Adilkhan Yerzhanov

Directing

Adilkhan Yerzhanov

Born August 7, 1982 · Dzhezkazgan, Kazakh SSR, USSR (now Kazakhstan) (age 44)

Adilkhan Yerzhanov (Kazakh: Әділхан Ержанов; born August 7, 1982; Dzhezkazgan) is a Kazakh filmmaker, screenwriter, editor and producer. Member of the European Film Academy (since 2018). In 2009 he graduated from Kazakh National Academy of Arts with the major in “Film directing”. Adilkhan Yerzhanov is a two-time participant of the Cannes Film Festival's Official Program (“The Owners”, 2014, Offic…

Known For

SteppenwolfSteppenwolf · 2024
Steppenwolf
★ 5.42024
MovieThriller
Tamara is searching for her missing son in a small town consumed by riots and violence. In a desperate attempt to get him back, she decides to offer a reward to an amoral former investigator whose methods prove to be sadistic. Determined, Tamara decides to complete the mission with the nihilistic detective, no matter what the cost.
The OwnersThe Owners · 2014
The Owners
★ 5.42014
MovieDramaComedy
25 year-old John, his teenage brother Erbol, and their sickly 12 year-old sister Aliya, are forced to leave their house in the Kazakh city of Almaty. By luck their mother left them a house in a remote village, where they plan to prepare their comeback. But the house appears to be on the wish list of the District Officer’s alcoholic brother, who has lived there illegally for 10 years.
TurgaudTurgaud · 2026
Turgaud
2026
MovieDramaCrime
A film about outlaws that breaks the rules of storytelling. A secretive man arrives at the airport—he has a job interview with the leader of a criminal syndicate. He decides to protect the gangster against the threat of a mysterious woman and her child, who want him dead. Violence is inevitable, but it manifests in enigmatic ways.
Ademoka’s EducationAdemoka’s Education · 2022
Ademoka’s Education
★ 6.32022
MovieDramaComedy
Ademoka is a headstrong and gifted 15-year-old girl whose big dream is to study. Her status as Lyuli an illegal immigrant from Tajikistan is a serious obstacle to this. She is exploited by her extended family and forced to beg on the streets, she manages to free herself from the family, when they get deported she has to choose between family and education. She gets helped on the way by some oddball characters, who come to her aid against the corrupt system and the patriarchal family.
Hell GrindHell Grind · 2026
Hell Grind
2026
MovieActionFantasy
Four street thieves — Roco, Lulu, Jax and Rein — see their heist go catastrophically wrong when they encounter an ancient artifact that opens a portal to the underworld. Their journey takes them from a Tibetan temple to feudal Japan and beyond, forcing them to confront an ancient evil while Roco struggles to save Lulu and comes increasingly close to losing himself.
CadetCadet · 2024
Cadet
★ 5.72024
MovieHorror
Single mother Alina tries to enroll her son, Serik, in an elite military academy, but he is bullied by his classmates because of his girlish appearance, and the principal deems him unfit for the school. Alina succeeds in getting Serik reinstated by taking advantage of Serik's father's high military rank. But she is warned by a woman whose son has committed suicide at the school that Serik will follow the same path...
A Dark, Dark ManA Dark, Dark Man · 2020
A Dark, Dark Man
★ 6.52020
MovieDrama
A boy is murdered in Kazakh village. Detective Bekzat wants to wrap up the inquiries quickly: after all, the perpetrator has already been found by local police officers. But when a journalist arrives from the city, everything falls to pieces. For the first time in his career, Bekzat must conduct a real investigation according to procedure.
Night GodNight God · 2018
Night God
2018
MovieDrama
Two workers are having a leisurely conversation. More and more often people see in the sky red tails of comets, wonder creatures appear from nowhere and a roar is said to be coming from the underground. What is the meaning of it all? – asks one of them. The other replies that he has never seen anything like that in his life. And even if all of the above mentioned exists, is it worthwhile paying attention to it? The important thing is to do one’s job because life goes its own way.

Filmography

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The Gentle Indifference of the WorldThe Gentle Indifference of the World · 2018
The Gentle Indifference of the World
★ 5.22018
MovieDrama
After her father's untimely death, Saltanat is forced to trade her idyllic countryside life for the cruel city. She has to find money to pay off the large family debt that her father left behind, in order to save her mother from jail. Friends since their village childhood, her loyal, but penniless admirer Kuandyk follows her just to make sure his sweetheart is safe. Saltanat's uncle introduces her to a possible groom, who promises to pay off her family's debts. But Saltanat's hopes are dashed, when she discovers that the men in this city don't keep their word. When Kuandyk tries to help Saltanat get the money through other ways, he ends up finding himself in more trouble than he bargained for. Although life keeps dealing them bad hands, Saltanat and Kuandyk never give up, no matter what the odds.

Director

GoliathGoliath · 2022
Goliath
★ 1.02022
MovieDramaCrime
The Kazakh village Karatas has long been subjugated by a criminal boss called Poshaev. He provides housing and jobs for the locals but will ruthlessly execute anyone who dares to oppose him. This is the lesson the pauper Arzu is about to learn first-hand—his wife Karina has informed the police about the crimes that are taking place there. Arzu is a cripple; now he must raise his little daughter alone. He is so helpless and grief-stricken that he doesn’t even seem to be contemplating revenge. Poshaev takes him under his wing and offers him the position of a guard at a building site. Soon Arzu has a chance to prove his loyalty, and he becomes Poshaev’s right hand. But where do Arzu’s real loyalties lie—with his boss or with the idea of justice?

Director