Eurasian Creative Week in Scotland Celebrates International Art, Literature, and Cultural Exchange

The XIII Eurasian Creative Week took place in Greenock, Scotland, from November 28 to 30, 2024, drawing artists, writers, poets, and diplomats from 15 countries, including Kazakhstan, Russia, and Canada. Hosted at the Beacon Arts Centre, the event kicked off with the presentation of artwork from the renowned collection The Great Steppe Treasure, featuring creators such as Maria Muchinskaya and Larisa Pak. Attendees also enjoyed video messages from notable writers and public figures, fostering a spirit of collaboration and dialogue. The evening spotlighted author Alexander Kazarnovsky, who captivated the audience with readings from his acclaimed novel, War will show the plan. Continuing on November 29 at the OYO Gin House Hotel, the festival’s literary program showcased key publications by Hertfordshire Press, including Viktor Slipenchuk’s Zinziver. A highlight was the screening of an AI-created film based on Slipenchuk’s poem Chingis-Khan, which sparked discussions on historical and modern leadership. Meanwhile, OCA Magazine unveiled its special issue celebrating Uzbekistan’s vibrant Jizzakh region and key cultural figures. The day culminated in an award ceremony recognizing influential contributors, with honors like the Jonathan Fryer Medal and the Barbara Yurkowska-Nawrocka Medal celebrating efforts in literature and creative exchange. Notable award winners included Timur Akhmedjanov for his charity comic book, Elish and the Wicker Tale, and Marina Alyassova for her psychological fairy tales, Wise Tales for Children and Adults. Other honorees, such as Tajikistan’s Gulsifat Shahidi and Kazakhstan’s Alikhan Zhaksylyk, were recognized for their contributions to romance stories and innovative novels. A gala reception featured traditional dishes and a keynote speech emphasizing the importance of fostering international ties. The festival concluded on November 30 with a visit to the Watt Institution Museum, offering participants a glimpse into Scottish cultural heritage. Throughout the week, exhibits of national art and literature from countries like Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan exemplified Eurasia’s cultural diversity and creative potential. The XIII Eurasian Creative Week reaffirmed its role in strengthening international cultural collaboration.

VI ECG Film Festival Goes Beyond the Moving Image

The VI ECG Film Festival staged in London from 24-28 May, in partnership with the eighth UK Romford Film Festival at Premier Cinemas Romford, attracted over 100 entries from 22 countries. The Eurasian Creative Guild (ECG) is the sole platform promoting Eurasian cinema in the UK and this year’s festival featured work by directors from Poland, the UK, Kyrgyzstan, Spain, Russia, Iran, Uzbekistan, China, Armenia, and Kuwait. The non-profit organization was founded by Marat Ahmedjanov in London in 2015 to unite and promote Eurasian cultural and artistic practices to English-speakers, and as befits its mission, the festival went far beyond the ‘moving image’ to showcase work by visual artists, authors, poets, and musicians. In film, the competition attracted over 100 competition entries from 22 countries and with support from  SIFFA film festival organiser Lubov Balagova-Kandur, included screenings of several Russian films such as the comedy ‘Aul's Challenge;’ the war drama ‘Maria. Save Moscow;’ a documentary on the poet ‘3723 Voznesensky’, and a Jordanian love story ‘Cherkes’. Central Asian films took several awards, including Best Eurasian Short film: ‘Happy Independence Day’ by Camila Sagyntkan (Kazakhstan); Best Eurasian Documentary Film: Sailing Seven Seas by Tatania Borsh (Russia-Kyrgyzstan); Audience Choice Award: ‘Sharaf Rashidov- Inspirer for the Development of Mirzachul’ by  Shukhrat Khaitov (Uzbekistan); and the Honorary Achievement Certificate for Documentary Drama: ‘Behtarin’ by Mohsen Rahimi (Kuwait-Tajikistan). Visual artists from Kyrgyzstan took centre stage in the exhibition ‘‘Nomadic Narratives’, which also highlighted work by Dungan artist Rahima Arli, created during her ECG Horizons Rugby residency near London. ECG has a long and ongoing tradition of publishing works by Central Asian writers which would otherwise remain inaccessible to English readers, under Hertfordshire Press. Editor John Farndon took pleasure in presenting three new stories under the collective title ‘Akhriman, Lord of Darkness’ by highly renowned Tajik author Gulsifat Shahidi, as well as ‘Is It Necessary to Worship at Notre Dame?’ by Kazakh author Alikhan Zhaksylyk. Lovers of literature also enjoyed the opportunity to view the Kazat Akmatov Memorial in Romford, which both honours the esteemed Kyrgyz writer and serves as a beacon of strength for all Central Asian artists living and visiting London. The well-established Azerbaijani poet Sahib Mamedov read poems which he dedicated to the festival participants. Music too, featured highly at the event. In addition to a concert, medals of appreciation from Marta Brassart, ECG Chair, were presented to the musical duo Sherkhon, alongside artist Rahima Arli and young film director Timur Akhmedjanov, and recitals given by the duo from Uzbekistan Sherxon and the director of the Kazakh Cultural Centre in London, Kamshat Kumysbai. Now in its sixth season, the festival continues to gather momentum and this year, attracted audiences from Italy, Kazakhstan, Poland, USA, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Austria, and Uzbekistan, and welcomed as guests of honour, the Mayor of Romford, Gerry O'Sullivan with MPs from the London Borough of Havering, and representatives from the embassies of Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Russia and Belarus. As testimony to ECG’s unique promotion of Eurasian film, cinema audiences were...