In 2016, no major historically important event stood aside the focus of domestic documentary filmmakers. The studio of popular scientific and documentary films produced 25 pieces in the past year, many of which were broadcast on the main TV channels of the country.
The chief editor of the studio Komiljon Shamsiddinov dwelled upon the results of the past year, and future plans:
“The film ‘Ohanglarda Yashayman Hamon’ (I Am Still Alive in the Melodies) by the experienced director Adham Usmonov, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the composer Mutal Burkhonov, won in the national contest ‘Eng Ulugh, Eng Aziz!’ Is not this indicator of creative and professional growth of our authors? There are no major republican festivals in this field, so one of the few assessments we get only from the jury of the contest. Our films have been the winners of the contest of late years.
Of course, there were pictures dedicated to the 25th anniversary of Uzbekistan’s independence. But we are trying to move away from the usual methods and approaches. For example, the name ‘Haq Yuli, Albatta, Bir O’tilgusi’ (The Voice of Truth Will Call) is taken from the lines of Chulpon. The whole film is not built on the achievements the country gained over the past quarter of a century, but through the prism of thoughts and statements of Chulpon, Fitrat, Abdulla Kadyri, Abdulla Avloni. We just showed why the former regime began to fall apart and how these writers see the independence.
Last year was rich in important events, which undoubtedly will remain in the annals of the republic. We also could not stand aside of them. Our creative teams shot films about the last elections of the President of Uzbekistan, a meeting of the OIC Foreign Ministers Council took place in Tashkent, the achievements of our athletes at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Brazil. This is another mission of the studio. We do not just produce a documentary. After all, each film lasts 15-20 minutes, when the starting material lasts sometimes five hours. All this we keep on electronic carrier to pass on the historical footage to the next generation.
For the first time in many years, Uzbekistan newsreel has been created. This wonderful tradition to show the short films on the events in the country before the screening of the film existed many years ago. We are pleased that it is returning. A five-minute newsreel includes several stories on pressing issues of the present taking place in Uzbekistan. It is designed mainly for the young audience. This is a unique way to convey to them important information about contemporary politics and economy.
A film about Gulistan can be called unique, because it has been shot throughout the year. The weather in the town was very humid. Our cameramen shot the entire process of transformation, starting from how the locals dug the first trench to drain the water to how the town changed its appearance.
In the year of large-scale events, we paid less time to creative portraits of cultural figures of our country. We produced films about the People’s Artist Ikroma Boltayeva, who is called ‘Desdemona from Kashkadarya’, the People’s Artist Javlon Umarbekov, which was filmed by one of the leading directors Shuhrat Mahmudov.
I can confidently say that one of the best documentaries of 2016 is the film ‘Qalb Amri’ (Dictates of the Heart), about the life of the great scientist Khoja Ahror Vali.
This year, we plan to focus on these areas – historical images and creative portraits. We choose not only passed away artists, but also those who are still with us. We need to appreciate them. We also plan to produce full-length films on our great ancestors – Abu Rayhon Beruni, Imam al-Bukhari, Abu Ali ibn Sino. This will be monumental works with acting areas.”
