LOS ANGELES — ‘Shericks,’ a gripping drama directed by Nurdulla Balmanov, has earned two accolades at the Global Film Festival Awards 2025 in Los Angeles: Best Independent Film and an Honorable Mention from the jury. Inspired by the lost masterpiece ‘Zhymak Kystary,’ the film blends nostalgia with a profound story about time, forgiveness, and the value of human connection.
When Patricia’s mother mysteriously vanishes during a visit to an old acquaintance, she races to a small border town, only to find herself entangled in a game of cat and mouse where no one is who they seem. Uncovering shocking secrets from her mother’s hidden past, Patricia pieces together scattered clues to find her before it’s too late. The film interweaves two eras — 2003 and the present — illustrating the clash between youthful dreams and the harsh realities of adulthood.
In a standout supporting role, Assol Abdullina — winner of Best Actress and Best Screenplay at the Tribeca Festival 2020 — delivers an emotionally charged performance, joined by actors from the original ‘Zhymak Kystary’ cast reprising their roles after two decades. Inspired by Martin Scorsese’s ‘The Irishman,’ Balmanov combined restored VHS footage from the lost 2003 film by Talgat Asyrankulov and Gaziz Nasyrov with newly shot scenes, shifting between 4:3 and 1.85:1 formats to contrast the sincerity of youth with the cynicism of maturity. The film is dedicated to production designer Bayish Ismanov, for whom it was a final contribution before his passing.
“‘Shericks’ is a story about how time shapes us and how loss and forgiveness lead to new discoveries,” Balmanov said. The film was produced by RED7, an independent film company from Kazakhstan.
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Watch: View the trailer on Vimeo.
