Kanat Omurbekov

Kanat Omurbekov, originally from Kyrgyzstan, is currently pursuing a Ph.D. degree at the School of Media Arts & Studies at Ohio University. He is working on a thesis centered on the audience's lived experiences of film and media consumption.

Kanat Omurbekov came to the U.S. as a Fulbright student and obtained his Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in film from Ohio University before starting his Ph.D. program. Kanat also holds a master’s degree in finance from Academy of Management under the President of Kyrgyzstan (AMPK). Before pursuing his MFA, Kanat had amassed industry experience in both film and finance in Kyrgyzstan. His filmography boasts numerous short films, including "Evening" (2013) and “River” (2023), among others. These films have been showcased at various international film festivals, garnering awards for their focus on social issues.

In addition to his primary focus on film, media, and audience studies, Kanat's research interests extend to areas such as social media, media and communication technologies, and culture. During his Ph.D. program, he has already worked as both a graduate assistant and an instructor of record for courses like Social Media and Technology, Communication, and Culture.