Daryo's team presents an interview delving into the remarkable journey and vision of Mukhlisa Azizova, the creative force behind transformative initiatives such as O'zbekistonlik and Uzbekistan's Club. Mukhlisa shares insights into her entrepreneurial journey and the profound impact of her initiatives, emphasizing her commitment to storytelling and showcasing Uzbek talent. Currently in the United States, Mukhlisa and her team are embarking on the American season of the O’zbekistonlik series.
Mukhlisa, your journey from photography and film directing to pioneering initiatives like O'zbekistonlik is truly inspiring. Could you share what inspired you to delve into documentary filmmaking with O'zbekistonlik?
Well, you see, it's been quite a journey. I've always been captivated by the power of visual storytelling, and with O'zbekistonlik, I saw an opportunity to capture the rich tapestry of stories within Uzbekistan's diaspora.
I appeared to be in the right place and in the right time. As I gained some experience in photography and production, I started thinking about making a film. This coincided with the wind of change in 2017 when the new president came and led Uzbekistan to reforms and openness to the world. I was fortunate to have mentors, my team, and colleagues, so in 2018, we filmed Scorpion who became one of the most successful blockbusters in Uzbekistan. However, we realized that we have a lot to learn from foreign film industries which is why we founded Uzbekistan National Film Commission and intended to bring international productions into Uzbekistan.
When we were presenting Uzbekistan at those film markets across the world from Berlin to Hong Kong to Los Angeles, we had a chance to meet a lot of Uzbekistanis who are living abroad. My team and I still vividly remember the way, for example, Uzbekistanis settled somewhere in France met us at the Cote d’Azure airport with drinks, chocolate, and confetti when we went there to run our National Pavilion in Cannes.
As an artist, I then began thinking about telling their stories, the stories of thousands of the bright people coming from Uzbekistan and living and working, doing business in all around the world. Documentary filmmaking, with its authenticity and depth, felt like the perfect medium to showcase the experiences and achievements of Uzbek individuals around the world.
O'zbekistonlik has truly been a labor of love. I'm thrilled to see it resonate with audiences, garnering over 4 mn views combined in less than two years. Now, the total views sum at nearly 10 mn on Youtube alone.
It's evident that O'zbekistonlik has resonated deeply with audiences, reaching millions worldwide. How did this documentary project evolve into the larger initiative of Uzbekistan's Club, and what is the overarching vision behind it?
O'zbekistonlik was just the beginning. As we shared these compelling stories, it became clear that there was a broader narrative to be told—one of pride, unity, and celebration of Uzbek talent. And thus, Uzbekistan's Club was born. Our vision is to not only inspire and empower youth but also to engage decision-makers, intellectuals, and entrepreneurs in championing Uzbekistan's potential on the global stage.
Through diverse initiatives and collaborations, we aim to showcase the vibrancy of our culture and the dynamism of our people. From documentary filmmaking to events like O'zbekistonlik forums, we strive to create platforms that amplify diverse voices and ideas, fostering dialogue and collaboration across borders.
In the start line, we already had the support from Youth Affairs Agency of Uzbekistan because of the positive portfolio that my team and I had, the partnership events and projects that we held since 2017 when Uzbekistan started opening up.
For example, my time at the Cinema Development Center of Uzbekistan was truly transformative. One of the initiatives I'm particularly proud of is Art House. Art House is a platform I co-founded to nurture emerging talent within Uzbekistan's film industry.
Through Art House, we offer free-of-charge mentorship sessions and masterclasses conducted by prominent Uzbek film directors, actors, and industry professionals. These sessions provide aspiring filmmakers with invaluable insights, guidance, and practical skills to hone their craft and realize their creative potential.
The program boasts an impressive roster of mentors, including acclaimed directors such as Ayub Shahobiddinov, Yolqin To‘ychiyev, and Rashid Malikov, along with talented actors like Alisher Uzoqov and Ra’no Shodiyeva.
Youth Affairs Agency of Uzbekistan was the main sponsor there. So, due to this experience, we were able to persuade them to invest into our next project O’zbekistonlik.
Later, the biggest companies in Uzbekistan as well as other government agencies, embassies of Uzbekistan all over the world, joined our club as partners where we realized that we now can, and probably, should do more. As our main ambition is to try to get our ideas and messages across to make Uzbekistan a better place, we decided not to limit ourselves with documentaries, but we later launched edutainment spin-off that we called O’zbekistonlik.Students, our events, our podcast series, and other undertakings.
