Armed with radical tenderness, I am diving into the emotional landscape of Kazakhstan through the voices of women along the river. Me, Kazakhstan, and the River girls all just hit 30, that brutal age when you realize no one is coming to save you.
My River girls reveal the scars of being a woman and what it means to resist constant oppression in my homeland.
So close your eyes. Drown in river dreams.

Kristina Mikhailova is a director, producer, and artist from Kazakhstan, Central Asia. Her debut documentary feature RIVER DREAMS premieres at the Berlinale 2026. Her artistic practice extends beyond film; she has participated in a collective exhibition at the Venice Biennale in 2024. As an activist, Kristina founded Women make Docs, a grassroots initiative supporting female documentary filmmakers in Central Asia.