Assel Aushakimova

Assel is a Kazakhstani director, screenwriter and producer. Assel graduated from the International Film Business Academy of the Busan Asian Film School in 2021. Her first feature film WELCOME TO THE USA had its world premiere at AFI Fest 2019 (New Auteurs). This is the first feature film in Kazakhstan with the protagonist from the LGBTQ community. It was awarded Grand Jury Prize as Best International Narrative Feature of NewFest New York's LGBTQ Film Festival 2020. Assel participated in the Meetings on the Bridge 2021, BOAT Meeting 2020, Script POOL Tallinn 2018 and Eurasia spotlight 2017 (special mention of the jury). She is working on her second feature film project that has been selected for the Biennale College Cinema 2020-2021 of Venice IFF.