The University of Pittsburgh (US) and the Institute for Cinema Art (Moscow), with support from the Ford Foundation, conducted a jointly sponsored Symposium from Monday 20 May through Friday 24 May 2002 at the Institute in Moscow. The event examined the interrelationships between contemporary Russia and the newly independent nation states in Central Asia, with particular attention to cinematic representation of these two regions. The title of the Symposium, "Global Amnesia and the Politics of Cultural Space: Contemporary Central Asian Cinema," intended to focus attention on the following paradox: the majority of nation states located in the very center Eurasia remain, for the most part, on the periphery of both the process of globalization and the ongoing theoretical discussions in the West concerning post-imperial realia. How is the 21st century already reconfiguring the blank spots of this neglected geography? How are the cultural practices of these areas represented and what role do they play in global culture? These theoretical issues were intended to encourage the participants in the Symposium to reconceptualize the cultural legacy of this region, not simply as the sum total of isolated cultures or the "red shards" of a collapsed empire, but also as a set of ongoing professional alliances and collaborations, with strong historical roots, especially in cinema.
Professors Nancy Condee and Vladimir Padunov from the University of Pittsburgh brought five graduate students: Seth Graham (Slavic), Gerald McCausland (Slavic), Petre Petrov (Slavic), Dawn Seckler (Slavic), and Daniel Wild (Film Studies). Between fifteen and twenty scholars from the Russian federation and from the five Central Asian nation states also participated. Each working day of the Symposium consisted of a full-length feature film from Central Asia, three to four formal presentations, discussions, and evening screenings of recent short films and videos from the Central Asian nation states.
Opening ceremonies of the Symposium "Global Amnesia and the Politics of Cultural Space: Contemporary Central Asian Cinema"
Surzhekei–Angel of Death
(dir. Damir Manabaev, 1991)
Formal presentations by Gul'nara Abikeeva, Asia Baigozhina, Diliara Tasbulatova
Coming-of-Age Day (dir.
Mukhamed Mamyrbekov, 2001)
To Paris (dir. Erlan
Nurmukhambetov, 2001)
The Stranger (dir. Timur
Suleimenov, 1993)
Where's Your Home, Snail? (dir.
Aktan Abdykalykov, 1992)
Formal presentations by Gul'bara Tolomusheva, Miron Chernenko, Elena Stishova
Vitamin Deficiency
(dir. Nailia Rakhmadieva, 2000)
The Hood (dir. Dal'mira
Tilepbergenova, 2001)
The Fly Up (dir. Marat Sarulu,
2002)
Monkey/Maimyl (dir. Aktan
Abdykalykov, 2001)
The Ford (dir. Andrei
Dobrovol'skii, Georgii Dul'tsevoi, 1987)
The Emir's Secret Journey
(dir. Farid Davletshin, 1986)
Roundtable with graduate students from the University of Pittsburgh: Seth Graham
(Slavic), Gerald McCausland (Slavic), Petre Petrov (Slavic), Dawn Seckler
(Slavic), and Daniel Wild (Film Studies)
The Dance of Men (dir.
Iusup Razykov, 2002)
Blessed Bukhara (dir.
Bako Sadykov, 1991)
Formal presentations by Nina Tsyrkun and Tat'iana Moskvina (Moscow)
Foreign Laborer/Mardikor
(dir. Mairam Iusupova, 2002)
Earthquake's Children (dir.
Murat Aliev, 1997)
Formal presentations by Dmitrii Karavaev and Andrei Shemiakin
Legend of the Ancient Mountains
(dir. Iazgeldy Seidov, 1988)
Closing Banquet
Contact the Symposium Organizers