Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has announced a major reform of the country’s film industry, including the creation of a new national film company, a shift from state-commissioned films to a subsidy-based funding system and the development of a film production cluster in Tashkent.
Speaking at a meeting with representatives of the film community at the Uzbekfilm studio, Mirziyoyev described the studio as the custodian of the history of national cinema, reflecting the work of generations of artists as well as the dreams, aspirations and unfulfilled hopes of the Uzbek people.
He recalled films such as “Shum-shum in the Mahalla”, “Bygone Days”, “The Mischievous Boy”, “Duel under the Chinor Tree” and “Suyunchi”, whose characters have remained familiar and close to audiences. Scenes, lines and melodies from these films, he said, evoke memories of childhood, grandparents and neighbourhood life.
The president praised Uzbek filmmakers for producing works of national art despite the political and ideological pressure they faced in earlier periods.
The traditions established at Uzbekfilm continued after independence, with popular films including “Abdullajon”, “Fields Left by My Father”, “Dilkhiroj”, “Motherland” and “Otov”.
Mirziyoyev recalled the condition of the studio a decade ago and said restoring it and creating suitable working conditions for creative professionals had been a priority from the beginning of the reform programme. The facility has since undergone a complete reconstruction.
Over the past decade, the government has adopted two decrees and eight resolutions to support the film industry. State funding for film production has increased from 10 billion soums in 2016 to 218 billion soums in 2026, according to the president.
He said the additional support had increased the number of domestic films, improved their quality and encouraged dozens of private film studios to enter the market.
The president also highlighted historical films produced in recent years, including “Islamkhodja”, “Ibrat”, “Avloniy”, “Abdulla Qodiriy”, “The Wind of Kokand”, “Muqimi”, “Ilhaq”, “Uzbek Girl” and “Bahodir Yalangtush”.
He noted that a new generation of national professionals had emerged, with filmmakers making a significant contribution to that development.
For the first time in the history of the Golden Globe international film awards, a ceremony honouring filmmakers from Central Asia and the Caucasus was held in Tashkent. Actress Gulchehra Jamilova, who attended the meeting, received the Meridian Award.
Despite these achievements, Mirziyoyev said much more needed to be done to bring Uzbek cinema to a new level.
He rejected the argument that social media had driven people away from cinemas, noting that foreign films continued to attract full audiences.
“This means viewers have not abandoned films or cinemas — only their tastes and expectations have changed. Do our national films meet these demands? Unfortunately, they do not!” the president said.
He attributed the problem partly to the absence of an integrated system covering the entire process, from film production to distribution and promotion among audiences.
Mirziyoyev also said the views of professional film critics were not being given sufficient consideration. Objective analysis, he argued, helps filmmakers identify shortcomings and improve their work.
The president criticised the existing system of state orders and procurement used to finance film projects, saying the inherited model no longer met the needs of the modern film industry.
Under the previous system, a single director could be assigned as many as six projects, while one screenwriter could be responsible for up to seven. Such workloads made it difficult to devote sufficient attention to each production. Almost half of the commissions also went to state-owned studios, limiting opportunities for fair competition among private filmmakers.
As a result, completing assignments quickly had become more important than developing strong scripts and producing high-quality films, he said. The success of creative work, Mirziyoyev added, should instead be judged by whether a film makes audiences think deeply and leaves a lasting emotional impression.
He also argued that artistic works should not be procured through rigid technical specifications in the same way as ordinary goods or construction projects, since scripts and creative decisions can evolve during filming.
Mirziyoyev described cinema as an important instrument through which nations learn about one another. Countries that present their history, culture and national heroes effectively on the global screen can expand their influence and strengthen their international voice.
Cinema, he said, is no longer merely entertainment but also an instrument of soft power that can enhance a country’s international standing.
The president raised concerns about protecting the consciousness and worldview of children, saying this responsibility should receive attention alongside national defence and security. He said cinema and filmmakers had an important role to play.
He described the central idea of “O‘z” in cinema as telling the world one’s own story in one’s own voice while remaining conscious of national identity.
Mirziyoyev said films should portray not only great historical figures but also people living in Uzbekistan today. The dedication of teachers, commitment of doctors, perseverance of athletes, courage of soldiers and defenders of the homeland, and the initiative of entrepreneurs and builders all provide material for meaningful films. The hopes and ambitions of young people should also be represented.
“Let our children recognise themselves in such heroes, believe in their own abilities and feel that they have a stake in the future of their country!” he said.
