Originally from Kazakhstan, Zhannat is a London-based writer/director/producer.

 

Her shorts have been screened at Cannes Film Festival 2018 - End of Season, Sundance 2019 - Paola Makes a Wish, and TIFF 2020 - History of Civilization, the latter winning the Pardino D'Argento award at Locarno). 

 

Her debut feature  A Winner is Seen at the Start - a co-production between France, Kazakhstan, Netherlands and Lithuania) is in post-production. As well as having written and directed the film, Zhannat also acts as a co-producer on it with her company Accidental Films.  

 

Her second feature Present Perfect is in development with Film 4 (UK), which will be Zhannat’s first English-language film. The project has been selected for TIFF Writers' Studio 2024 and awarded with a CHANEL fellowship.

 

Zhannat holds an MA degree in Filmmaking from the London Film School. She is an alumna of Berlinale Talents, Locarno Directing Workshop (mentored by Bela Tarr), TIFF Filmmakers Lab, TIFF Writers Studio and Pop-up film residency. She is also a Directors UK, BAFTA Connect and European Women’s Audiovisual Network member.

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