Meet Arsen Diushekeev | Director & Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Arsen Diushekeev and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Arsen, what habits do you feel play an important role in your life?
I firmly believe that the key to success lies in consistency and continuous self-improvement. It’s not shameful to lack knowledge; what’s shameful is choosing to remain ignorant. I make it a priority to grow and learn in every area of my life on an ongoing basis. From a young age, I had a clear vision of what I wanted to achieve, and I set specific goals to guide me toward that vision. While dreams can inspire us, it’s setting concrete goals and putting in hard work that ultimately leads to success.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As of today, I am proud to have three short films in my portfolio, all of which are student projects. Among them, I want to highlight my most recent film, Afterparty. This is my first LGBTQ+ film, a project I hesitated to pursue for a long time. Coming from Kyrgyzstan, a country that is deeply conservative, religious, and often homophobic, I understand the risks and challenges involved in addressing this subject matter. I may very well be the first director from Kyrgyzstan to create a film centered on the LGBTQ+ community. It was incredibly difficult to overcome my fear of judgment from friends, acquaintances, and fellow citizens of my small country. However, I believe that someone must take the first step, and I am honored to carry this responsibility, knowing that it could inspire dialogue and change.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I have always been drawn to the sea, so naturally, I would head straight to the ocean with my best friend. While I enjoy the luxury and vibrant energy of Santa Monica and Malibu, my heart belongs to Venice Beach. Its calm, quiet, and peaceful atmosphere resonates deeply with me. Whenever I have the chance, I love exploring as many beaches as possible, each with its own unique charm. But the ocean itself is what truly captivates me—its vastness and boundless energy inspire and strengthen me in ways nothing else can.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are countless talented and inspiring artists, painters, writers, dancers, and directors around the world who have influenced me. However, the most important person in my life, and my greatest source of inspiration, is my mother, Victoria Pavlenko. As a single mother, she devoted herself completely to ensuring my happiness and success. No one in the world motivates me or believes in me as deeply as she does. I am profoundly grateful to God for blessing me with such an extraordinary mother.

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