About
Founded in 2017, Almaty Indie Film Festival is an independent film festival in Almaty, Kazakhstan, open to filmmakers worldwide. The 2026 edition has been rescheduled to January 15–17, 2027 and will combine online programming with selected in-person screenings and events in Almaty.
ALMATY INDIE FILM FESTIVAL
Festival in focus
Screenings, conversations and the people of Almaty Indie Film Festival — from the early editions to new additions to our photo collection.
The 2026 edition of Almaty Indie Film Festival has been rescheduled to January 15–17, 2027, continuing its mission to celebrate independent cinema, compelling storytelling, and distinctive directorial voices.
Almaty Indie Film Festival connects independent filmmakers from Kazakhstan and around the world. We value bold ideas, original stories and a distinctive directorial voice, whatever the size of the production budget.
Independent cinema. Open dialogue.
The festival introduces audiences to new voices and supports both emerging and established independent filmmakers. Programmes across different editions have included narrative films, documentaries, shorts, features, animation and music videos.
Screenings are complemented by conversations and educational events. In 2018, DEPO Evolution Park hosted Katerina Suvorova’s workshop on pitching and international film funds.
2026 edition: online and in Almaty
The next edition will use a hybrid format: online programming, selected in-person screenings and festival events in Almaty. The programme may include filmmaker Q&As, discussions, workshops, masterclasses and an announcement of the winners.
Online exhibition requires separate rights-holder authorization. Declining it does not affect Official Selection status or award eligibility. An in-person screening is not guaranteed for every selected work; full conditions are available on the For filmmakers page.
2026 Edition · January 2027
The next Almaty Indie Film Festival is scheduled for 15–17 January 2027. Submissions for the new edition are open in 2026. The published FilmFreeway schedule lists the late deadline as 30 November 2026 and the notification date as 1 December 2026.
Current categories, deadlines and submission rules are available on the festival’s official FilmFreeway profile.
Organisers
Festival Director — Abdel Yelyubayev.
Almaty Indie Film Festival is an independent, non-profit initiative, open to filmmakers from different countries, generations and creative backgrounds.
Festival history
- 2017
The inaugural festival took place online.
- 2018–2019
In-person screenings and events in Almaty: DEPO Evolution Park in 2018 and FourЭ in 2019.
- 2020–2021
Both editions took place entirely online, including the 2021 festival.
- 2022–2025
A hiatus: no festival editions were held.
- 2026 → 2027
Submissions in 2026. The next festival is scheduled for 15–17 January 2027.
