Private Project

Happy Independence Day

A fast-forward metaphor for Kazakhstan's path to look for a new identity through the image of a middle-aged man Marat who loses his meaning in life after the death of his love. His dissatisfaction with the new society increases and the fear of remaining unnecessary to anyone scares him. Marat tries to find a new sense of life against all societal, economic, and political changes in the country through work and his son's pride but finds it completely different.

  • Camila Sagyntkan
    Director
  • Camila Sagyntkan
    Writer
  • Camila Sagyntkan
    Producer
  • Erkin Gubashev
    Key Cast
    "Marat"
  • Kamila Fun So
    Key Cast
    "Zarina"
  • Timur Ospanov
    Key Cast
    "Formar official"
  • Raushan Izmaganbetova
    Key Cast
    "Zaure Rakhimovna"
  • Nurbek Maksotov
    Key Cast
    "Teacher"
  • Dinmukhammed Kozhamuratov
    Key Cast
    "Gopnik"
  • Sabyr Khasenov
    Key Cast
    "Grandfather"
  • Adalyat Uzakova
    Key Cast
    "Grandmother"
  • Maikamal Kairbayeva
    Key Cast
    "Grandmother"
  • Garry Goldman
    Co-producer
  • Yevgeniya Moreva
    Executive producer
  • Ainur Beisenova
    First assistant director
  • Ayan Marokkansky
    Production designer
  • Dinmukhammed Kozhamuratov
    Assist. production designer
  • Anel Bakeshova
    Cotume designer / Casting director
  • Amina Moldaliyeva
    Assist. costume designer
  • Beibarys Kuatbek
    Assist. costume designer
  • Beibarys Kuatbek
    Assist. casting director
  • Yerbol Sabyrov
    Assist. casting director
  • Aliya Orakbayeva
    Make up artist
  • Yekaterina Chistyunina
    Hair stylist
  • Pavel Yankevich
    Director of photography
  • Nikita Epifanov
    Drone operator
  • Nurgissa Jamanov
    Second assist. camera
  • Alibek Ashimov
    Focus puller
  • Maksim Pupisov
    Mech. zoom
  • Dmitriy Lee
    Gaffers
  • Sultan Kakimbekov
    Gaffers
  • Talgat Seridzhan
    Gaffers
  • Eldar Dzhabrailov
    DIT playback
  • Azat Seil
    DIT playback
  • Vladislav Ignatovich
    DIT playback
  • Leonid Pivovarov
    Group equipment
  • Ilya Gariyev
    Sound
  • Yerkhat Sembek
    Boom operator
  • Rafis Zaripov
    Accordinist
  • Yerassyl Baibolov
    Editors
  • Camila Sagyntkan
    Editors
  • Shyngys Bogdanov
    Editors
  • Pavel Yankevich
    Colorists
  • Meirman Makhatov
    Colorists
  • Sanai
    Graphic designer
  • Sukhrab Tursunov
    Graphic designer
  • Nurzhan Tulegenov
    Animator
  • Ilyas Daulbaev
    Poster designer
  • Kamilya Zhakiyanova
    Storyboarder
  • Abdulaziz Mavlyanov
    Translators
  • Camila Sagyntkan
    Translators
  • Kirill Kolesnik
    Administration
  • Daniyar Omarov
    Administration
  • Samat Ashikbaev
    Administration
  • Ramil Malkeev
    Production service catering
  • Temirhan Iskakov
    Production service catering
  • Alim Nurov
    Production service catering
  • Nurali Nurov
    Production service catering
  • Ali-Osman Rasilov
    Production service catering
  • Zhanna Abisheva
    Production service catering
  • Sunkar Kabylov
    Choreographer
  • Sultan Kakimbekov
    Drivers
  • Bulat Darmentayev
    Drivers
  • Kayrat Rasulbekov
    Drivers
  • Inkar Berdimurat
    Children Cast
  • Alisa Nazarova
    Children Cast
  • Amina Suleimen
    Children Cast
  • Zhangir Suleimen
    Children Cast
  • Andrei Dadenko
    Children Cast
  • Dima Dadenko
    Children Cast
  • Sasha Dadenko
    Children Cast
  • Miras Kuzenbaev
    Children Cast
  • Eva Kogai
    Children Cast
  • Ramazan Makabatuly
    Children Cast
  • Medina Nurzhankyzy
    Children Cast
  • Aiaru Sapar
    Children Cast
  • Aglaya Bilenko
    Children Cast
  • Zhanat Kausar
    Children Cast
  • Niyaz Shayakhmetov
    The series' voice actors
  • Camila Sagyntkan
    The series' voice actors
  • Ivan Katkov
    The series' voice actors
  • Pavel Yankevich
    The series' voice actors
  • Yerassyl Baibolov
    The series' voice actors
  • Anel Bakeshova
    The series' voice actors
  • Yerkebulan Kurishbayev
    Special thanks
  • Abylay Ashimov
    Special thanks
  • Marlen Abishev
    Special thanks
  • Shyngys Bogdanov
    Special thanks
  • Akzhan Dzhangarin
    Extras
  • Vasilina Gaidrik
    Extras
  • Kamila Amangeldieva
    Extras
  • Aruzhan Amirkhamzina
    Extras
  • Aruzhan Babisheva
    Extras
  • Amina Ispergenova
    Extras
  • Akan Strukov
    Extras
  • Miras Akhan
    Extras
  • Nurbek Baltabai
    Extras
  • Mariyam Tileu
    Extras
  • Aidana Kusainova
    Extras
  • Azat Kenin
    Extras
  • Altynai Kozhantaeva
    Extras
  • Ruslan Nasybulin
    Extras
  • Olzhas Kokesh
    Extras
  • Aleksei Zybin
    Extras
  • Roza Uruzbaeva
    Extras
  • Dinara Kunypiyaev
    Extras
  • Makhabbat Sarmanova
    Extras
  • Tursun Tursunkanova
    Extras
  • Sarsenbai Erezhepov
    Extras
  • Meruert Nuradinova
    Extras
  • Lyazzat Tleubergenova
    Extras
  • Asel Miroshnikova
    Extras
  • Zhankhozha
    Extras
  • Adilet
    Extras
  • Gulbanu Belgibaeva
    Extras
  • Erbol Sabyrov
    Extras
  • Lyudmila Airinkina
    Extras
  • Nadezhda Nikulina
    Extras
  • Faiza Akhmetova
    Extras
  • Aset Dyusembek
    Extras
  • Akku Rakhmetkalieva
    Extras
  • Nurzhan Mukhambetov
    Extras
  • Alinur Berik
    Extras
  • Akezhan Zhaksylykov
    Extras
  • Nursipat Mauletov
    Extras
  • Slava
    Extras
  • Meruert Nuradinova
    Extras
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    16 minutes 29 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 16, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    6,700 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Kazakhstan
  • Country of Filming:
    Kazakhstan
  • Language:
    Kazakh, Russian
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, Raw, RED 8K, cooke s4
  • Aspect Ratio:
    4:3 + 16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival
    Los Angeles
    United States
    May 3, 2024
    West Coast
    Official Selection
  • Cleveland IFF
    Cleveland
    United States
    April 7, 2024
    USA
    Official Selection
  • Courts d'un soir
    Montreal
    Canada
    April 11, 2024
    Canadian
    Official Selection
  • goEast 2024
    Wiesbaden
    Germany
    April 25, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Grenzland-Filmtage
    Selb
    Germany
    April 4, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Festival Cortos en Grande
    Santiago
    Chile
    November 8, 2024
    South American Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Samizdat Eastern European Film Festival
    Glasgow
    United Kingdom
    October 3, 2024
    Scottish Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Alexandria IFF
    Alexandria
    Egypt
    April 30, 2025
    MENA
    Award for Creativity
  • IAWRT Asian Women's Film Festival
    New Delhi
    India
    March 8, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Eurasian Creative Guild FF
    London
    United Kingdom
    May 24, 2024
    United Kingdom Premiere
    Best Short Film
  • Bengaluru ISFF
    Bengaluru
    India
    August 16, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Astana International Film Festival
    Astana
    Kazakhstan
    November 18, 2023
    Award for Best Short Film
  • Baiqonyr IFF
    Almaty
    Kazakhstan
    September 9, 2023
    National Premiere
    Award for Best editing
  • Euroshorts Young Filmmakers
    Gdansk, Warsaw
    Poland
    November 29, 2023
    Renata Dublicka-Woźniak Award for Most Positive Character
  • MIFF
    Mumbai
    India
    June 13, 2024
    Official Selection
  • PRVI KADAR-INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
    Sarajevo
    Bosnia and Herzegovina
    November 28, 2023
    Official Selection
  • 62nd Golden Knight Malta International Short Film Festival

