“To promote creative freedom”: Uzbekistan to eliminate cinematography commission and film councils

Uzbekistan is set to dismantle its cinematography commission and national artistic councils, a move President Shavkat Mirziyoyev says will promote creative freedom and healthy competition within the film industry. The decision comes as the country aims to elevate its cinematic output and gain international recognition.

Mirziyoyev outlined a series of reforms designed to invigorate the sector, emphasizing the need for at least five to ten high-quality films annually that can compete on the global stage. He highlighted the success of young filmmakers whose short film won a Grand Prix at an inclusive film festival in Cannes, awarding them a significant voucher to support their future endeavors.

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Today our people expect life-based feature films, TV series and popular documentaries from you.

Under the new framework, the Uzbekfilm agency will be transformed into a central film corporation with national status, targeting both domestic and international markets. The government plans to expand collaborations with global streaming platforms to enhance the visibility of Uzbek films abroad. Additionally, incentives such as tax exemptions for foreign film companies working in Uzbekistan and a substantial portion of state-commissioned film revenues directed to producers are being introduced.

The reforms also include reallocating up to 30% of the budget for state-commissioned films towards promotion and marketing, while removing the requirement to review procurement contracts. The national film award Oltin Humo will receive annual funding to strengthen its status. These changes aim to replace outdated control mechanisms with paid expert groups for each film genre, ensuring a more transparent and modern system.

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to support creative freedom and healthy competition