Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) - As part of the closing of the International Student Festival at VGIK, the delegation of the Cinematography Agency met with students from Uzbekistan who entered the All-Russian State Institute of Cinematography named after S. A. Gerasimov.

We talked about the development of bilateral relations between cinematographers of Russia and Uzbekistan with the head of the Cinematography Agency of Uzbekistan, Firdavs Abdukhalikov.

- What is the purpose of the visit of the Uzbek delegation to VGIK?

- A delegation from Uzbekistan went to participate in the ceremony of summing up the results of the 41st International Student Festival of VGIK. First of all, we wanted to meet with our guys who entered VGIK, to see how they live, how they study. What to hide, we all know that it is not so easy in Moscow, and in order to support our children, at the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, programs will be introduced to support Uzbek students studying abroad. The agency will provide special scholarships for them.

In addition, an agreement was established with the rector of VGIK Vladimir Malyshev on the creation of joint co-products - the term papers of our students will be filmed on the territory of Uzbekistan and dedicated to Uzbekistan. Another piece of news was that our students will return to Uzbekistan for vacations and practice at Uzbekfilm. At the same time, flights, as well as the creative practice itself - participation in film projects, on the set - will be paid by the Cinematography Agency.

In addition, we went on another honorable mission. Yesterday, within the framework of the student forum, the rector of VGKI Vladimir Malyshev was awarded an honorary badge for the 30th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Uzbekistan on behalf of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and the leadership of VGIK received special certificates of honor from the leadership of the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan.

- This year the Agency of Cinematography managed to prepare several art films at once in the format of co-production with Russian colleagues. When will the films hit the big screen?

- The Agency of Cinematography has prepared three major joint film projects - "The Sun Tastes", filmed jointly with the company "Sputnik Vostok Production", "Peri’s Gift" with the film company "VEGA" and "Baron. Return "with the Inferno company. Of course, the ongoing pandemic crisis has influenced the timing of filmmaking, but we hope they will hit the big screens soon.

- And what about joint projects in documentary filmmaking?

- This year we shot a number of documentaries. This is the film “Uzbekistan. Modern History”, filmed jointly with the “Masterskaya” film company and aired on the TV channel “Russia-24”, “Uzbekistan. Past, Present, Future”with the “Documentaryist” film company, which will be shown on the first Russian TV channel, as well as two films shot jointly with the “MIR ”TV channel - “Uzbekistan. Commonwealth Officer” and “Independence. Mission Possible”. And of course, it is important to note the cooperation with the Russia-Kultura TV channel. Together we have prepared a series of 4 films under the general title “Uzbekistan. Revival "-" Message from the depths of centuries "," Warmth and generosity of dastarkhan "," Plexus of solar cultures "," A place in the sun ".

- Surely, the Agency has already built a roadmap for cooperation on new joint projects for the next year? Which project will be the most anticipated?

- Yesterday in Moscow we had a meeting with the producer of a new film under the working title "Gladiator" Elena Tverdokhlebova. The film will be shot in the genre of drama and will tell about a young boxer Borzenko from Tashkent - a prisoner of Buchenwald, who is forced to fiercely fight in the camp ring. Each battle for the Nazis is a funny attraction, and for the main character it is a personal War. The cost of losing there is not high - his life. Twenty years later, he returns to his native Tashkent, becomes a surgeon and desperately fights for the life of a little girl on the operating table. He is again in a fight with death. The cost of losing is high here - a person’s life. This is such a unique story we want to tell the viewer.

- Within the framework of the 13th Tashkent Film Festival recently, a number of memorandums were signed, including with the Russian director and producer Timur Bekmambetov. What initiatives will be implemented in this area?

- This is a unique project in which part of the investments, according to the agreements, will be directed to the creation of animation schools in Tashkent. Subsequently, these studio schools will take part in the production of the cartoon "Khoja Nasreddin" and other animation projects. The production will be carried out by the Bazelevs studio of the Russian director and producer Timur Bekmambetov in cooperation with the National Agency of Cinematography of Uzbekistan and the Kazakhfilm studio.

- Returning to the issue of supporting students, please tell us what measures will be directed by the Agency to motivate students of the Tashkent branch of VGIK?

- Yes, as you know, the VGIK branch in Tashkent was opened at the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan by a special order from 28 August 2021. Now in the branch of the university in Tashkent there are two departments - production and drama. Half of the students study on the basis of a state grant, the other half - on a contract basis. At the same time, the university intends to expand: negotiations are underway on the possibility of opening several more faculties in the Tashkent branch. Now Uzbeks can enter and study both at home and in Moscow.

The main emphasis in training will be on practice. The Moscow branch of VGIK has a Youth Studio and a creative laboratory equipped with the necessary equipment for filming. Novice filmmakers will be awarded grants to shoot short youth films. If applicants from the regions gain the required number of points, but are unable to pay for training under the contract, the Agency is ready to provide them with targeted grants. In general, assistance to students from Uzbekistan studying at VGIK and in the branch in Tashkent is in line with the President’s initiatives to support state organizations involved in training and advanced training of students. I am sure that the work being done will certainly yield results and raise both the cinema art and the film industry of Uzbekistan to a new level.