Kazakhstan chooses Amanat for Oscars

Kazakhstan has selected Amanat, a historical drama by Satybaldy Narymbetov, as its entry for the foreign-language film category at the 89th Academy Awards.

The film draws links between struggles against the Russian powers in the 19th century and two periods of 20th century history centering on former political prisoner Ermukhan Bekmakhanov, who faced 25 years in prison for penning books about Kenesary Kasymov, leader of the Kazakh national liberation movement.

If selected, Amanat will be Kazakhstan’s second film to be shortlisted for the foreign-language film category at the Oscars. Sergei Bodrov’s Mongol got onto the foreign-language shortlist in 2007, making Kazakhstan the only Central Asian country so far to have been nominated for the award.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter