Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa Hosts "Montage of Cinemas" 2012 Opening Night at DGA Aug. 3

LOS ANGELES, July 30, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The second annual "Kazakhstan: Montage of Cinemas - Film & Cultural Festival" scheduled to launch Aug. 3 at the Directors Guild of America (DGA) in Los Angeles will feature actor Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa as Master of Ceremonies.

Best known for blockbusters "Memoirs of a Geisha" and "Planet of Apes," Tagawa will host the festival opener "Dialogue from the Steppes" directed by Armand Assante. Kazakh trio "Inju Marjan" and renowned soloist Yerzhan Isin will also perform live on opening night.

Tagawa, who has traveled extensively in the region, will share his impressions of this dynamic emerging Central Asian Republic, and salute the London Olympics 2012 gold medal winners from Kazakhstan so far -- cyclist Alexandr Vinokurov and new world record holder Zulfiya Chinshanlo, a teenage weightlifting phenom.

Kazakh Geographic Society's Chairman of the Board Nurlan Abduov and KazGeo are presenting sponsors this year.  Kazakhstan's Geographic Society is featuring "To the Pole in 108 Hours," which documents the first-ever expedition to the South Pole.

KazGeo organized the first Kazakh Scientific Expedition to Antarctica last year. The expedition traveled 2400 kilometers from the coast to the South Pole. This work has not only been cited in the Guinness Book of Records, but has also resulted in important scientific findings, which scientists are currently working on in Kazakhstan. KazGeo supports large geo-parks in the country and has kept prehistoric landscapes intact.

Kazakh climbers with KazGeo, are studying the environment, air quality, ice and snow in remote mountainous regions of Central Asia. KazGeo, and Nurlan Abduov are supporting the festival to promote the territory as an unlimited venue for new stories in filmmaking and international cooperation.

Daily screenings during the festival week include 2012 Official Entries "Deal," "The Little Hunter," "The Wolf on the Drum," "We Will See You Tomorrow," "Letters to An Angel," "In Search of Tengry." There will be a Q&A with the director of "Letter to an Angel" on Aug. 4.  Oscar entry "Kelin," an exotic coming-of-age story set in the frozen wilderness will also be shown.

"Kazakhstan: Montage of Cinemas - Film & Cultural Festival" includes both feature length and short films through Aug. 9. A full list of offerings can be viewed at www.kazakhfestival.com with a schedule to download. Admission for the opening night and for screenings are free. Email [email protected] for more information.

SOURCE International Press Academy

WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?

440k+
Newsrooms &
Influencers

9k+
Digital Media
Outlets

270k+
Journalists
Opted In

GET STARTED