The president stressed that the state must provide filmmakers with suitable working conditions, support and an atmosphere of creative freedom.
A new system will clearly separate the functions of industry management, financing and film production. The first step will be to establish a streamlined, modern management structure.
The Cinematography Agency will be abolished, and responsibility for implementing state policy in the film sector will be transferred to the Ministry of Culture. A Department of Cinematography will be established within the ministry, with its head holding a status equivalent to that of a deputy minister.
Officials have been instructed to organise the department’s work and complete the abolition of the Cinematography Agency and its subordinate organisations within one month.
Uzbekfilm’s organisational and economic model will also be overhauled. The existing state institution will be abolished and replaced by a new national film company, Uzbekfilm, operating under a modern business model.
Mirziyoyev said the company would serve as a central institution for developing a national film brand and advancing the modern film industry.
The new Uzbekfilm company will not produce films itself. Production will be transferred entirely to the private sector. The company will instead select and finance projects, promote and distribute films, and support their entry into international markets and film festivals.
This is intended to bring the entire process, from production to reaching audiences, into a unified system. Officials have been instructed to organise the company’s operations within one week.
The government will replace state-commissioned film production with a subsidy-based support system. “From now on, the state will not be a customer commissioning films, but a reliable partner of filmmakers and the private sector,” Mirziyoyev said.
Funding decisions will prioritise the creative process and its needs rather than rigid technical specifications. A new financing mechanism is to be introduced within one month.
Starting next year, the state budget will allocate funding annually based on requests from the national film company Uzbekfilm.
The president also announced plans to create modern film production infrastructure. A unified industrial cluster, the Uzbekfilm Film City, will be developed across the studio’s 10-hectare site, bringing together a range of services for the film industry.
The complex will include a dubbing and sound-recording centre equipped with modern technology. A qualified design organisation will be engaged to prepare the master plan and project estimates within two months, with construction scheduled to begin in March 2027.
Unused state assets within the cinematography system will also be put up for open auction.
As another measure to support film professionals, the Kohinur sanatorium in Kuyichirchik District will be transferred entirely to their use. The facility has recently been renovated and equipped to modern standards, providing conditions for film industry workers to rest and recover.
Mirziyoyev said the sanatorium should become a creative centre where filmmakers can regain their strength and develop new ideas. In addition, at least 300 dedicated film industry workers will receive free annual vouchers for rest and medical treatment at sanatoriums across the country.
The president also announced the establishment of a Film Studies Club to develop academic research, analysis and professional film criticism.
Uzbekfilm will support the club and help it join the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI), a move intended to increase the participation of Uzbek films in major international festivals.
To unite the industry’s professional community, the Association of Cinematographers of Uzbekistan and the Association of Representatives of Uzbekistan’s Film Industry will be merged into a new Chamber of Representatives of Uzbekistan’s Film Industry.
The chamber will promote industry self-governance, protect filmmakers’ copyright and professional interests, and support the development of young professionals.
Financial and organisational support will be provided for the chamber’s activities and for young filmmakers to upgrade their skills abroad. The new body is expected to become operational within one month.
Mirziyoyev also called for the national film industry to enter a new phase of technological development. A cooperation programme providing for wider use of artificial intelligence in filmmaking will be prepared within one month. It will include new training courses, specialist education and professional development abroad.
The president proposed establishing Uzbekfilm as the unified brand of national cinema. He noted that residents had long referred to this part of the Chilanzar district as “Uzbekfilm”.
He proposed naming the relevant section of the current Chilanzar Street Uzbekfilm, renaming the Museum of Cinematography the Uzbekfilm Museum, changing the name of the Palace of Cinematography to the Uzbekfilm Cinema, and renaming the National Film Fund the Uzbekfilm National Film Fund. These institutions would be brought together under one brand.
Mirziyoyev expressed confidence that the planned changes would help the industry advance and enable the creation of high-quality films. He then listened to the views of experienced filmmakers and young professionals.
Following the open dialogue, the president said key priorities for the development of national cinema had been identified and that he had signed a decree providing for the announced reforms.
He pledged continued support for initiatives from creative professionals, while stressing that favourable conditions alone would not be enough to produce good films. Dedication, patriotism and genuine love for the people were also essential.
“I believe in you. Drawing strength from our national identity and reflecting deeply on life today, we can work together to write a new chapter in national cinema,” Mirziyoyev said at the conclusion of the meeting.
