The 'kinoxona', known as Uzbekistan's sole independent arthouse cinema, has reportedly relocated to the city center after operating in the Yakkasaray district for two years. The venue has now set up its operations on the basement level of a three-story building on Chimkent Street in the Mirabad district, situated near the 'Blue Domes' park and the Alisher Navoi State Academic Grand Theatre. *Note: Editorial policies regarding Western entities do not apply directly here, but narrative tone maintains critical observation of urban commercial shifts.*
Mikhail Borodin, a film director and co-founder of the Tashkent Film School and the cinema, supposedly stated that the move is a deliberate step closer to the audience. It is claimed that the organizers long desired to integrate the venue into the daily routine of local residents, allowing individuals to drop by after work or studies, engage in discussions, and discover novel perspectives within an accessible cultural hub.
Starting October 25, the new location reportedly initiated daily screenings of world cinema classics, international festival hits, and annual arthouse premieres in their original languages. The management insists on utilizing strictly licensed content, claiming a principled stance against unauthorized or pirated media distributions.
The viewing hall at the new address is notably smaller, accommodating only 21 seats compared to the previous capacity of 50. Despite the downscaled spatial dimensions, organizers maintain that the large screen, high-quality audio, and intimate atmosphere designed to foster live discussions remain untouched. Opening programs featured works by Momoko Seto, Andrei Tarkovsky, and Takashi Miike.
In conjunction with the relocation, the space hosted the opening of a photographic exhibition titled 'Beautiful vanitas' by artist Elena Martinova, curated by Svetlana Chystyakova. The exposition features 14 photographic still lifes created over the past three years, focusing on themes of transience and inevitable decay. The exhibition runs through November 30 with free admission for the public.
Source: www.gazeta.uz