Modern heroes of uzbek cinema

– Stanton Griffis,
U.S. Ambassador to Poland, Spain, Argentina, and Egypt

In every issue, our aim is to discover new horizons – countries, cities, people, cultures. With this edition, we take another step toward meaningful journeys by launching an author’s column. Its very first contributor is someone who introduces Uzbekistan to the world – not through tourist brochures, but through a language understood across the globe: cinema.

Eldar Yuldashev is Uzbekistan’s first PhD in film, an academician at the Istanbul film academy, the founder of the VGIK branch in Tashkent, director of the only Uzbek film dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Victory in World War II, and distributor of “Tamerlane”, screened at the 78th Cannes film festival. Eldar Sadykovich doesn’t just work with the biggest names – from the creators of “Avatar” and “Harry Potter” to “Boys’ Word” – he creates the conditions in which those names begin to speak with Uzbekistan as equals. And for us, it was only right that he should be the one to speak first.

Many people often feel nostalgic and look back on the golden era of national cinema – especially the so-called “golden years” of Uzbek dubbing. During that time, local versions sometimes surpassed the originals, like the beloved Uzbek voice of Georgy Miloslavsky. Phrases such as "Does your restaurant have a private room? Ah, Marvushenka, Marvusha, there's no need for sorrow or grief." became iconic and deeply embedded in popular culture. Films like “Afonya”, “Ivan Vasilievich Changes Profession”, “Where is the Nofelet?”, “The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath!”, “Office Romance”, and “Kidnapping, Caucasian Style, or Shurik’s New Adventures” received a second, renewed life through the voices of Khamza Umarov, Tulkin Tadzhiev, Obidzhon Yunusov, Abzal Rafikov, and Mukambar Rakhimova.

Such conversations often take place both at home with family and at the official level – but now about “our own” cinematic classics: the films “The Whole Mahalla Is Talking About This” (uzbek: Mahallada duv-duv gap), “Charmed by You”, “The Brides’ Rebellion” (uzbek: Kelinlar qoʻzgʻoloni), “I’ll Give You a City” (uzbek: Toʻylar muborak), “Grandmother-General” (uzbek: Suyunchi), “Days Gone By” (uzbek: O‘tgan kunlar), “You Are Not an Orphan”(uzbek: Sen Yolg'iz Emassan), “Where Are You, My Zulfiya?” (uzbek: Yor-yor), “The Rascal” (uzbek: Shum bola) – recalling the names of our cinematic masters: Shuhrat Abbosov, Damir Salimov, Yuldash Agzamov, Melis Abzalov, and Ali Khamrayev.

To sum up: while we respectfully preserve the warm memories of the past, we also want to introduce you to the new heroes of national cinema – those who have made bold, brilliant, and unexpected appearances on the international stage.

The documentarian Ruslan Saliev is an independent filmmaker producing high-quality documentaries backed by private investment. His film “Legends of Uzbek Dance” (O'zbek raqsining afsonalari), which explores the origins and evolution of professional stage choreography in Uzbekistan, has rapidly earned an impressive number of accolades – and notably, at festivals where Uzbekistan had never previously been represented.

At the international Silk Road Cannes and Cannes World Film Festival, the film won three awards: “Best Dance Film” at both festivals and “Best Asian Film” at Cannes WFF. In Spain, at the Barcelona International Film Festival, it received nominations in three categories and won two prizes – for “Best Dance Film” and “Best Soundtrack”. In Paris, at the Paris Cinema Awards, it was named “Best Feature Documentary”, while in the United States, at the New York Movie Awards, Saliev took home the prize for Best Director in a Documentary.

Another of his notable works – “The Dreamers”, a film about the history of the Jadid movement – also received widespread recognition. It won “Best Educational Film” at the World Film Festival in Cannes, standing out as the only entry from all of Central Asia. It was also named “Best Documentary” at both the ARFF International and Film Fest International. CinemaScene magazine included it in its list of the most impactful international films of the year. If this isn’t true international acclaim – what is?

Film scholar Nigora Karimova is the youngest and the only woman in Uzbekistan to hold a Doctor of Arts (DSc) degree. She is also the first and only representative of the country in the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI). Karimova was officially invited to join the jury of the Golden Globe Awards – a milestone, as Uzbekistan had never before been represented there. In 2019, she initiated and led a cinema-focused research project under UNESCO and currently heads the Department of Film and Television at the Institute of Art Studies under the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan – the country's leading academic center for film research. Moreover, she is the author of around ten books, academic textbooks, and monographs, as well as over a hundred articles published in respected international journals.

Film critic Eldjon Abbasov is the co-author of “The Cinematic Art of Uzbekistan”, the first film encyclopedia in the country’s history. With the support of the Foundation for the Development of Culture and Art, he organized the participation of Uzbek films in Le Giornate del Cinema Muto – the most prestigious silent film festival in the world. In 2024, Uzbekistan was represented at this acclaimed forum for the first time ever – and became the only country from the CIS region to take part. Additionally, with backing from the same foundation, Abbasov joined the working group that helped include “Images of the Khorezm Oasis” by Khudaibergan Devanov (1879–1937) in UNESCO’s “Memory of the World Register”. This recognition ensures that the name of Uzbekistan’s first cinematographer is now permanently inscribed in the history of global culture.

Animator Pavel Kim is the creator of the animated film “Pomidor Do‘ppi”. This project became a landmark in the history of Uzbek animation – it was the first to be released across 45 media platforms in China, a country known for its selective approach to foreign content. Today, “Pomidor Do‘ppi” is the most recognizable animated character from Uzbekistan, with over 6 million viewers on YouTube. The cartoon is also available on more than 50 online platforms across the CIS, including major streaming services such as Kinopoisk, IVI, START, KION, Megogo, and iTV.

Distributor Farrukh Tulyaganov is the leading investor in Uzbekistan’s film distribution industry and the owner of the country’s largest cinema network: Mega Cinema, Riviera Cinema, Parus Cinema, Next Cinema, Family Cinema, and Anhor Cinema. He is also the first and only representative of Uzbekistan to become a member of the U.S.-based National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO, USA, LA). Tulyaganov is a regular participant at the world’s largest film markets, including CinemaCon and CineEurope, where he has held negotiations with global industry giants such as Warner Bros., Universal, Disney, Paramount, Lionsgate, and Crunchyroll. He also launched Uzbekistan’s very first children’s cinema – “Guncha”.

Director Sabina Bakaeva is one of the country’s most promising young filmmakers. In 2024, her debut short film “Nakedness” represented Uzbekistan at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival – one of the world’s most prestigious film forums. In the history of Uzbekistan’s participation, this marks only the third film to be selected for the Berlinale program.

Film director Shakir Khalikov is the creator of the debut feature film “Sunday”, which has garnered over 30 awards at prestigious international film festivals, including the Shanghai International Film Festival and the International Festival of Asian Cinema. The film was also selected by three of the world’s top-tier “Category A” festivals. According to renowned film critic Anton Dolin, “Sunday” ranks among the top five Central Asian films that are a must-watch.

It is people like these who are entrusted not only with the revival, but with the building of a new cinematic era for the New Uzbekistan.

Eldar Yuldashev,

PhD in Art History,

Academician of the Istanbul Film Academy