On Thursday, November 27, Honar Shahr Aftab Cineplex in Shiraz hosted the press conference for the Uzbek film “The Song Sustxotin,” directed by Khusnora Rozmatova.
“The Song Sustxotin” is one of the 10 films competing in the Future Frame section of the 43rd Fajr International Film Festival, a category dedicated to first and second feature films that highlight emerging cinematic voices. Set in a remote village in Uzbekistan, the film unfolds against the backdrop of a devastating drought. As hardship and despair spread through the community, Ahbor, a former government official, arrives in search of a friend and gradually uncovers a hidden crime.
At the beginning of the press conference, Rozmatova stated that “The Song Sustxotin” is her second feature film. “I work at the State Film Center of Uzbekistan,” she said. “The first film I directed was titled ‘Rehearsal.’”
Speaking about the film’s setting, Rozmatova explained that the shooting location was far from Uzbekistan’s capital. “The region where the film was shot is distant from the capital, but it has beautiful nature, mountains, and plains,” she noted. “Many people who live in the capital originally come from this region.”
Rozmatova also addressed the situation of women filmmakers in Uzbekistan. “In Uzbekistan, there are many female actors and singers, but very few female directors,” she said. “Overall, we have only two women directing in cinema and theater. The path to directing is very difficult for women, but recently, directing has begun to be taught at universities, and younger generations of women have shown interest in entering this field. The first female director in Uzbekistan is an elderly woman who is regarded as a beloved and almost legendary figure.”
Emphasizing the social role of cinema, Rozmatova added, “I believe cinema and film are powerful tools for conveying ideas and positive feelings to people and to society.”
Expressing her interest in historical subjects, Rozmatova also spoke about the film’s production conditions. “My film was made with state funding,” she explained. “At present, the Uzbek government provides substantial support for prominent film projects. In reality, films made with private or personal funding are very rare.”
The 43rd edition of the Fajr International Film Festival is underway in Shiraz and runs from November 26 to December 3, 2025.
