Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 1 October, Moscow hosted the grand opening of the Days of Uzbek Cinema in Russia. The ceremony was attended by Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Vladimir Medinsky, special envoy of the President of the Russian Federation Mikhail Shvydkoy, Uzbekkino CEO Firdavs Abdukhalikov, and Uzbek Ambassador to Russia Botirjon Asadov.

The Minister of Culture of Russia Vladimir Medinsky called the production of joint films the main expected outcome of the event.

“Quality films must be made together,” the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation said.

“The President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev posed large-scale tasks for Uzbek cinema to create products at the world level, including reflecting the realities of today and the glorious pages of our history,” the head of Uzbekkino Firdavs Abdukhalikov said at the opening ceremony - we cannot see these goals without partnership with colleagues from foreign countries and in this regard, Russian cinema is a strategic partner for us.”

Uzbekkino National Agency has signed memoranda of cooperation with five Russian film companies - STV, Mars Media, MEGOGO, Vega and Inferno. Russian and Uzbek cinematographers are planning to jointly shoot the film Tashkent-66 about the Tashkent earthquake, the feature film Khoja Nasreddin, as well as the films Fairy Present and Baron-2.

In turn, the Deputy Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Pavel Stepanov in his speech noted that the Ministry of Culture of Russia will support these projects and will in every way contribute to the creation of new ones.

In anticipation of the opening of the Days of Uzbek Cinema in Russia, a delegation of Uzbek filmmakers met with the leadership of the All-Russian State Institute of Cinematography (VGIK) and the Mosfilm studio.

During the meeting, agreements were reached on training specialists from Uzbekistan in short-term courses at VGIK.

The joint work on the creation of film production and practical exercises in the pavilions of Mosfilm was discussed during a visit to the Uzbek delegation of Mosfilm.

Mosfilm director Karen Shakhnazarov supported the proposal of the head of Uzbekkino, Firdavs Abdukhalikov, to resume the joint production of paintings by Uzbekfilm and Mosfilm.

“Uzbekistan, in my opinion, can become a locomotive of cinema. There are all conditions for this. It is only necessary to create a strong studio and educate staff,” Shakhnazarov said.

Days of Uzbek cinema in Russia continue. Today, the delegation of Uzbekistan will hold talks on the return of Uzbek films, stored in the "State Film Fund" of Russia, to Uzbekistan.