Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On the occasion of the VII edition of the European Film Festival, the Delegation of the European Union in Uzbekistan, with the support of the Latvian Embassy and in collaboration with Uzbekkino National Agency, invited the Latvian director, filmmaker and documentary, Dainis Klava, for a series of masterclasses dedicated to the art of documentary cinema with the students of the Uzbekistan State Institute of Arts and Culture (UZOD) in Tashkent and Nukus, and of the Focus School in Tashkent.

The purpose of the cultural initiative by the European Union was to contribute to the strengthening of film art in Uzbekistan, a process that had already been undertaken for years, but this time with the contribution of the Latvian filmmaker and documentary director, Dainis Klava. The film director is known for his commitment to environmental documentaries, and his works "Sea of ​​Attractions", "Lake Lubàns: Squaring the Circle", "European Union" are reminiscent of this.

Thus, the director, in sharing his experience in producing Latvian documentaries, had seized the opportunity to exchange views with the Uzbek national film reality, thanks to the meeting with the Director of the State Unitary Enterprise “Documentary and Chronicles Film Studio”, Bakhodir Odilov, and his students. The meeting introduced the Latvian director to the innovations and artistic-cinematographic reforms taking place in Uzbekistan.

As part of the masterclasses conducted in Tashkent first, in the Focus School and at the Institute, and in Nukus afterwards, the documentary director Klava addressed the students by discussing the topic "Documentary cinema as an art object". During the masterclass it has emerged how documentary cinema plays an important role in the society: it is able to encourage the society to achieve the truth through educational and research functions. In this regard, it was remarked that it is very important to provide all possible assistance in developing high-quality content and supporting the filmmaking of documentaries, in general, through regular educational trainings, as well as the inclusion of special individual courses in the programs of specialized educational institutions of Uzbekistan.

Dainis Klava’s masterclasses also included more interactive parts where students were able to experience the basics of digital cinematographic activity using the simplest tools at their disposal, even mobile phones. The participants received the necessary, practical and industry-relevant information, learned how to work with the camera, sound, and also mounted a little. The aim of the classes was to boost the skills of young professionals and students in creating high-quality and technically modern documentaries based on international experience.

During his visit to Nukus on 24th and 25th October, the filmmaker Klava took part in the visit of Muynak and what the city still preserves from the environmental disaster of the Aral Sea, namely the ship graveyard, the Cultural Centre and the Museum of Muynak District. As part of this day, presentations were held on the ongoing programs on mitigating the consequences of the Aral Sea catastrophe.

The return to Nukus was instead marked by the opening of the VII edition of the European Film Festival by the Delegation of the European Union in Uzbekistan with the support of the Karakalpakkino Agency. The event was held in the Karakalpak State Theatre for Young Spectators and occurred in conjunction with UN Day. Its launch was celebrated with the showing of the film “Kokota: the Islet of Hope”, a documentary which represents the challenges of climate change faced by a small community in Africa, eventually able to cope with it through the active mutual support of the population and the use of innovations.

All the activities were conducted in accordance with the implementation of the Presidential Decisions of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On measures for the further development of national cinema” of August 7, 2017 and “On additional measures for the development of the national film industry” of 24 July 2018.