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Brit Film School Flourishes in Uzbekistan

 

Flag of UzbekistanFive short films produced by young Uzbek directors and films by British directors will be screened this month in Uzbekistan as part of the British Council's new project FILM ON. The project aims to build long-term cultural relations with Uzbekistan and support the creative initiatives there.

 

The Uzbekistan Film SchoolFILM ON is about supporting young generation of Uzbek filmakers to developing their professionalism and skills, and demonstrating their work. It is also intended to familiarise Uzbek audiences with the filming techniques for producing low-budget short films, which are growing in popularity around the world.

In December 2005 five young Uzbek directors took part in the joint workshop on production of short movies with the British director Faisal Qureshi. In just four weeks and on a low budget, they became the producers, directors and authors of their own films.

The resulting films were Ladybird by Eugenia Palehova,  Fellow Traveller by Shuhrat Karimov, Cold Dish by Sergey Tihomirov,  Anniversary by Ahmad Umurzakov, and On Punch by Ruslan Pak were produced. Their subjects are the everyday things that surround us that are often completely overlooked - sketches of contemporary life captured by the digital camera.

The shootings were done using mini-DV cameras, and the shots were put together using easy-to-access software. Both professional and amateur actors were involved in the movies.

Uzbekistan lies along the northern border of AfghanistanFive films shot by Uzbek directors are five different approaches to cinematography, five personal views of the contemporary life and five stories of people surrounding us. After the screenings, copies of the films on DVD will be handed out to Uzbekistan's film studios and industry professionals to show what the next generation of filmmakers are capable of. The films will also be submitted to short film festivals abroad.

Alongside the local films the Uzbek screenings will also include some notable British movies of recent times. Among them is the winner of Academy, BAFTA and Golden Globe awards -  The Faithful Gardener, and new movies of the leading directors –  Millions by Danny Boyle, Code 46 and 24 Hour Party People by Michael Winterbottom, as well as works of young British filmmakers This Song is Not About Love and Corpse's Shoes.

One of the objectives of the project is to help Uzbek directors shoot high quality films which do not require big multi-million budgets, obligatory use of professional equipment and overwhelming trick effects. FILM ON has clearly demonstrated that you do not have to find lots of cash or expensive technology to make your film – the most important thing to have is willpower.