Tolqyn Film Fund OEIC Ltd., through its project company Tolqyn Pictures, has signed an agreement with media company Brave Talents to co-invest in the feature film “Dastur 2.” Under the terms of the agreement, the Fund acquires a share of theatrical revenues and subsequent rights sales, while Brave Talents retains the role of lead producer and continues to participate in revenue generated from the film’s rights.
It is noteworthy that Tolqyn Film Fund is registered on the AIFC platform, managed by Dasco Capital, and operates exclusively with professional investors. This transaction marks the Fund’s first investment deal, setting a high benchmark for subsequent projects.
The first installment, “Dastur”, released in 2023, became the highest-grossing film in the history of Kazakh cinema, earning around KZT 2 billion domestically and internationally. The film demonstrated the strong commercial potential of local content and creative teams. Combining a powerful script, relevant themes, creative execution, and thoughtful marketing, “Dastur” emerged as a cultural milestone and a positive signal for major investors evaluating the film market.
The horror sequel “Dastur 2” is produced by Kuanish Beisek and Almas Zhali, the creative team behind the original, directed by Alisher Utev, and written by Arystan Kaunev and Birzhan Kabylbayev. The film is in its final stages of production and is scheduled for theatrical release later this year. Continuing the franchise’s re-examination of cultural identity, the sequel blends bold storytelling, striking imagery, and distinctive visual style. Distribution will be handled by Ascar Cinema (Meloman Entertainment) – the leading film distributor in Central Asia and the Caucasus, and the exclusive regional partner of Walt Disney Studios and Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Darmen Sadvakassov, CEO of Dasco Capital, commented: “The investment in Dastur 2 reflects the Fund’s strategy to support projects with strong commercial potential, developed by experienced teams, and meaningful for the growth of the creative industries. We will continue to pursue national and international projects that represent attractive investment opportunities.”
Ernar Kurmashev, CEO of Tolqyn Film Fund, added: “The first film in the Dastur franchise clearly showed that high-quality Kazakh cinema is in demand and resonates with audiences across Kazakhstan and the CIS. In terms of ambition, creativity, and storytelling, the sequel equals—and even surpasses—the original. This marks an excellent starting point for the Fund’s investment activity. We look forward to presenting this project to a wide audience.”
Almas Zhali, CEO of Brave Talents, underlined: “Our company consistently follows creative market trends and strongly values the role of private investment in cinema. Together with Tolqyn Film Fund, we share a vision for advancing Kazakhstan’s film industry and are confident in building further productive collaboration.”
Tolqyn Film Fund is the first venture capital fund in Kazakhstan focused on investing in feature films and animation. Its assets are allocated to a portfolio of Kazakh and international film projects with commercial potential, with the goal of generating returns from theatrical distribution and rights sales. The Fund is managed by an experienced team that conducts rigorous selection, evaluation, and project management.
The film selection process consists of three stages: submission and shortlisting of applications, Advisory Board review of shortlisted projects, and final investment decisions by the Fund’s Investment Committee. To date, the Fund has received around 90 applications from Kazakhstan and abroad through open pitching and direct negotiations, has held three Advisory Board sessions, and is currently reviewing new projects.
