Mirziyoyev approves cinema overhaul and national film company O‘zbekfilm in Uzbekistan

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed a presentation on introducing modern management methods in cinema and creating the national film brand O‘zbekfilm on 26 October, and met with industry workers.

According to the presentation, state funding for film production was 10 billion soums in 2016 and 218 billion soums this year. Over ten years, the total allocated reached 1.2 trillion soums. The state monopoly in filmmaking has ended, and private studios have begun operating. The president noted, however, a weakening of the Uzbek cinematic school, a rise in films with superficial plots, a shortage of quality scripts and a generational gap in key crafts.

The proposals include abolishing the Cinema Agency, its 19 subordinate organisations and the Cinema Fund, with their powers transferred to the Ministry of Culture. A national film company, O‘zbekfilm, will be created under the ministry, and the state order system for production will be scrapped. The president approved the proposals and ordered officials to speed up implementation.