Kazakh director Zhannat Alshanova’s debut feature Becoming (rus. – Победителей видно на старте) , produced with support from the Ministry of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan and the State Center for Support of National Cinema, has been selected for the Baltic Competition at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF).
The project was created as an international co-production with France, the Netherlands, Lithuania, and Sweden, and also received support from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The film follows 17-year-old Mila, who joins an open-water swimming team in search of independence and a way out of family turmoil. As she approaches the decisive moment, she must make a choice that will shape her future.
The cast includes Tamiris Zhangazinova (Mila), Lithuanian actor Valentin Novopolskis, Assel Kaliyeva, and Medina Sagindykova.
Filming took place in Almaty and the Almaty region in August–September 2024, while post-production was completed in summer 2025 in France, the Netherlands, and Sweden.
The world premiere took place in August 2025 at the Locarno Film Festival, one of Europe’s leading film events. The film was later screened at the Busan International Film Festival in South Korea.
The Baltic premiere is scheduled for November 19 at PÖFF, which is included in the A-class festival list by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF).