The premiere of the documentary "Almaty? Is it OK to live with smog?" directed by Kanat Beisekeyev. The film was created as part of the activities of the Almaty Air Initiative Foundation, a project aimed at improving air quality and the environmental situation in Almaty with plans to expand to the whole country. The project is organized by Arsen Tomsky, founder of InDrive, and Kairat Akhmetov, co-founder of Sergek Group and CEO of Freedom Telecom. The film highlights the problems of air pollution in Almaty and their serious consequences for the health of citizens.

Arsen Tomsky, Kairat Akhmetov, head of the Almaty Air Initiative Zhuldyz Saulebekova and film director Kanat Beisekeyev spoke before the screening of the film. 

The documentary film "Almaty? Is it OK to live with smog?" asks ordinary residents, scientists, environmentalists and doctors, car owners and the filmmakers themselves to understand how each of them perceives the problem of smog. Someone points out the economic aspects of the issue, someone notes that the situation will only worsen and is considering moving. For some, studying air quality has become a daily job in laboratories and monitoring sensors, while others do not notice anything unusual in what is happening. The author's view of Kanat Beisekeyev's film crew highlights how air pollution is woven into the daily routine of citizens.

 "We and our children breathe the same air, and it is a basic right to be able to live in a city with a clean environment," said director Kanat Beisekeyev, sharing his experiences. "Working on this project has been a personal challenge for me. At first, I was sad to see how scientists have been trying for years to prove the need for systemic solutions. But now I believe that through dialogue and joint efforts we will be able to change the situation. We don't want to leave here because we love this city and want to develop it."  

The film is based on the results of a study conducted by the foundation in 2024. According to the data, 57% of Almaty residents have noted a deterioration in air quality over the past few years, and 42% believe that the air situation in their area is bad or very bad. One in six residents of the megalopolis is thinking about moving because of the environmental situation. These figures show how acute the problem is and how it affects people's choices.

Zhuldyz Saulebekova, Executive Director of the Almaty Air Initiative, stressed the importance of an integrated approach: "The air problem, like other social challenges, requires political will, infrastructural changes and public support. Our projects are aimed at accelerating these processes through technology, art, education/science and cooperation with the state. The film demonstrates this approach: using art, we involve all parties and initiate a dialogue." 

After the screening, the audience took part in a discussion with the filmmakers, environmentalists and activists. The discussion was an important step towards finding solutions that will help improve the environmental situation in Almaty and return the right to clean air to citizens.

Watch the movie online at the link and share your opinion about the problem. 

About the Almaty Air Initiative (AAI) Foundation

Almaty Air Initiative (AAI) is a private foundation created to solve the problem of air quality in Almaty. Its activities are aimed at conducting research, monitoring the environmental situation and developing a project model that contributes to the establishment and strengthening of the principles of environmental justice in Kazakhstan. The founders of the foundation are Arsen Tomsky, founder and CEO of InDrive, and Kairat Akhmetov, co-founder of the Sergek Group group of IT companies and CEO of Freedom Telecom.

More information about the foundation's activities can be found at www.air.org.kz .