8th European Film Festival opens in Uzbekistan

Tashkent, The Gulf Observer: An opening ceremony of the 8th European Film Festival took place on Friday. As part of the event, there was a screening of the film “My Thoughts Are Quiet” – winner of a special jury award at the 54th International Film Festival. Director: Antonio Lukic.

Festival screenings will take place in Tashkent at the Yulduz cinema from 1 October and in Bukhara at the Bukhara cinema from 3 October. Admission is free. The European Film Festival is held within the framework of the Tashkent International Film Festival “Pearl of the Silk Road”.

“We are pleased to open the 8th European Film Festival in Uzbekistan. This year marks an important milestone: the European Film Festival has become an integral part of the Tashkent International Film Festival.

We sincerely thank the Cinematography Agency for their invaluable cooperation in organizing this significant cultural event.

For many years, the European Union has been promoting cultural exchange and providing residents of Uzbekistan with access to European culture, including cinematography. The global pandemic disrupted these processes for some time, and today we are pleased to see the return of the best EU films to screens.

All 15 films, from Tale of the Sleeping Giants, filmed in Finland in the northern EU, to My Grandfather’s Demons, filmed in Portugal in the southern EU, offer a fascinating journey through different genres that transcend borders and languages. They invite us to plunge into the richness of human experience and promise every viewer an exciting cinematic journey,” said Charlotte Adrian, Ambassador of the European Union to Uzbekistan.

During the opening of the film festival, certificates of successful completion of courses were awarded to EU-FOCUS FILM CAMP participants. The educational project for teenagers EU-FOCUS FILM CAMP was launched this summer by the FOCUS School of Cinema and Theater with financial support from the European Union. The training is free and includes comprehensive theoretical training, master classes, film screenings, meetings with domestic and foreign experts, and filming practice.

“This year, for the first time, the European Film Festival becomes part of the Tashkent International Film Festival. In addition to the EU Delegation in Uzbekistan, I would like to thank the French Embassy for providing the Cannes Film Festival prize-winning film “Anatomy of a Fall.” This film will open the Tashkent Film Festival. During the festival, Uzbek filmmakers will also have the opportunity to present their works to representatives of the Institut Francais. In addition, I would like to acknowledge the contribution of the Italian Embassy, which organized a wonderful exhibition of Italian costumes.

An important event will be the signing of memorandums on joint film production, including work on a joint project with the working title “Vambery”. We are implementing it with the support of the National Film Institute of Hungary,” said Firdavs Abdukhalikov, General Director of the Cinematography Agency.

Also, as part of the European Film Festival in Tashkent, a concert of the group “Ego le Cachalot” will take place. French performer David Delabrosse, on behalf of the sperm whale-music lover, in a playful and relaxed way introduces children to our difficult world: ecology, social inequality, the difficulties that a child faces in the family and society. The concert will take place on October 2 at the House of Cinematographers.