Frame from the film "Vata"
The film «Vata» («Cotton») by Uzbek director Rashid Malikov has been named best feature film at the 10th International Film Festival «Eurasian Bridge» in Moscow. The results were reported by Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
The feature films were evaluated by a jury chaired by Uzbek director and screenwriter Yusup Razykov. The winners and prizewinners were chosen together with Chinese director Lam Tsan Zhao and Russian producer and screenwriter Maria Borodyanskaya. Borodyanskaya noted that «Vata» raises several important social themes at once, all of them understandable to audiences in different countries. She added that the festival's main prize will help the film reach a wider audience.
A special jury mention went to Vietnamese director Leon Le's film «Ki Nam's Eatery.» The award for best directing was given to Russian filmmaker Vladimir Zakharenko for the historical drama «On the Edge of Childhood,» dedicated to the events of the Great Patriotic War.
«The Angelic Order» by Russian director Yulia Bobkova was named best documentary. A special jury mention in this category went to «Post-Truth» by Turkish director Alkan Avcıoğlu. The film was created entirely by artificial intelligence, and it examines humanity's relationship with technology and the changing perception of reality in the digital age.
Returning to «Vata,» its director told Fergana in an interview that he wanted his heroine to embody the best qualities of an Uzbek woman who, despite everything, still finds some joy in life. The full interview is available here.
The International Film Festival «Eurasian Bridge» has been held since 2016 with the support of the Russian Ministry of Culture. This year, 28 films from 14 countries were presented in Moscow, including Bulgaria, the United Kingdom, India, Spain, China, the UAE and Switzerland. After the main program ends in the Russian capital, the films will be screened in Crimea as part of the «Festival Echo.»
