and negatively. On the positive side, AI can increase efficiency and expand access to content. We are already seeing AI evolve from an experimental tool into an integral part of everyday publishing practice. For me, however, literature remains fundamentally human in its origin and intention. Storytelling, cultural nuance, and intellectual depth cannot be automated. The key challenge for the publishing sector lies in integrating technological innovation responsibly while preserving creative integrity and editorial independence. TCA: Can literature help strengthen mutual understanding between nations? If so, how? Juergen Boos: Yes, I believe it can. Literature allows readers to understand other societies through lived experiences rather than political abstractions. Through translation and international circulation, books foster empathy and cultural literacy. Book fairs provide a structured professional framework for such exchange. They enable sustained relationships between publishers, authors, and institutions, thereby contributing to long-term cultural understanding. TCA: Has the importance of books and cultural dialogue increased in today’s geopolitical climate? Juergen Boos: In times of uncertainty and polarization, the role of thoughtful cultural dialogue becomes even more significant. Books create...

TCA Interviews

Can Special Economic Zones Become a Driver of Economic Growth in Kazakhstan?

Kazakhstan currently has 17 special economic zones (SEZs) operating across 14 regions, three of which were created in 2025. How effective is this tool for attracting investment, reducing import dependence, and developing exports? And how will the SEZ model evolve within the framework of the Single Coordination Center? Yerlan Kusainov, Deputy Chairman of the Board of JSC Kazakhstan Center for Industry and Export “QazIndustry,” discussed these issues with The Times of Central Asia. TCA: Kazakhstan currently has 17 SEZs. How many companies operate in them, and what is the total volume of production? Kusainov: There are 1,144 participants registered in SEZ territories. Of these, 558 projects are already operational, while another 586 are in the implementation stage. Since the establishment of the zones, enterprises have produced goods worth 13.9 trillion tenge (about $28 billion). The current occupancy rate of the SEZs is 42.4%. This indicator is dynamic and may change as new contracts are signed or as some participants cease operations. TCA: What types of products are manufactured in the SEZs, and how does this contribute to reducing import dependence? Kusainov: The SEZs cover a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, construction, transport and logistics, and tourism. For example, the Aktau Seaport SEZ is implementing projects in the chemical industry, including the production of caustic soda and hydrochloric acid by Topan Chemical Industries. These products are widely used in metallurgy, the oil and gas industry, and water treatment. Previously, a significant portion of such products was imported, but production is now being localized in Kazakhstan. A major petrochemical cluster is being formed in the Jibek Joly SEZ. Projects there include the production of mineral fertilizers, chemical reagents, and polymer products. Participating companies include HIM-plus, KPM Plast, Chemical Engineering, and C9 Technologies. These projects are expected to supply the domestic market while also supporting exports. In the Pavlodar SEZ, projects are being implemented in metallurgy and petrochemicals. These include the production of calcined petroleum coke by UPNC-PV, car wheels by Vector Pavlodar, and aluminum ingots and alloys by LeichtMetall KZ and Unimetals. These products are exported to markets in Europe and Asia. The Ontustik SEZ focuses on the textile industry, where a full cotton-processing cycle has been established, from raw materials to finished products. Enterprises there produce cotton and synthetic yarn, carpets, and other textile goods. Another important site is the Park of Innovative Technologies SEZ, where projects in digital technologies and electronics are being developed. Key participants include the Institute of Physics and Technology, KT Cloud Lab, which is building a data center, and DS Multimedia CA, which manufactures electronic components. Together, these projects contribute to reducing import dependence and building export-oriented industries. TCA: What is the export volume of SEZ enterprises? Kusainov: The total export volume from SEZ enterprises has reached about $2 billion. In 2025 alone, exports amounted to approximately $490 million, compared with $148 million in 2021, an increase of 231%. TCA: How much investment has been attracted through the SEZs? Kusainov: Over the entire period of...

