On 15 September, the Penza Literature Museum held a draw for the Slova Podobny Krylyam (‘Words Are Like Wings’) Competition, allotting mentors to each finalist. The contestants found out which artists would be mentoring them for the next few weeks.

Bekzat Zhusupov, a fourth-year student from Kyrgyzstan, is among the contest’s finalists. Earlier this year he succeeded in the selection round where he recited the poem Hooligans by Valentin Gaft for the mentors. It should be noted that it’s not the first artistic triumph for Bekzat. This spring, the student was awarded the title of the Best Actor of the Institute of International Cooperation at the Student Spring 2025 Inter-Faculty Show Contest. It is worth mentioning that the team of the Institute of International Cooperation became the contest winners for the second year in a row.

The draw allotted Aleksandr Zabrodin, Art Director of the Paradox Literature and Musical Theatre, to be Bekzat Zhusupov’s mentor.

For the next three months, Bekzat will be working with his mentor on elocution, mastering the basics of acting and theatrics, and preparing a performance to be premiered at the gala concert in December.