April. Uzbekistan.
+ some news from Azerbaijan
April was magical. Uzbekistan was unforgettable. There are so many things worth mentioning!
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Tashkent International Animation Forum
The main reason of my travel to Uzbekistan was the animation festival organised by my friend Dante Rustav. Dante and his wife Hristina Belousova are artists and filmmakers, they are incredibly creative and full of enthusiasm. In Tashkent they run a film studio DRF Films and also a Children Animation Studio, each year they produce dozens of short films, I was highly impressed by their productivity!
This year Dante and Hristina decided to organize Uzbekistan’s first animation festival and I was invited there to screen a program “50 years of Azerbaijani Animation” and also join their International Jury. The legend of Azerbaijani animation Elchin Hami Akhundov joined me and offered a paper-doll workshop for children of the festival. On the closing ceremony of the festival Elchin was awarded with a special prize for his contribution to the development of animation. Our travel was possible thanks to the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan, State Film Agency of Uzbekistan and our friend Dante.
During the festival I was writing a blog in Azerbaijani language and posted in our Facebook group “Azerbaijani Animation”. Click here to read this blog: Day 1 and Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5 + shared some pictures from Samarkand travel here. Separate blog post is dedicated to the details of our program “50 years of Azerbaijani Animation”, read it here.
The festival was fantastic! I met new friends and saw many very good films. I was impressed by Uzbekistani animated films produced in Soviet era, but what is more important, I saw a great potential in new generation of filmmakers – it’s exciting to witness how animation industry is being born in this country. Stage Agency supports young people. Private sector, though not a big one, exists and develops - I was excited to meet a young animation director and producer Pavel Kim and his team in DIP Animation Studio. Interestingly, first feature film will be made soon in Uzbekistan, the project belongs to famous Russian/American producer and director Timur Bekmambetov and is based on popular Oriental folk character Nasreddin Hodja.
Festivals are always about people. I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to meet so many talented artists:
Anastasiya Verlinska - director of Linoleum Contemporary Animation and Media Art Festival (Ukraine).
Dina Goder – animation and theatre expert, program director of Big Cartoon Festival (Russia).
Eljohn Abbasov – director of Film Fund of Uzbekistan.
Zurab Diasamidze – director of TOFUZI International Animated Film Festival (Georgia).
Yulia Drobova – artist, author of the festival’s poster. Visit her website!
Anton Bolkunov – director in Artishock Theatre in Kazakhstan.
Max Epstein – co-founder and teacher of WILD KIDS Animation Studio (Israel).
Karina Hananeia – teacher in WILD KIDS Animation Studio (Israel).
Kamariddin Artua - theatre critic from Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Anastasiya Pryadkina – project manager of Tashkent International Animation Forum.
Olga Kerimova – photographer of the Forum.
Anita Chernykh – animation director from Kazakhstan. Her film "The Girl and the Cloud" won the main prize of the Tashkent International Animation Forum.
Farhod Gafforpour – animation director from Tajikistan. His film "Silent Dialogue" won the prize for the directing.
Gayrat Kodirov – director of Kanibadam Musical Drama Theater (Tajikistan).
Another two extremely important things that happened in April:
Azerbaijani State Film Agency
The President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on the establishment of ARKA – Azerbaijani State Film Agency. Huge congratulations to Rufat Hasanov and his wonderful team who spent two years of hard work to make this happen. Thanks to the Minister of Culture Anar Karimov – your support is priceless.
V ANIMAFILM International Animation Festival
Our 5th ANIMAFILM Festival will take place in September 7 – 11, 2022. Authors and studios from all around the world can submit their films on our FilmFreeway page. Please tell your friends and colleagues!
Traditionally, the winner of "Best Azerbaijani Short Animated Film" will have a chance to attend in 2023 Annecy Festival in France and receive professional MIFA accreditation.
I want to thank French Embassy in Azerbaijan, the French Institute in Azerbaijan (IFA) and with the support of the Annecy International Animation Film Festival for this unique opportunity for local filmmakers!
