DIRECTOR'S BIOGRAPHY:

Akan was born in Karaganda, Kazakhstan. After graduating high school in 1988, he worked as an assistant director in Karaganda local television. In 1994, he graduated from Almaty Institute of Theatre and Arts- with an emphasis in Television Directing. Starting in 1994, Akan directed and produced the films “Strayed” and “Zhauzhurek Myng Bala”. He graduated from the Zhurgenov Academy of Arts, receiving a diploma in Film Directing. In 2003, Akan created the “Sataifilm” production company, the largest privately held film studio in Kazakhstan to date. As a director and producer in 2007, Akan made his first feature film, “Reketir”. The film became a critical and commercial success.  After two years, the thriller feature film, “The Lost” (2009) and the 6-series family saga, “Agaiyndy/Brothers” (2009) was released jointly, premiering on Kazakhstan television. In 2012, Akan received the prestigious Honored Worker of Kazakhstan award. His first English-language full-length film was “Hacker”, which was produced in 2014 with American actors, and was filmed in Canada, Thailand, Hong Kong and the United States. Astana Film Fund was founded in 2016, one of the leaders of which is Akan. The main purpose of the fund is to support Kazakhstan`s young filmmakers and continued production of commercial films. His most recent feature film, “Alone”, premiered at the Busan IFF in 2017.