The fifth Burabay International Short Film Festival (BISFF) took place in Shchuchinsk from 12 to 14 August 2026. Founded by the British media holding Silk Road Media and curated by Eurasian Creative Guild (London), the festival brought together filmmakers and guests from more than 20 countries across Europe, Asia, North America, and South America. For
Until recently, Central Asia remained one of the least familiar regions of the world for most people in Latin America. If the names Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, or Uzbekistan were known at all, they were usually associated with geography, sports, or occasional news headlines. Today, that is beginning to change. Growing trade and economic ties, new international
“The most valuable investment a nation can make is an investment in an educated, competitive, and patriotic younger generation.” This principle, consistently emphasized by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of the Republic of Kazakhstan, has become increasingly relevant in the twenty-first century. Today, international relations are shaped not only through negotiations between heads of state and ministers
A special screening of “Kurmanjan Datka: Queen of the Mountains,” one of the most significant historical films from Central Asia, will take place in Buenos Aires, Argentina on August 7. Director Sadyk Sher-Niyaz tells the extraordinary story of Kurmanjan Datka, one of Kyrgyzstan’s most revered historical figures. In the 19th century, her courage, leadership, wisdom,
At the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee in Busan, Republic of Korea on July 25, a decision was adopted to inscribe the “Rock Mosques and Associated Sacred Sites of Mangystau” on the UNESCO World Heritage List, according to Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry. The newly inscribed UNESCO World Heritage property comprises five rock-cut mosques: Beket Ata, Shopan Ata,
On July 24–25, Samarkand hosted the prestigious International sister cities forum for the first time. The main objective of the forum was to further strengthen long-standing friendly and partnership relations with sister cities abroad, promote the exchange of experience among cities, and establish promising joint projects, according to Uzbekistan’s Tourism Committee. The international event brought
The organizers have announced filmmakers whose works have been selected for the Burabay International Short Film Festival (BISFF) 2026. BISFF was founded by the Silk Road Media holding (London) in partnership with Eurasian Creative Guild (London) and is part of an international network of festivals and screenings covering the UK, Europe, and Latin America. The
On July 17, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed projects aimed at developing Uzbek culture and arts, and promoting them on the international stage. In particular, the exhibition “Uzbekistan: Heritage in Motion” is planned to be held at the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha in September 2026, while the international archaeological exhibition “Global Antiquity,” featuring unique
This year, the United States marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Embassy in Turkmenistan is bringing that history to life. In celebration of this milestone, the U.S. Embassy organized a series of Founders Museum exhibitions and related programs across Turkmenistan. Across all five regions of Turkmenistan,
The Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan has adopted the Resolution of July 8, 2026, “On Supporting the Broad Implementation of a System to Enhance the Tourism Attractiveness of the Republic of Uzbekistan Through Cinema.” The resolution introduces two major initiatives aimed at strengthening the country’s tourism appeal through the film industry, according to the Tourism
Some events are remembered not only for the book being presented, but also for the people gathered in the room. It was a pleasure to attend the recent launch of From Dependency to Freedom: The Birth of Modern Kazakhstan, a new biography of Nursultan Nazarbayev, held at the historic Reform Club in London. London has
Nostalgia can become a source of strength, but it is time to stop pushing away those who have long acted as our unofficial ambassadors. I am standing in the reception hall of the Uzbek embassy in a European capital. An inspiring speech is being delivered in Uzbek. There are nearly one hundred people in the
From 7 to 11 July, Uzbekistan is hosting the First International Forum of Islamic Civilization, “The Path of Peace, Tolerance and Enlightenment,” across Tashkent, Samarkand, and Termez, bringing together leading scholars, religious figures, representatives of international organizations, and experts from around the world, according to the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan. The official opening ceremony took
The more time passes after the Issyk-Kul Forum held in Kyrgyzstan in June, the more I realize that its greatest value was not found in the official sessions or ceremonial speeches. It was found in the people, the ideas, and the honest conversations that continued long after the formal programme had ended. Chingiz Aitmatov’s legacy
Music truly knows no borders. During his visit to Paraguay, Marat Akhmedjanov, the founder of the British publishing house Hertfordshire Press and patron of the Eurasian Creative Guild (London), had the pleasure of meeting one of the country’s most distinguished musicians and one of the leading figures in Latin American classical music, Maestro Diego Sánchez
One of the most moving and symbolic moments of the Issyk-Kul Forum earlier this month was the unveiling of a memorial bust dedicated to Murat Auezov, an Honorary Member of the Eurasian Creative Guild, in the garden of the House-Museum and Library of his great father, Mukhtar Auezov, in Cholpon-Ata. For me, this was far
A few months ago, I had the privilege of visiting Uzbekistan — a land where every day seemed to offer me another chance. Another chance to see, to taste, to learn, to be humbled. I boarded the sleek high-speed train from Tashkent to Samarkand, watching the landscape unfold at modern velocity. Not long after, I
On June 22, artists and members of the delegation of the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TÜRKSOY) arrived in Uzbekistan within the framework of events to be held in Andijan, the Cultural Capital of the Turkic World 2026. With celebrations of the cultural capital which will feature over 100 artists from various countries of the
The Third International Uyghur Forum was held in Berlin from 11 to 13 June 2026, bringing together Uyghur scholars, writers, human rights advocates, policymakers, and representatives of Uyghur organizations from around the world. The event was organized by the World Uyghur Congress and the Uyghur Center for Democracy and Human Rights. Representing Uyghur PEN, renowned
One of the most memorable events of my Latin American journey was the meeting with Paraguay’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rubén Ramírez Lezcano, in the capital city of Asunción. Ramírez Lezcano is one of the country’s most influential diplomats and has served as Paraguay’s Foreign Minister since 2023. This visit became my first official trip