The launch of Uzbekistan's Club magazine seems like a natural progression in your mission to amplify diverse voices and ideas. Can you tell us more about the magazine's objectives and its role within the broader initiative?
Absolutely. The Uzbekistan's Club magazine serves as a platform to showcase the richness of Uzbek society and culture. With contributions from prominent journalists, bloggers, and writers, the magazine offers insights into various facets of Uzbekistan's cultural landscape.
Our goal is to challenge stereotypes, foster dialogue, and promote understanding among readers worldwide. By sharing stories of innovation, creativity, and resilience, we aim to inspire a new generation of Uzbekistanis to embrace their heritage and contribute to the country's progress.
After the launch of Uzbekistan’s club magazine during our London forum in October 2023, we were asked to deliver the magazine to almost all ministries and high-level offices. Our rankings of the most progressive citizens and most socially responsible businesses as well as success stories of Uzbek expats in Britain and tens of other articles attracted the attention of the most influential people in Uzbekistan.
Prior to Uzbekistan’s club, you were actively running the Uzbekistan National Film Commission. What motivated you to establish the Film Commission, and what impact has it had on the local film industry?
The establishment of the Uzbekistan National Film Commission stemmed from a desire to showcase our country's cinematic potential to the world. By facilitating collaborations and promoting our scenic locations, we aimed to attract foreign producers and elevate Uzbekistan's profile in the global film industry.
The Film Commission has played a pivotal role in revitalizing the local film industry, fostering collaborations, and enhancing its global visibility. Through initiatives like Film in Uzbekistan campaign and participation in international film markets, we've positioned Uzbekistan as a premier filming destination, attracting investments and opportunities for local talent.
You have directed large-scale events in Tashkent. How do you believe these events contribute to shaping Uzbekistan's cultural landscape?
Events serve as powerful platforms for dialogue, collaboration, and inspiration. The Tashkent Youth Forum, PROlogue Film Festival, Tahsin Awarding Ceremony, and Besh Tashabbus Urban Fest provide opportunities for emerging talent to showcase their work, engage with industry professionals, and exchange ideas.
By fostering a vibrant cultural ecosystem, these events contribute to shaping Uzbekistan's cultural landscape and nurturing the next generation of creative talent. From film screenings to panel discussions and workshops, these events spark conversations, forge connections, and catalyze positive change in our society.
I am happy that my team’s experience at these grand events helped us set up high-level O’zbekistonlik forums in Berlin, Paris, and London for the past two years. We initially wanted them to be platforms for exchange of ideas among Uzbekistanis as well as premiering opportunity for our documentaries. As we got a lot of positive feedback about them both from diasporas, and foreign guests who are interested in the fate of Uzbekistan, we want to continue convening them in more capitals of the world and expand their scale.
Yes, the recent O’zbekistonlik Forum that took place in London in October 2023 made the news. The President of EBRD, the biggest International Financial Institution investing into Uzbekistan, attended it and gave a speech…
Yes, we were lucky to welcome Ms. Odile Renaud-Basso, the President of EBRD along with a number of other guests. It was great to hear the words of support from such a high-caliber policymaker. By the way, for emerging countries like Uzbekistan, it is generally rare to have high-level decision-makers, if you are an NGO.
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When are you planning to organize the next-in-turn O’zbekistonlik Forum? You are in the US now. Following Uzbekistan’s club traditions, it must be somewhere in New York or Washington D.C., right?
We recently published a press release about our American season. There are a lot of content that we shot in the U.S. coming up and our next O’zbekistonlik Forum will take place in New York in June 2024.
I hope it will go well and attract more attention to important issues.
Yes, we also hope that our Uzbekistan’s club will expand further. In 2023, we launched uzbekistans.club, our official website and an online integration platform for Uzbekistanis in full capacity. We have more than 100 selected residents in addition to over 30 master residents, high-level residents who previously participated in our projects, featured in our magazine stories, documentaries, podcast series and other spin-offs. As well, there are a couple of dozen of media residents, our amplifiers who represent the media in Uzbekistan, the bloggers, journalists, influencers, and thought leaders. All of them meet on uzbekistans.club where residents can be searched and sorted by their field of activity, where they live and work and what they are interested in.
Each O’zbekistonlik forum that we convene help us organize a live, in-person networking among one another. However, we want them to stay in touch further down the way online. Here the web platform that our team and our partners worked on for months come to help.
By: Saidaziz Azamov
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