Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 20 March 2021, from Asia Minor to China, millions of people will celebrate the arrival of spring with music, dance and singing. A symbol of rebirth and renewal, Nowruz is cause for much celebrating every year. Since 2019 BOZAR invites its audiences to celebrate Nowruz and discover the rich cultures of Central Asia and its neighbours. This year, unable to meet at BOZAR, we propose to discover contemporary cinema of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan from the comfort of your home.

The cinema from the Central Asian region has steadily found its way to a European public in recent years through many selections on prestigious film festivals. Finding a Kazakh or Kyrgyz film on the other hand in your local cinema is still quite an ordeal. We are therefore happy to be able to present in this year’s Nowruz Film Days four internationally lauded films from the region that demand your attention. From a man that seeks vengeance to three women on a road trip, there is a lot to discover.

To give context to the programme, film critic and expert on Central Asian cinema Birgit Beumers will go in conversation with the four directors Sharipa Urazbayeva (Kazakhstan), Rashid Malikov (Uzbekistan), Elizaveta Stishova (Kyrgyzstan) and Nosir Saidov (Tajikistan). The conversation will be held in English.  More info: bit.ly/30rsiJw

Films will be shown on March 21-22-23, 2021 on the platform: https://vimeo.com/bozarcinema

Uzbekistan at this film festival will be represented by the film "Sabot" ("Fortitude") by Rashid Malikov. The film won the Critics' Award at the 2018 Moscow International Film Festival. More about the movie: bit.ly/3buz4Ex  

To watch films, you will need to register on the website https://vimeo.com, find the film, and use the Promocode: nowruz2021

Films will be presented in their original language with English subtitles. Geographic coverage: Belgium and Central-Asian states 

Central Asia, a key region at the crossroads between East and West, with its rich culture and history, has a centuries-old tradition of bringing Europe and Asia together. The European Union (EU) and the five countries of Central Asia; Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, have a longstanding relationship based upon mutual interests and a shared vision for peace, security and prosperity in our countries and neighbourhood. 

Cooperation in culture is an important aspect of the EU – Central Asia cooperation. Cultural diplomacy plays a crucial role in promoting people-to people contact, peace and stability and safeguarding cultural diversity. Developing our cultural relations with Central Asia gives visibility to Central Asia in Europe and to Europe in Central Asia.