Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) - Conference on organizational issues of the Tashkent International Film Festival "Assalom, Navruz!" took place at the National Academy of Sciences "Uzbekkino" as part of the month of cinema "Pearl of the Silk Road". The videoconference was attended by leading film experts, organizers, experienced professionals and producers from France, Germany, Great Britain, Russia, Iran, Armenia and other countries.

Director of the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF) Florence Giraud supported the holding of this festival in the format of the Festival of Festivals and noted:

 - We support the Tashkent International Film Festival "Pearl of the Silk Road" in the format "Festival of Festivals", which is being revived at the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. There is no doubt that this festival in Central Asia will generate great interest in the world cinematographic community. In turn, we are ready to provide all possible assistance in holding this festival, - she stressed.

During the conference, experts put forward a number of proposals for holding the Tashkent International Film Festival. In particular, film expert and art critic Svetlana Slapka, General Director of the EuroAsia Global Connecting agency, proposed to hold the festival from September 29 to October 3 this year. This proposal was supported by other experts as well. Taking into account the circumstances of the pandemic and other organizational issues, the experts came to the conclusion that the height of autumn for Tashkent festivals will be favorable, since this date does not overlap with the schedules of other international festivals. In addition, filmmakers also raised issues of the younger generation.

“It is necessary to pay attention to young people, to support them, to create conditions for their activities in the cinema, to revive the environment of healthy competitiveness,” emphasized Katriona Kelly, film critic, professor at Oxford University.

These statements were supported by the director of the Golden Apricot (Gaiff Pro) festival Melik Karapetyan: “it is important to organize the Youth Film Festival and create decent conditions for the event, provide the technical base of the festival at the highest level”.

Program director of the CIS youth cinema forum "Umut", film critic Gulbara Tolomusheva suggested including in the festival program a competitive program for filmmakers from the Central Asian region:

“This will allow the festival to create a positive communication platform. It will unite cultures, provide an opportunity to establish new contacts and exchange experiences. The competition program will increase interest in the festival.

Kirill Razlogov, Russian film critic, doctor of art history, professor of the All-Russian Cinematographic Institute, suggested demonstrating the works of Uzbek filmmakers at the festival:

 - Uzbek viewers have the opportunity to watch films-winners of world festivals live, and the international film community, of course, will also be interested in the works of Uzbek filmmakers. I approve of the introduction of the competition program at the Tashkent Film Festival. It would also be appropriate if Uzbekfilmmakers presented their works.

Ali Rizo Shahruhi, Iranian film critic and filmmaker, noted that the festival should also have its own distinctive style.

   - I think that the Tashkent Film Festival should have its own style and uniqueness, distinguishing it from other festivals. There are all the possibilities for this, - said Ali Rizo Shahrukhi.

During the videoconference, Doctor of Arts Nigora Karimova, Director of the State Unitary Enterprise of the Republican Film Fund Elzhon Abbasov, Honored Artist of Russia Farhod Makhmudov, screenwriter, professor of VGIK Odelsha Agishev, director, screenwriter, corresponding member of the Russian NA of Cinematic Arts and Sciences Elyor Eshmukhammedov ...

At the end of the conference, the General Director of the Uzbekkino NA Firdavs Abdukhalikov thanked the international experts for the proposals and recommendations and said that they would all be considered and taken into account:

- Your recommendations and suggestions, exchange of experience in organizing international film festivals are important for us. This is why we are in regular contact with an international group of experts. All ideas and comments expressed today will be presented to the Organizing Committee - said Firdavs Abdukhalikov.

Currently, the agency is carefully preparing for this festival.