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Eurasian Creative Guild

Where East Meets West: Seventh Eurasian Film Festival Celebrates Cinema in London

From May 22 to 27, the seventh Eurasian Film Festival brought a celebration of Eurasian cinema to London. Organized by Silk Road Media and the Eurasian Creative Guild (ECG), the event, held in partnership with the Romford Film Festival, showcased a range of artistic talents while fostering cultural and industry connections. This year’s festival featured submissions from 23 countries, providing a diverse line-up of feature films, shorts, documentaries, animation, music videos, screenplays, and more. The event provided a platform for filmmakers to share stories rooted in Eurasia's cultural heritage. Prize-Winning Films This year’s awards spanned a range of categories, honoring creativity and technical excellence. Highlights included Sirin’s Song by Elena Turova (Belarus) for Best Animation and The Master of the Altai Mountains by Vadim Vitovtsev and Ilya Tsyganov (Russia) as for Best Documentary. The Audience Award in this category went to Baltic Radiation by Aldona Grupas (UK). In the feature film category, Where The White Cranes Dance (Russia) and Aydillar (Uzbekistan) shared the top honor, with Magtymguly Pyragy (Turkmenistan/Uzbekistan) taking the Audience Award. Kazakhstan made a strong showing in the Short Films category, with Poncha by Kaisha Rakhimova taking first place and Call by Asem Kuanishbayeva winning the Audience Award. Several screenplays and productions also received special jury mentions, including Daddy Arrived by Almaz Kossobaev (Kyrgyzstan), emphasizing the festival’s role in highlighting emerging talent. Literature Meets Film A notable theme this year was the dialogue between literature and cinema. Presentations included The Legends of the Great Silk Road: Adventures of the Spirit of Time a children’s book series by Gulchekhra-begim Makhmudova, exploring its adaptation into film. Ukrainian poet Serhii Bely also unveiled a project based on his novel The Maestro and the Muse. Special Recognitions and Events The festival also celebrated cultural contributions, with the Poezija Londyn Foundation presenting honorary medals to individuals such as Zhazira Zhanabayeva (Kazakhstan), whose art exhibition ran concurrently with the festival. A crowdfunding event led by actress Francesca Mepham generated significant interest in new projects, showcasing the event’s collaborative spirit. Submissions are now open for the 2026 season, as the festival continues to spotlight Eurasian cinema on the global stage.

Tennis

Bublik Loses at Roland Garros After Run to Quarterfinals

Alexander Bublik’s impressive run at the French Open is over. The Russia-born tennis player from Kazakhstan was routed by top-ranked Jannick Sinner of Italy in the quarterfinals at Roland Garros on Wednesday. Sinner easily defeated Bublik 6-1, 7-5, 6-0, ending the match with a serve down the middle and then a crosscourt forehand winner. Still, Bublik smiled as he walked up to the net to shake hands and exchanged a few warm words with Sinner. Bublik’s run to the quarterfinals was his best performance in a major tournament despite his past declarations that he detested playing on clay.

UAE

Long Airport Screenings for Uzbek Fans Ahead of World Cup Qualifier in UAE

Football fans from Uzbekistan have experienced lengthy airport screenings on arriving in the United Arab Emirates to attend a World Cup qualifying match that could, in the event of a win for their team, send the Central Asian country into its first FIFA World Cup. More than 100 Uzbek fans who traveled to the UAE ahead of the June 5 game between Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates were “detained” at Sharjah airport for seven to nine hours on Monday, the Gazeta.uz media outlet reported. A journalist from the outlet who was among the passengers on the flight said women and elderly people were let through first, but many men were held for long periods. The delays, which prompted the two governments to hold negotiations aimed at improving the situation, come just over a month after warnings that the visa-free arrangement between Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates could be in jeopardy because of an increase in violations by Uzbek citizens in the emirates. In March, a court in Abu Dhabi sentenced three Uzbek citizens to death after they were convicted of murdering Zvi Kogan, an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi whose body was discovered in the Emirati city of Al Ain in 2024. In April, more than a dozen Uzbek nationals were detained after a street brawl in Dubai in which some people were stabbed and one was reportedly killed. Following the recent airport delays for football fans, a spokesman for Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said its diplomats in Abu Dhabi and Dubai held urgent negotiations with UAE officials. “According to the UAE, screening times at airports are increasing due to increased security measures in the country in connection with various international events,” ministry spokesman Akhror Burkhanov said on Telegram. “Currently, all resources have been mobilized to quickly screen our citizens, and as a result, they have begun to enter the country.” Uzbekistan’s national team is second with 17 points in Group A after Iran, which has already qualified. FIFA says “a point in Abu Dhabi would send Uzbekistan into a maiden FIFA World Cup,” but the Central Asian team can still qualify if it then beats Qatar at home. The World Cup will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico in 2026.

