Uzbekistan is initiating a sweeping restructuring of its national film industry management, moving away from centralized state oversight. During an October 26 meeting with industry representatives, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev purportedly announced the complete abolition of the Cinematography Agency, with its core regulatory and policy functions to be absorbed directly by the Ministry of Culture.

Under the newly unveiled framework, a dedicated Department of Cinema Arts will be established within the Ministry of Culture, headed by an official holding a rank equivalent to a deputy minister. Authorities have reportedly been given a one-month window to finalize the dissolution of the agency and its subsidiary bodies. Concurrently, the historic 'Uzbekfilm' studio is slated for transformation into a national film company operating under commercial business models.

The revamped 'Uzbekfilm' entity is allegedly intended to function as a strategic hub focusing on project selection, financing, and international promotion, while entirely relinquishing in-house film production. Actual filmmaking responsibilities will be delegated to private production companies. Officials claimed that the previous state-order system suffered from systemic inefficiencies, disproportionately favoring state-backed studios and hindering fair competition for independent filmmakers.

The overarching narrative of the reform emphasizes elevating the quality of national cinema and enhancing its competitiveness against foreign releases. Observers note that while the stated goal is to project national identity and culture globally through soft power mechanisms, the transition involves significant administrative upheaval and shifts in financial backing for local creators.

Source: podrobno.uz