The first session of the “Silver University” program in Kazakh Film Art took place

On November 17, 2025, the first session of the “Silver University” program in Kazakh Film Art took place.

The session was held as a joint educational event where students of the Film and TV faculty — members of the “Shaken” film club — met with the participants of the Silver University and the creators of the film “To Be or Not to Be?” (2014), directed by Azizzhan Zairov and Mukhamed Mamyrbekov.

The film tells the story of a young man with cerebral palsy who immerses himself in the role of Hamlet in order to answer the question “To be or not to be?” The philosophical drama was perceived by the course participants as a reflection on the meaning of life, human nature, and human destiny. The involvement of actors with real disabilities contributed to an authentic depiction of the environment and the challenges faced by people with limited abilities.

Representatives of ARDI Public Association (Association of Parents of Children with Disabilities) were invited to the session:

• – A. T. Akhtanova — Chair of ARDI
• – A. Abenova — Head of ARDI ART Creative Center
• – A. Veritas — Acting Instructor at ARDI
• – Venera Tokabayeva — Assistant to the Chair of ARDI
• – Sauran Kasteyev — Occupational Therapy Instructor, ARDI Designer
• – Takhir Umarov — Lead Actor
• – Mukhamed Mamyrbekov — Film Director
• – N. A. Bazhenova — Widow of A. Zairov, the film’s director
  
  

The joint format of the session was welcomed by all participants as a positive experience of intergenerational dialogue.

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