Demographics

Shifting Populations: The Struggle to Sustain Northern and Eastern Kazakhstan

While Kazakhstan's total population continues to increase, certain regions are facing declines driven by migration and demographic shifts. The birth rate within the nation has also reached its lowest ebb in eleven years, further exacerbating these changes. By 2050, Kazakhstan's population is projected to hit 26.3 million, with much of this growth concentrated in major cities. Currently, the population exceeds 20.2 million, with a net increase of 189,376 people in the first nine months of 2024. However, certain regions - North Kazakhstan, Kostanay, Pavlodar, East Kazakhstan, Karaganda, Abay, and Zhetysu - are seeing decreases due to high migration rates and lower-than-average birth rates. In North Kazakhstan, where mortality rates surpass birth rates, numbers fell by 0.89% in the first six months of 2024 alone, with an overall drop of 23% in the past few years. The regions of North and East Kazakhstan have seen a steady decline in population over the past few decades, a trend influenced by a combination of economic, demographic, and policy-related factors. Historically reliant on industries such as mining, metallurgy, and agriculture, these areas faced severe economic disruption following independence, as state-run enterprises were privatized or shuttered. Many residents found themselves unemployed, with a lack of investment in modernizing industries and an uneven distribution of infrastructure development exacerbating the problem. Without a thriving job market, young professionals and skilled workers migrated in search of better opportunities, creating a brain drain and leaving behind an aging population. Today, insufficient economic diversification continues to make these regions less attractive to younger generations, who are drawn to cities like Almaty, Astana, and Shymkent, which offer employment opportunities, vibrant cultural scenes, and better education and healthcare. Internationally, the proximity of North Kazakhstan to Russia also resulted in substantial cross-border migration, with ethnic Russians and other Slavic minorities leaving Kazakhstan in large numbers, particularly in the years following independence. This trend was partly influenced by policies prioritizing the Kazakh language and identity, which made some minorities feel culturally marginalized or less confident in their long-term prospects in the country. During the Soviet era, regions like North Kazakhstan were agricultural powerhouses, thanks to programs like the Virgin Lands Campaign. However, the ecological degradation and economic mismanagement associated with these projects left lasting scars. Fertile land has become less productive, forcing many farmers to abandon their livelihoods. The decline of ecosystems due to overuse and climate change particularly affects East Kazakhstan, where poorly maintained infrastructure in rural areas has impacted resilience against environmental issues, further encouraging residents to leave. Initiatives it was hoped would encourage relocation from the densely populated south saw limited success. Addressing parliament in February 2024, Senate speaker Maulen Ashimbayev noted that despite programs like Serpin-2050, which provides free education, and Enbek, which offers job placements and rent support, results have been disappointing. Between 2017 and 2021, only 32,000 people relocated, with half unable to work. Population decline in North and East Kazakhstan reflects these regions' reliance on resource-heavy industries, lack of modernization, and uneven infrastructure development, bringing broader challenges...