    Malta
    November 25, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Kalaburagi IFF
    Bengaluru
    India
    April 11, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Baku International Short Film Festival
    Baku
    Azerbaijan
    November 14, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival
    Rhode Island
    United States
    Semi-final
  • BIAFF Film Festival
    Batumi
    Georgia
    Semi-final
  • New York Tri-State International Film Festival
    New York
    United States
    November 9, 2023
    Online (private screening)
    Official Selection
  • Tokyo International Short Film Festival
    Tokyo
    Japan
    October 7, 2023
    Online (private screening)
    Official Selection
  • Roma Short Film Festival
    Rome
    Italy
    November 20, 2023
    Online (private screening)
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Camila Sagyntkan

A passionate aspiring director and producer with a keen eye for storytelling from Almaty, Kazakhstan. Camila Sagyntkan holds a law degree, a background that sharpened her perspective on justice, responsibility, and human stories before she turned to filmmaking. She has been working in the film industry for seven years, with experience in more than a hundred projects as a 1AD, producer, and script supervisor.

Her directorial and screenwriting debut, “Happy Independence Day”, was shortlisted for the Sundance Institute Ignite x Adobe program in 2023, which marked the continuation of her career as a director and writer. The film received several awards and was screened at international festivals, including the Cleveland International Film Festival, the Courts d’un soir, the Go East Film Festival, the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, and others. In 2025, it was released online through Short of the Week.

Camila is a resident of BaseCamp ’25 at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland, a participant of the CAPITÃO Artist Residency in Portugal, the Qyzqaras Critic Lab ’25 in Kazakhstan, and Script LAB CA ’25 in Kyrgyzstan.

She is currently promoting her second short film, “What Have You Done, Zarina?”; developing her third short film, “Brat Summer,” which was selected among the top ten projects of the Asian Short Film Fund; writing her feature-length film, “My Sea, My Waves”; and working on various other projects.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

"As a distressed and cosmopolitan person, I have always struggled with seeing discrimination and disproportion of voice sharing. As a total wanderlust, I can see the difference in behavior in different parts of international societies.

And now within every project, I want to say that it is necessary to erase borders and break stereotypes and walls that were once built between us, between people whose worries and problems seem to be different but at the same time they suddenly become so similar to each other if we share it by audiovisual work and show that we are not alone. Moreover, in such a new generation society, all should be combined: beauty, sincerity, as well as an expanded outlook and clearly expressed attitude to a multicultural environment. We all have been becoming global people, so everybody can feel how much we are responsible for our common future. And each person has to contribute to the development of our world as much as can.

I strongly believe in the power of authentic filmmaking to bring attention to important global issues. I adore learning and growing, embracing new challenges, and seeking opportunities to collaborate with fellow creatives. Therefore, dear filmmakers, let’s make our world better by sharing love with the sphere that unites us - actual filmmaking with the voice because art is one of the meaningful ways to draw attention to important topics in the world."