For the first time in almost half a century, an Uzbek feature film was shown at the 46th Cairo International Film Festival. Rashid Malikov’s “Cotton”, created by order of the Uzbekkino National Agency, participated in the event.
The premiere attracted significant interest from Egyptian and international film experts, critics, and viewers. The guests were informed about the film’s concept and the specifics of the filming process. During the discussion, the director answered questions about the script, cinematography, and musical work, the cast, and artistic solutions that convey the regional and cultural context.
The experts highly appreciated the relevance of the subject matter, the originality of the cinematic language, and the universality of the artistic image. The audience noted the deep reflection of social problems, and the festival organizers expressed a desire to invite “Cotton” to other international venues.
The film, created in 2025 in collaboration with Uzbek cinematographic centers and independent authors, introduces an international audience to the culture and modern realities of Uzbekistan through the history of Gulchehra. The film’s participation in the festival became a significant step in promoting national cinema on the world stage.
Aziza Alimova, UzA