Tennis

Creature of Clay: Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik Reaches Quarterfinals at Roland Garros

Tennis player Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan, who has said he hates clay, is developing a taste for the surface at Roland Garros. On Monday, Bublik defeated Jack Draper of Great Britain to reach the quarterfinals in Paris, his best performance in a major tournament. After the four-set victory, the world no. 62 fell to the ground in joy and relief and then got up, his face smeared with the court’s red clay. “Sometimes in life there’s only one chance and I had a feeling that that was mine and I couldn’t let it slip,” the Russia-born player said in an on-court interview with Alex Corretja, a former Spanish player who thrived on clay when he was on the tour. "Standing here is the best moment of my life. Period,” said the unseeded Bublik, who came back from one set down in the 5-7, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 victory over Draper, a top ten player. In 2022, after defeating Stan Wawrinka in Monte Carlo, Bublik complained that he was moving like an “elephant” on the clay and declared: “I hate this surface.” Bublik isn’t the only player to have struggled with clay, which tends to involve a lot of sliding, high bounces and grit and patience during long, energy-sapping rallies. Maria Sharapova once said she felt like “a cow on ice” on clay, though she won two of her five majors at Roland Garros. Similarly, it took a while for Andre Agassi to warm to clay but one of his eight majors came in Paris. Bublik isn’t in the league of those champions, but just as they did, he is coming around to clay. His best previous result at a Grand Slam tournament was the fourth round at Wimbledon in 2023. “All of Bublik's four tour-level titles and 11 finals have come on either hard or grass courts. His 25 wins and 41 per cent win rate on clay entering Roland Garros are both his lowest marks across all surfaces,” the ATP Tour website said. “You know, I’m standing here like I won” the tournament, the delighted 27-year-old said after the win over Draper. “But at the end, yeah, what can I say. Thank you guys. I mean I can’t cry here. Come on, stop. Let me be in peace.” When Corretja invited him to go ahead and cry, Bublik said: “I still have a match to go. I’m a professional tennis player. I’ve got to get ready.” That’s for sure. On Wednesday, he plays world no. 1 Jannik Sinner.

Higher Education

Tajik Students Gain Expanded Access to Internships and Training in the UK

Educational cooperation between Tajikistan and the United Kingdom is reaching new milestones, with fresh opportunities emerging for Tajik students to study and gain professional experience in the UK. On May 31, representatives of Tajikistan’s State Agency “Center for International Programs” held talks with leadership at the University of Greenwich to discuss avenues for academic collaboration and student support initiatives. Building Bridges in Higher Education The meeting took place within the framework of Tajikistan’s broader strategy to internationalize its education and science sectors. According to the Ministry of Education and Science, discussions focused on improving access for Tajik citizens to high-quality education, facilitating professional internships, and exploring financial assistance mechanisms. Particular emphasis was placed on fields such as economics, finance, and management. University of Greenwich officials highlighted their partnerships with major financial institutions, which enable students to gain practical experience and enhance their competitiveness in global labor markets. Greenwich: A Gateway to Global Careers As part of the talks, the two sides explored the possibility of offering scholarships to Tajik students through national and international funding schemes. An agreement was reached to continue discussions and expand academic exchange programs. Experts see this initiative as a significant step in strengthening bilateral educational ties and opening new horizons for Tajik youth. Strengthening Tajik-UK Educational Ties Tajik-UK educational cooperation has grown steadily in recent years. Since 2018, more than 30 Tajik students have received Chevening Scholarships to pursue master's degrees at top British universities. The program, funded by the UK government, remains a key pillar of bilateral academic exchange. In 2022, the British Council resumed operations in Dushanbe, boosting collaboration on English language education and teacher training. Joint projects with the Tajik Ministry of Education aim to modernize teaching methods and improve educational outcomes. Tajik universities, such as Rudaki Tajik National University, are also forging partnerships with British institutions like the University of Central Lancashire, including dual degree programs and collaborative research. STEM education is a growing area of focus: in 2023, British-supported robotics and programming courses were launched for Tajik schoolchildren. Regional Context: Broader British Engagement in Central Asia The UK is expanding its educational footprint across Central Asia. In Turkmenistan, British experts have supported teacher training and curriculum modernization. In the 2024/25 academic year, 12 Turkmen nationals received Chevening Scholarships. The British Council continues to roll out digital education initiatives, such as the Digital Learning project, in the region. In May 2025, Turkmenistan also participated in the World Education Forum in London, joining delegates from over 100 countries to discuss global trends and priorities in education.