Film industries in Central Asia: a view today and towards the future

The overall economic impact, social role and status of cultural professionals involved in the film industries of the Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan) remain relatively understudied. However, the film industry is recognized as one of the oldest and most developed cultural and creative industries of the region since the mid-20th century. In this context, this publication assesses the film industries of Central Asia and concerned legislation. It provides recommendations for its future development, international cooperation prospects and ways to improve the status of local culture professionals and creative entrepreneurs working in the cinema sector. It also considers funding mechanisms of cinema industries. At the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, development of the creative economy and related education and training initiatives for creative professions, with film industries among its main components, can be a key factor for economic recovery of the Central Asian region. Responsible governmental authorities, representatives of public and private cinema organizations, creative educational institutions, professional organizations and unions are invited to implement the recommendations of this publication. This publication was prepared in the framework of the "Strengthening Film Industries in Central Asia" project supported by the Government of the Republic of Korea and is the result of a series of national studies of the state-of-affairs of the film industries of Central Asian countries and related legislations launched in May 2020.