Europe on the Big Screen: The 11th European Film Festival Kicks Off in Uzbekistan

Europe on the big screen: XI European Film Festival opens in Uzbekistan

The grand opening of the XI European Film Festival, which this year takes place in Tashkent and Urgench, was held at the Palace of National Cinema Arts.

The annual festival is organized by the Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Uzbekistan and the Cinematography Agency under the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Uzbekistan with the support of the embassies of EU Member States, cultural institutions, and other European countries.

According to established tradition, the festival kicked off with a press conference featuring the Ambassador of the European Union to Uzbekistan, Toivo Klaar, and the Chairman of the Creative Union of Cinematographers of Uzbekistan, Matyakub Matchanov.

The program includes 11 films by directors from Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Romania, and Slovenia, ranging from documentaries to psychological dramas, animation, biographical films, and romantic stories.

From October 23 to 25, screenings will take place in Tashkent at the Palace of National Cinema Arts (formerly the Panorama Cinema), and on October 27 in Urgench at the Khudoybergan Devanov Cinema. In addition, during the festival days, the British Council in Uzbekistan will show a series of short films for students of the Uzbekistan State University of World Languages (UzSWLU) and at the MOK HUB cultural space.

Since 2013, the European Film Festival has grown into one of the most anticipated cultural events in the country. During this time, more than 120 films from almost all EU Member States and other European countries have been shown in nine regions of Uzbekistan, including Navoi, Nukus, Shakhrisabz, Fergana, Jizzakh, Bukhara, and other cities.

"The European Film Festival is an opportunity to discover Europe through stories reflecting the diversity of our cultures and universal human values. This year, we share the celebration of cinema together with Urgench. Expanding the geography beyond Tashkent has become a fine tradition that creates opportunities for cultural exchange with the regions of Uzbekistan. I would like to thank the Cinematography Agency of Uzbekistan, the embassies of EU countries, and the participating cultural organizations for their long-standing partnership. Thanks to their contribution, the festival has become a vibrant cultural event contributing to a lively dialogue between peoples in the universal language of cinema," said EU Ambassador Toivo Klaar.

"The European Film Festival is an important platform for intercultural dialogue and creative exchange. It gives Uzbek audiences an opportunity to get closer to the distinctive artistic approaches of European cinema, as well as the life, values, and spiritual heritage of different peoples. Today, Uzbekistan is consistently developing cooperation with European countries in the field of cinematography: creating co-productions, exchanging professional experience, and promoting domestic films on the international stage are important directions of this interaction. I am confident that such initiatives will enhance the professional potential of Uzbek filmmakers, strengthen the international prestige of national cinema, and expand cultural ties between our peoples. I invite everyone to participate in the XI European Film Festival in Tashkent and Urgench!" noted Matyakub Matchanov.

The program opened with a screening of the 2024 animated film "A Boat in the Garden" (original title — Slocum et moi), produced by France and Luxembourg. Directed by Jean-François Laguionie, the film was recognized as the best at the Cartoons on the Bay festival, won the Pulcinella Awards, and was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and the Lumières Award.

The plot unfolds in the early 1950s in a seaside town, where young François, together with his parents, builds a sailboat in the family garden. This daring project inspires the protagonist to dream big, symbolizing his transition from childhood to youth.

Over the years, the European Film Festival has become a platform for various cultural initiatives, the main idea of which is to unite countries and people through the art of cinema.

The organizers express their gratitude to the embassies of Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Romania, and Slovenia, as well as the French Institute and the Goethe-Institut for their support in holding the festival in the spirit of the Team Europe initiative.