The Kyushu University Institute for Asian and Oceanian Studies (Q-AOS) with the support of the School of Design are pleased to invite you to the following workshop:

Storytelling Beyond Language: With Film Director Rachid Nougmanov
– Date & Time: Tuesday, November 4th, 2025, 18:30 – 20:00 (hybrid)*
Thursday, November 6th, 2025, 14:40 – 18:40 (in person)
– Venue: Kyushu University, Ohashi Campus, Building 5, Room 511
– Language: English (with Japanese support)
– Target Audience: Students and the general public

If you are interested in attending the event, please register here. Max. 30 people.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSezzx6l0O4_3rHTNDGaqBWq5s52iAIA4G9Bw1xL8I3lyu9KDQ/viewform?usp=header
*Although it is recommended that attendees are present for both sessions, the first session will be recorded for those unable to attend.

About the speaker:
Rachid Nougmanov is a director, screenwriter, producer, script doctor, and architect from Kazakhstan. His career spanning several decades started at the VGIW Moscow Film Institute, from where he graduated. His first feature film, The Needle (僕の無事を祈ってくれ), starring Soviet rock icon Viktor Tsoi was released in 1988. Premiering at the “Golden Duke” Festival in Odesa, it won the Un Certain Regard prize and became a national phenomenon, with over 30 million viewers upon its 1989 release. The film also received the top award at the Nuremberg Film Festival, was exhibited at Sundance and several other international festivals, and launched the “Kazakh New Wave”. His 1993 film The Wild East—a post-apocalyptic punk “samurai Western”—garnered international acclaim at festivals in Venice, Los Angeles, and Tokyo, earning the Prix Spécial du Jury in Valenciennes, France. The film marked both the culmination of the Kazakh New Wave and Nougmanov’s active directing career, after which he focused on screenwriting and script consulting. He returned to directing with The Needle: Remix (2008) and later created the feature documentary Batu: Historical Detective (2021). And, more recently, Nougmanov has released a book, Dramaticon, regarding his developed storytelling and screenwriting method.

In 2015-2017, Nougmanov served as General Director of the Eurasia International Film Festival, accredited by the FIAPF, having also previously served as the President of the National Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences of Kazakhstan. Nougmanov is a Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres of France.

About the workshop:
In the workshop, attendees will be introduced to Nougmanov’s work, and together, will develop storyboards. During the first session, an introduction will take place, and the target media for the storyboards will be introduced: rock songs written by Nougmanov’s collaborator and lead actor of the film The Needle, Viktor Tsoi. Attendees are also welcome to bring in their own ideas, stories, or scripts.
During the second session, Nougmanov will introduce his storytelling method, and attendees will start working on and developing their storyboards.
The workshop is organised by Dr. Heloisa Seratiuk Flores, from Q-AOS, and supported by Assistant Professor Martins Zarins and Assistant Professor Laura Blanco from the Faculty of Design.

Related events:
Ohashi Campus will also host an event about Nougmanov’s film, The Needle, it’s cultural importance and relationship with Soviet underground rock music. For more information, please access: https://soviet-film-aw2025.netlify.app/

Links:
https://dramaticon.com/