Anar Burasheva

From Africa to Antarctica: How Kazakh Mountaineer Anar Burasheva Conquered Seven Continents

Mountaineer Anar Burasheva is the first Kazakh woman to climb the highest peaks on all seven continents and has already summited three of the world’s fourteen eight-thousanders. Her path is demanding and dangerous, yet, as she notes, it is achievable with discipline and preparation. On some summits, she can remain only for a few seconds, as lingering would be unsafe; on others, she is able to pause briefly, take in the view, and absorb the scale of the landscape. Above 8,000 meters, however, one rule always applies: descend on time. In an interview with The Times of Central Asia, Burasheva discusses why the mountains erase distinctions of gender, why turning back can be the wisest decision, and how extreme altitude reveals a person’s true character. TCA: You are in high demand right now. Is that because you are one of the few women engaged in such an extreme sport? Burasheva: That plays a role, but I think the main reason is that the approach to covering such achievements has changed. In the past, women’s accomplishments in our society did not receive sufficient attention. Now the opposite is true, and that’s good; it creates role models for young girls. TCA: You are currently in Ridder, in East Kazakhstan. Is that your hometown? Is that where your love of mountaineering began? Burasheva: Ridder is where my mother lives. I was born in Serebryansk, also in East Kazakhstan, but our family moved to Ridder long ago, and from there I later moved to Almaty. Yes, the region is mountainous. Our peaks are not as high as those near Almaty, but they are wilder, two- and three-thousand-meter mountains. From certain points in Serebryansk, you can clearly see Mount Belukha, about 4,500 meters high, with its snow-white summit covered in glaciers year-round. TCA: Have you climbed it? Burasheva: Not yet. Even though it is lower than the eight-thousanders I have climbed, it still requires serious preparation. It’s a difficult peak. I hope to climb it this year or next. My love for the mountains began in childhood in East Kazakhstan, but my passion for high-altitude mountaineering developed in Almaty. TCA: You became the first Kazakh woman to complete the Seven Summits. What did you feel standing on the final summit? Burasheva: Pride and gratitude that everything worked out despite the difficulties. But emotions depend on the summit and the weather. On Denali, the highest peak in North America, we stayed on top for just 11 seconds. We took photos and immediately descended because of strong winds. One person in our group showed signs of frostbite; the tip of their nose turned white, so we had to leave quickly. TCA: And on Everest? Burasheva: We stayed about half an hour. Conditions were more favorable. But Everest is above 8,000 meters, the so-called death zone, and you cannot remain there long because oxygen is limited. On Aconcagua, by contrast, it was so warm that I was even able to rest briefly at the summit while waiting for...

TCA Interviews

Uzbekistan’s Ambassador to Kazakhstan on Regional Integration and a Shifting Global Order

Amid shifting regional dynamics and an evolving global order, Uzbekistan has emerged as one of Central Asia’s most proactive diplomatic and economic actors. Since 2016, Tashkent has pursued an ambitious reform agenda at home while expanding cooperation with its neighbors and major global powers. In a wide-ranging interview with TCA, His Excellency Bakhtiyor Ibragimov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Kazakhstan, discusses regional integration, strategic partnerships, Afghanistan, China, and the future of economic diplomacy in Central Asia. TCA: Mr. Ambassador, Uzbekistan has demonstrated significant economic progress in recent years. What do you see as the key drivers behind this success? Ambassador Ibragimov: First of all, welcome to the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Astana. We are familiar with your publication. We read it often, follow it, and analyze it. I would start with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev taking office at the end of 2016. It is no secret that until 2016, the Republic of Uzbekistan, despite its potential, was a fairly closed country. Our president always asks us, his representatives abroad, to speak openly about this. You cannot rewrite history or hide it. Relations with our neighbors were, frankly, at a very low level, and with some, there were no relations at all. The end of 2016 was a turning point, when reforms were not only declared but implemented and are now yielding results. One of President Mirziyoyev’s first foreign-policy priorities was normalization, and I want to emphasize this: normalization and then improving relations with neighbors. There is a saying in Uzbekistan: "If your neighbor is doing well, then you will also do well." Today, nearly a decade later, we can see that this policy is yielding results. Please note: this is not my personal assessment, but the assessment of international experts who recognize that the President has managed to achieve what once seemed impossible. I am speaking about regional integration with our neighbors. For example, a key issue for Central Asia is water. Many analysts warn that competition for water resources could, in the future, become a potential source of conflict. Two main rivers feed the region. Unfortunately, due to climate change, water volumes are not increasing year by year, while consumption is rising. We have managed to resolve almost all issues to date. In particular, based on the level of accumulation in the autumn-winter period in the upper reaches of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers, and taking into account irrigation needs during the growing season, our water specialists jointly agree on and ensure the necessary water discharge within an agreed time frame. Uzbekistan, as you know, is located in the very center of Central Asia, bordering all Central Asian states, as well as Afghanistan. Today, border issues have largely been resolved. The final chord was struck on March 31, 2025, when the leaders of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan signed an agreement on the border junction point, confirming the point of convergence of the three countries’ state borders. It should also be...