Director Kristina Mikhailova's film River Dreams explores the lives of women in Kazakhstan through the metaphor of the Aksay River, which flows 130 kilometers through the country. The film, which took five years to produce, features interviews with 100 women, 15 of whom appear in the final version. Mikhailova aimed to create "a political portrait of Kazakhstan through a feminine gaze," highlighting themes of freedom, violence, dignity, and belonging. The film has received international recognition, winning the Ecumenical Jury Prize in the Forum section of the Berlinale 2026 and receiving around thirty festival invitations. It was also awarded Best Documentary Feature at the UmutDoc International Documentary Film Festival in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, and had three sold-out screenings in Kazakhstan. It will have its French premiere at the International Film Festival of La Roche-sur-Yon on October 16, 2026. Mikhailova stated that the film's distribution in Kazakhstan has been hindered by censorship, preventing a national release. She expressed frustration with the difficulty of obtaining a general release in her home country despite the film's positive reception among the public, who have shown emotional responses to its content. The film's title, River Dreams, reflects Mikhailova's concept of a "sisterhood of rivers," as the Aksay River is representative of many Central Asian rivers. She included her Ukrainian grandmother in the film, whose story was not initially planned but became significant during the editing process. Mikhailova emphasized the importance of making visible the "capacity to act" of women, avoiding reducing them to victims and instead highlighting their strength and resilience. The film blends documentary elements with metaphors, music, and stylized images, and Mikhailova does not consider it a conventional documentary. Music plays a significant role, including a cappella singing performed by women along the river and a meta-ironic statement by the group KeshYOU. Mikhailova, who identifies as a Kazakhstani of Russian origin, discussed her complex relationship with her homeland, expressing both deep attachment and feelings of rejection. She envisions the future of Kazakhstan through the people who live there, acknowledging both hope and pain in its current state.