Sanzhar Bekzhanov
Sanzhar Bekzhanov is a Kazakh filmmaker who writes, directs and performs in Step Forward. He graduated from New York Film Academy’s BFA Filmmaking program in 2015.
Explore their workShort film · 11:28
Step Forward
A short horror film. A film by Sanzhar Bekzhanov.
Watch the film on YouTube
Watch the film on YouTube Full film · Opens on YouTube
01 / The story
Fear and curiosity.
A man has spent his life in a room without doors or windows. When he decides to change his life, he catches a glimpse of another reality.
Bekzhanov describes Step Forward as a story about the choice between fearing the unfamiliar and following human curiosity.
- Format
- Short film
- Running time
- 11:28
- Filmmaker
- Sanzhar Bekzhanov
- Channel release
- 17 February 2018
- YouTube views · as of October 21, 2026
- 4,257
02 / Behind the camera
Meet the filmmaker.
03 / More from the film
Around the work.
Screenplays, production photographs, cast and making-of notes are added as they are verified. Here is what this page holds today.
- Screenplay
Before the frame.
A screenplay is not currently available for this film.
Not on this page yet - Behind the scenes
Between takes.
Behind-the-scenes photographs have not been added to this page.
Not on this page yet - Cast
On screen.
One person credited on screen.
Meet the cast - Making of
Behind the story.
One note on how the film was made.
Read the notes
04 / On screen
The cast.
Sanzhar Bekzhanov
Read the Forbes Kazakhstan feature05 / Making the film
Behind the story.
A story told through movement and music.
Bekzhanov wrote, directed and acted in the film. Its score includes music by Camille Saint-Saëns, performed by Yermek Kurmanayev and Arman Tleubergenov.
Read the sourceMade together.
- Written & directed by
- Sanzhar Bekzhanov
Sources & further reading 4 references
Release and profile information is drawn from the sources below. Photo sources are credited alongside the images.
- Forbes Kazakhstan — interview and film report — checked
- The Astana Times — Step Forward — checked
- New York Film Academy — 2015 graduates — checked
- Kitchen Films — Step Forward — checked
Spend a little time in this world.
Watch the film on YouTube
