New York Film Academy — the film school from New York and Los Angeles — now has a campus in Kazakhstan
NYFA Kazakhstan is the Central Asian campus of the New York Film Academy, opened in 2025 in Kaskelen, some 20 kilometres south of Almaty, on the Creative Industries Park of Energo University.
It is the Academy’s first campus in the region and extends to Kazakhstan the hands-on, conservatory model of instruction for which NYFA is known: from the earliest weeks, students work directly with professional equipment, writing, shooting, directing, and editing their own projects.
The campus offers focused certificate and bachelor’s programmes in filmmaking and the digital arts, taught in English by faculty from NYFA’s United States campuses.
Set against Almaty’s mountain backdrop and drawing on Kazakhstan’s cultural heritage and growing creative economy, NYFA Kazakhstan prepares a new generation of storytellers for careers in film and the wider entertainment industry at home and abroad.
Film your projects in picturesque outdoor and indoor locations.
Continue your studies in NYFA U.S. campuses using credits from your certificate program.
Film Studies and English Composition
Spent eight years working at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (the organization behind the Oscars) as a researcher for the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.
Curated an exhibition on Oscar-winning actresses shown in Turin and Berlin. Author of the celebrated book Best Actress: The History of Oscar-Winning Women.
Producing
Screenwriter, director, and producer. A graduate of the MFA program at New York Film Academy and Nazarbayev University.
Has worked with Kazakhfilm and Freedom Media on feature films and advertising projects in the United States and Kazakhstan. Creator of the series Forever 29 and line producer of the film Captain Baitasov.
Film History, Screenwriting Analysis, English Composition
Editor and designer at Caligari, a publication dedicated to film and art. Co-founder of The Third Rail magazine, held in the archives of MoMA, Centre Pompidou, and LACMA.
A two-time graduate of the Whitney Museum's Independent Study Program. Holds an MA from the University of Minnesota.
3D Modeling, Animation, and Visual Effects
VFX supervisor and lead artist with over 15 years of experience in 3D graphics, animation, and visual effects. Working remotely with MOD VFX (Los Angeles) since 2016.
His major film and television credits include Reacher, Fall 2, Time Trap, Don't Move, Cicada 3301, and Wayne.
Cinematography, Lighting, Editing, and Sound
New York-based cinematographer, photographer, and visual producer. Together with his brother, forms the filmmaking duo Sadykov Brothers (creators of the Eye of the Berkut film series).
Recipient of the Jury Prize for Best Sci-Fi at Deluxe Film Festival and a finalist at Dumbo Film Festival and Milan Short Film Festival. Has been working at New York Film Academy since 2022.
BFA, Carnegie Mellon University; MFA, NYU Tisch School of the Arts (Dean’s Fellow)
Graduate of Carnegie Mellon University and NYU Tisch School of the Arts (Dean's Fellow). His films have been featured at AFI/DOCs, Tribeca, and BFI London Film Festival.
A director working across narrative film, animation, and documentary with extensive international festival experience. Pietri continues to develop projects globally and teach directing.
MFA in Screenwriting, MA in Mass Communications — CSU Northridge
Screenwriter and actor. Holds an MFA in Screenwriting and an MA in Mass Communications from California State University, Northridge.
Toured as an actor in musicals and children's educational shows, and produced more than 100 episodes of his acclaimed YouTube show Read Aloud with Mr. Paul.
MFA — University of Southern California
Actress, screenwriter, and director with over 20 years of experience in film, television, and advertising. Holds an MFA from the University of Southern California.
Created promotional content for CNN International, TNT, FOX, and Discovery Channel. Widely known for her role on Food Network's Good Eats.
Production Specialist, New York Film Academy since 2012
Production specialist with vast experience in stage and screen production, working at New York Film Academy since 2012.
Extensive background in live television, studio drama, and film production — from gaffer and art direction to hands-on camera operation.
MFA, Boston University — Filmmaking
Award-winning director, editor, and actor. Worked with National Geographic, PBS, and Game Show Network. Appeared in projects for NBC, TBS, and Sony.
In addition to industry credits, Igor has conducted international workshops and taught directing and editing at universities across the United States, Russia, and China.
Fashion Designer, Multidisciplinary Artist and Educator
Almaty-based fashion designer, multidisciplinary artist, and educator. Has worked with Kazakhstan Fashion Week and Artkoshe.
Has taught at KIMEP, Taylor's University in Kuala Lumpur, Milan Creative Academy in Shenzhen, and ADS Vietnam Design Institute.
Producers Guild Award Winner & Grammy Nominee
Producer, Producers Guild Award winner, and Grammy nominee. Co-founder of the production company Higher Content.
Producing credits include Super Dark Times (The Orchard), The Ballad of Lefty Brown with Bill Pullman and Peter Fonda (A24), and Darkness Visible (British Film Institute).
An interdisciplinary bachelor's degree based on NYFA's accredited international tracks in broadcast journalism, media studies, and producing. It combines digital multimedia production with core business practices, scriptwriting, and advanced AI optimization tools. Graduates acquire key executive and managerial skills to launch and monetize trend-setting cross-media projects.
Learn MoreA conservatory bachelor's program modeled after the New York Film Academy (USA), delivering elite skills in computer graphics. Students cover the full pipeline: from digital sculpting and skeleton rigging to character animation, physical dynamics simulation, and final compositing. Graduates build an international-standard showreel for top film and game studios.
Learn MoreFour-year practice-oriented bachelor's program modeled after the New York Film Academy (USA) in video game development. Students master game coding, level design, mechanics, and interactive storytelling in an intensive studio environment. Graduates receive a US degree and a ready portfolio to enter the global gaming industry.
Learn MoreThe New York Film Academy One-Year Filmmaking Program offers hands-on training through lectures, seminars, and immersive workshops. Students begin with short projects to build essential skills, then move on to final films. The program provides a professional, intensive environment that fosters creativity and practical experience. Graduates gain a strong foundation in filmmaking and apply their knowledge to their own projects.
Learn MoreAn intensive, hands-on workshop offering deep immersion into the art and craft of filmmaking. Students write, direct, shoot, and edit their own short films using professional equipment under the guidance of industry experts.
Learn MoreNew York Film Academy — the film school from New York and Los Angeles — now has a campus in Kazakhstan. It opened in 2025, just 15 km from Almaty, and it's the university's only campus in Asia.
You learn here the way you'd learn in New York: hands-on, from day one. Classrooms, editing suites, sound recording studios, and space to shoot — everything you need to build a real portfolio while you study.
And then there's Dala Stage: the largest sound stage in Central Asia, and a working one — Jackie Chan shot Armour of God IV here.
Four-year Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in New Media, Game Design, and 3D Animation & Visual Effects. Or a shorter route: one-year and eight-week filmmaking programs, as well as teen camps.
Same school, same way of teaching, same instructors, same US degree. You just don't have to fly to New York for it.
Have questions about our programs or the application process? We're here to help you take the first step toward your creative future.
Burashov Street, 37
Kaskelen, Almaty Region 040901