Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) - The Cinematography Agency of Uzbekistan and the National Film Studio Belarusfilm signed a Cooperation Agreement, within the framework of which two military films, "The Asian Lion" and "Uzbek", will be shot.

The capital of Belarus - Minsk hosts the XXVII International Film Festival "Listapad", in which the delegation of Uzbekistan takes an active part.

Within the framework of the film festival, a separate day was allocated for the presentation of the program of cooperation between Belarus and Uzbekistan in the field of cinematography. Filmmakers from both countries took part in the meeting. An Agreement on Cooperation was signed between the Agency of Cinematography of Uzbekistan and the National Film Studio "Belarusfilm". The document confirmed the agreements reached on joint work on two films.

The first film is a full-length feature film "The Asian Lion". The Belarusian side will invest 50 percent of the budget. This is a biographical drama about the Hero of the Soviet Union Mamadali Topvaldyev, who was born in Ferghana region and became a partisan intelligence officer, a demolitionist in the war. For him, the Nazis gave him the nickname "Asian Lion", and the Belarusian partisans called him "Kazbek". According to some reports, for the capture of a brave soldier, Adolf Hitler personally announced a large monetary reward. The prototype of the hero of the film was distinguished by extraordinary dexterity and courage, and these qualities will become the main ones in the on-screen hero.

At the moment, the writing of the script for the film is being completed. Filming will take place in Uzbekistan and Belarus. The film will be directed by Muhammad Ali Iskandarov, who recently shot the film "I am not a terrorist." This work was demonstrated in Minsk at the Listapad film festival, and impressed both guests and filmmakers from different countries.

The second film, which will be shot by the Agency of Cinematography of Uzbekistan and the National Film Studio "Belarusfilm", is the film "Uzbek Woman", which is also dedicated to the events of the Second World War. The film will be based on real events. 

The film directed by Akbar Bekturdiev tells about a sniper girl who bravely defended her homeland. The prototype of the main character of the film will be the legendary Zebo Ganieva, who destroyed hundreds of fascists.

Both films will be full of war scenes.

“It is gratifying to note that our cooperation with the Agency of Cinematography is actively developing. For example, at “Belarusfilm” the war scenes of the film “Ilhak” were filmed, the films “Meros”, “Mukhabbat Bahori” were also the result of our partnership, work on a documentary film about Mamadali Topivoldiev began. Creative groups are already in Minsk and together with their Belarusian colleagues are working on developing a script, searching for locations, etc. And now we are starting to jointly create films dedicated to our common historical memory, our Victory, war heroes, ”said the general director of the film studio "Belarusfilm" Vladimir Karachevsky.

“The two films to be filmed with the support of Belarusfilm are extremely important, since they instill in young people a sense of patriotism, love for their Motherland, acquaint them with history and its heroes. We must definitely make films not only about the military valor of historical heroes of antiquity and the Middle Ages, it is necessary to show the feats that our grandfathers and great-grandfathers performed on the fronts and in the rear of the Second World War, ”said Firdavs Abdukhalikov, Director General of the Uzbekistan Cinematography Agency.

It should be added that at "Listapad" the Uzbek delegation presents such as "Ilhak" directed by Jakhongir Akhmedov, "Meros" by Khilol Nasimov, "I am not a terrorist" by Muhammad Ali Iskandarov and others. Screenings are held not only in Minsk, but also in the regions.

Minsk International Film Festival "Listapad" is the largest and most prestigious event in the field of cinema in Belarus, already known throughout the post-Soviet space for 27 years. Every November "Listapad" brings the best paintings from all over the world to Minsk. The main fiction and documentary film competitions focus on new films made in the CIS countries, Central and Southeast Asia, the Baltic countries, and Eastern and Central Europe.