ResiliArt Debate: Young Professionals of the Cinema Industry in Central Asia: Future Perspectives during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background
In response to the confinement and lockdowns in the context of COVID-19 pandemic, UNESCO launched the ResiliArt movement for artists and cultural professionals with a series of debates in different parts of the world and with the participation of creative professionals.
The ResiliArt movement has three main goals:
• Raise awareness about the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the culture sector in general and the livelihoods of artists and cultural professionals in particular;
• Provide a platform for artists and cultural professionals to ensure that their voices are heard at the policy level in order to address the existing gaps and needs;
• Contribute to the policies and mechanisms aiming the sustainable development of the creative sector.

Description
Over the course of one year, the world cinema industry is facing a major crisis: closure of cinema theatres, interruption of various cinema production processes, postponement of world premiers, undistinguished duration of lockdowns etc. As a result, many professionals of the cinema industry have lost their jobs and income opportunities. All of these issues are relevant to Central Asian.
In order to provide a platform for an exchange of views and good practices, as well as to identify the ways to support the culture sector and the creative industries in Central Asia, UNESCO Almaty continues the series of online debates organized in the framework of the ResiliArt movement and implementation of the project “Strengthening Film Industries in Central Asia” financed by the government of the Republic of Korea. The theme of the present debate is “Young Professionals of the Cinema Industry in Central Asia: Future Perspectives during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic”.
During this debate, the panelists representing the young professionals of the cinema industry of the Central Asian countries will discuss the following questions:
• Current situation and further perspectives of the cinema industry in Central Asia. Issues and challenges revealed by the lockdowns and isolation. Influence of the pandemic on the livelihoods of cinema professionals;
• How the new young professionals of the region (for example those who just finished the universities) can start to work in the cinema industry of our days?
• What skills and capacities should be developed by the young professionals of the region in order to be in demand in the new normal during and after the COVID-19 pandemic?

Panelists
The following experienced professionals in the field of cinema production will build the discussion:
• Saodat Ismailova, independent filmmaker and artist from Uzbekistan. Main film works: «Сорок Дней Молчания» (“Forty Days of Silence”), «Арал: рыбалка на невидимом море» (“Aral: Fishing in the Invisible Sea”), «Заколдованный» (“Enchanted”), «Зухра» (“Zuhra”).
• Yelena Lisasina, filmmaker and scriptwriter from Kazakhstan. Main film works: «Бір сең үшін» (“For You”), «Финансист. Игра на вылет» (“The Financier. Elimination Game”), «Тәуекел» (“The Risk”), «Бір оқиға тарихы» (“The Story of One Event”).
• Suiumkhan Sulaimanova, filmmaker and organizer from Kyrgyzstan. Main film works: “My friend – My enemy”, “Sayakbay”, “The Song of The Tree”, “The World of Aitmatov”.
• Shohjamshed Umari, actor, filmmaker and art manager from Tajikistan. Main film works: «Путь сада» (“The Way of Garden”), «ShurH2O», «Апостол 2019» (“Apostle 2019”).

Format
The debate will be conducted in the Russian language.
After the panelists will discuss the main questions, the floor will be open for questions, comments and short interventions.

Date / Time
Wednesday, 19 August 2020, from 16:00 to 17:30 time of Almaty.

How to join the Debate?
The debate will take place in the online format. Live streaming will be available on the Facebook page of UNESCO Cluster Office in Almaty.

Useful links
• The first debate entitled “Future of the Creative Cultural Industries: Voices of Creative Industries in Central Asia” organized by UNESCO Cluster Office in the framework of the ResiliArt movement.
• The debate entitled “Music and Film: Rebuilding Better Through Coronavirus & Beyond” organized by UNESCO headquarters in the framework of the ResiliArt movement