25 November 2024. Tashkent, Uzbekistan. H.E. Mr. Toivo Klaar, Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Uzbekistan, visited the FOCUS Film and Theater School to present certificates to the finalists of the EU FOCUS FILM CAMP 2024 - summer film camp project. Prior to the certificate presentation, screenings of several finalist works were held.

The EU FOCUS FILM CAMP is a specially designed, free educational programme for teenagers, featuring over 100 topics related to film and theater.

"We started our collaboration on the film camp with the idea of supporting one of the FOCUS Film and Theater School projects in the summer of 2023. The EU FOCUS FILM CAMP has exceeded our expectations. Many of those who completed the camp in 2023 decided to continue their studies here for over a year. I wholeheartedly congratulate the participants of the advanced ‘Kino Kazan’ programme. I am also pleased to congratulate the finalists of the 2024 Film Camp on successfully completing this intensive course,”

noted H.E. Mr. Toivo Klaar, EU Ambassador, in his welcoming remarks to the participants.

EU in Uzbekistan

The finalists’ films were professionally reviewed by Mr Zulfikar Musakov, Artistic Director of the FOCUS Film Directing School and the FOCUS Screenwriting Workshop, and Honored Art Worker of Uzbekistan:

“I have long wondered why film training begins only at the university level and not earlier, in childhood. Today, I am very happy that Tashkent now has a school that provides fundamental film education from an early age. This is extremely important. I sincerely congratulate these young talents. Today, I made a discovery for myself. Their work impressed me deeply. I was captivated, with no leniency whatsoever. The level of their preparation is, in a good way, somewhat intimidating. Each film I watched remains vividly in my mind. Each one has intrinsic value, a sense of style, high visual culture, and discernment. These young people have taste, which is cultivated by a deep understanding of film history. Seeing them, I feel reassured about the future of cinema.”

EU in Uzbekistan

All finalists of the 2023 Film Camp who applied to universities in the summer of 2024 are now students of higher education institutions. In 2024, the EU FOCUS FILM CAMP was organized for two groups of teenagers (advanced and beginner).

The EU FOCUS FILM CAMP has been held for the second consecutive year as part of the European Film Festival in Uzbekistan, scheduled this year for late November.

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The official Telegram channel of the European Union Delegation  to Uzbekistan https://t.me/eu4uz

The official Telegram channel of the FOCUS School of Cinema and Theater in Tashkent https://t.me/focusfilmuz