He is a PhD holder and recipient of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan – Elbasy Foundation Prize. He graduated from the T. Zhurgenov Kazakh National Academy of Arts. In 2011–2013, he studied at Columbia University in New York as well as at the New York Film Academy (USA). His creative activity is closely connected with theatre and cinema. He has directed more than 15 musicals and stage productions in leading Kazakh theatres, including the G. Musrepov Youth Theatre, the M. Auezov Kazakh State Academic Drama Theatre, and the B. Rimova Almaty Regional Theatre. He directed the first Kazakh musical “Dostar Serі”, premiered in 2016 by the State Theatre “Astana Musical”. He is also the director of well-known productions such as the musical “Er Tostik” and the comedy “No. 13”, which became part of the capital’s theatre repertoire. Yesslam Nurtazin has extensive acting experience, having appeared in numerous Kazakh films and stage productions. He is also known for contributing to the development of young theatre artists. In 2018, he received the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan – Elbasy Foundation Prize for outstanding achievements in culture and the arts.