WELCOME TO THE USA New Auteurs

WELCOME TO THE USA

World Premiere

Talent attending: Assel Aushakimova (Director), Zhanna Utarbayeva (Co-Producer)

WELCOME TO THE USA is a quiet, yet powerful, film exploring concepts of family, migration, gender inequity, sexual identity and the things we lose and gain when deciding to leave our homeland for the unknown. As she waits to return to the U.S. Embassy for her exit visa, 36-year-old Aliya (played stunningly by newcomer Saltanat Nauruz) shares meals with her elderly mother, has sleepovers with her Muslim convert sister, gets advice from her best friend while viewing Soviet Era monuments in a snow storm, and reunites with her on-off-girlfriend for what may be the last time. Director Assel Aushakimova’s film shares a slice of Kazakhstani city life and the semi-hidden existence of the LGBTQ community in Almaty. –Eric Moore

Assel Aushakimova was born in Almaty, Kazakhstan. She had a career in banking before turning to filmmaking. Assel graduated from film school in Almaty in 2016 and directed, wrote and produced two short films. WELCOME TO THE USA is her feature debut.

Assel Aushakimova
Risk Pictures
assel.aushakimova@gmail.com
+7 777 386 4246

Details

Year: 2019

Director: Assel Aushakimova

Screenwriter: Assel Aushakimova

Producers: Assel Aushakimova, Zhanna Utarbayeva

Director of Photography: Sardar Baymoldin

Editor: Azamat Altybasov

Production Designer: Nazim Marat

Cast/Featuring: Saltanat Nauruz, Aida Zhetpissova, Dinara Aliyeva, Daniyar Beisov, Kul-Sara, Sultana Bektasova

Running Time (minutes): 95 min

Languages: Kazakh, Russian

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