Yerden Telemissov: “Sasyq helped me to understand me better”

Invited to the “Nifff 2025”, the Kazakhstanese filmmaker presented his 1^re fiction during the demonstration. Furthermore, Following busy time jobs, the meeting could not be done on site. Consequently, But he explained to us in particular at a distance, his multiple cinematographic references. – Yerden telemissov: "sasyq helped me

Your new film is called “Sasyq” which in French means “stinking”. Consequently, Why this name? I spent a lot of time looking for the “good” name, something that would arouse curiosity and would ignite imagination. Additionally, Consequently, In Kazakhstani, “Sasyq” is quite provocative. Nevertheless, I do not believe that other artistic works in Kazakhstan are carrying such a title. Similarly, When I said it to my friends. Furthermore, they often asked me to repeat it and this yerden telemissov: “sasyq helped me reaction always had a lot of fun.

But for me, he also has a particular meaning. In addition, In history, the extraterrestrial hears everyone calls the “old man”, “Sasyq”. Meanwhile, The alien then assumes that this name means “human”. Meanwhile, In the final scene. Furthermore, when he says, “You are Sasyq, I’m Sasyq”, what he really means is: “You are human and I am human. Meanwhile, This moment gives an additional emotion to the film, undetectable at the base.

How did you start your project and found the different places? Nevertheless, I had this idea in mind for 2 years already and I spoke very often around me. Meanwhile, Almost every time, the reaction was the same: “What did you smoke when you had this idea?!” Many could not imagine what it would look like and were sure that I would not find any funding. Therefore, But I was convinced yerden telemissov: “sasyq helped me that it would suffice for a meeting of 1 hour with the right producer. Similarly, who really understood the cinema and had the financial means. Nevertheless, This person was Gulnara Sarsenova (“in the electric mist”), the most renowned producer in Kazakhstan.

We have shot in 3 different places, the main one was found in one day. When we went around the sector more. I spotted the place where we were going to build the toilets and the store. Only 200 meters away. I saw a large electric pole, a yerden telemissov: “sasyq helped me river and a bridge, which I subsequently integrated into the scenario. The mayor’s office is in fact the office of my producer. the breakage is a real courtyard that we have filmed directly.

Several allusions on Steven Spielberg are part of your film. Why then? Looking carefully, there are several tributes to other filmmakers. Like “and the extraterrestrial”, “Life is beautiful”, “Training Day” or “The Big Lebowski”. This is my way of expressing my love for cinema and paying homage to the films that have shaped me.

“Sasyq” is above all a comedy. But he talks about many serious subjects in your country, such as political problems or different social classes. Why these choices? I never intended to make a comedy. My goal was to talk about things that concern me in today’s world. But because I naturally see life positively, the result was humorous. It’s my 1^is feature film. yerden telemissov: “sasyq helped me when I watched its 1^re A purpose, I suddenly realized how naive, kind and how “Sasyq” helped me better understand.

How did you choose the costume of the extraterrestrial? It was a real challenge. I am a training biologist. so I spent hours imagining what an extraterrestrial amphibian would look like adapted to “special” environmental conditions. We had an incredible team of make -up artists. an artistic department that developed the costume and the special effects thus giving life to the extraterrestrial.

Who is the actor who played the extraterrestrial and what was the most fun scene filmed with him? It was played by Chingiz Kapin which is remarkable and also graduated from a ballet school. His physique has brought a lot to the role. For me. the funniest scene was the one where the yerden telemissov: “sasyq helped me extraterrestrial appears for the first time facing the grandmother, emerging from the depths of an external toilet, sparkling in all the colors of the rainbow.

We have built these toilets specially for filming. Below, a heated water tank was placed and the actors wore diving combinations under their costumes. What “filled” the toilets was painted plastic and cocoa.

How did the choice of distribution go? I was meticulous with the casting. We have auditioned many talented actors and chosen the best. This decision was then confirmed when the film received the “Exceptional Performance (Black Competition Horse. 2025)” at the “Fantasia” film festival in Montreal. I firmly believe that if the preproduction is well done, the shooting will take place without problem.

Almost all the sequences were shot during sunny days. Why was this choice and yerden telemissov: “sasyq helped me in reality, the weather was indulgent? We chose April-May for filming, when nature is more lush. But she still challenged us with rain and a small storm. The most difficult part was the final scene, when the spacecraft takes off from a grass field. We returned 4 nights there … One night had no wind and the grass did not move and the other time it was raining. The last one finally allowed us to finalize “Sasyq”.

If “Sasyq” comes to Neuchâtel in Switzerland, what would he do? I loved Neuchâtel. it was 1^re once I came here and I was delighted with its beauty, its warm inhabitants and its delicious cuisine. If “Sasyq” came here, he would try to stay as long as possible and meet everyone. But finally, he would feel the call of his home in Kazakhstan, in Almaty. He would return with his ship and take yerden telemissov: “sasyq helped me his new Neuchâtel friends to thank them for their hospitality.

Welcome to Kazakhstan!