It’s Election Day in Uzbekistan and everybody seems pretty chill about it. The previous presidential election was held in 2016, following the death of President Islam Karimov who was a controversial figure and ruled the country under a tight fist for 26 years. Today representatives from five political parties are on the ballot even though it is widely understood that […]
Author: Lis-y-Paolo
Paolo Davanzo and Lisa Marr travel the world, sharing movies and music with the masses. At home in Los Angeles, they facilitate community screenings and workshops at the Echo Park Film Center, a non-profit media arts organization.
October 23.21: Hands On
Today, a journey to Gijduvan, about 40 miles from Bukhara. Women sing songs in honour of the birth of Muhammad at one of the seven sacred Sufi sites in the region. Seven generations of ceramicists make pottery for the people. Seven skewers of shashlik are devoured by Paolo, Lisa, Zilola and Shavkat at lunch…we share […]
October 22.21: A Hauz Is Not A House
A sunrise walk, a supreme breakfast (roasted apricot kernels!), a felicitous introduction to the delightful Zilola who is most definitely destined to be a forever friend (how could you not love someone whose beautiful jacket has a patch that says KOOK sewn on the front?) in addition to the official SWS translator, a stellar SWS […]
October 21.21 (Part 2): You Had Me At Salom
Renowned photographer, painter and curator Shavkat Boltayev greets us at the Bukara train station with a smile and a hug. Shavkat is the “founder of the legendary Bukhara school of photography, a native Bukharan, and one of the main experts of both the past and the present of this ancient city”. He’s also going to […]
October 21.21: In Training
Scenes from the 6-hour train ride from Tashkent to Bukhara, best viewed while sipping sweet lemon tea.
October 20.21: The Future and The Past
Hop on the Tashkent Metro and instantly transport yourself to futuristic outer space or back six hundred years. Kosmonavtlar Station celebrates Uzbek cosmonaut’s including Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova, who “is the first and youngest woman to have flown into space with a solo mission on the Vostok 6 on 16 June 1963. She orbited the Earth 48 times, […]
October 19.21: Flying
If life already seems like a strange waking dream these days with time moving in the most mysterious ways, flying across the world for The Sound We See #23 is truly a trip! When the plane is delayed you can make lemonade by basking in the sun. When you miss your flight you can just […]
August 29: Regina Wrap (aka Mama Hot Pajama At The Moose Jaw Spa)
Well, this wonderful whirlwind week has come to an end but before we hightail it off to Temple Gardens for a soak in the mineral pools, we take a moment to ruminate on the afternoon ice cream extravaganzas, stellar signage, unique food combos (Italian/”East Indian” Cuisine! Hong Kong Hamburgers! Greek Pizza!), late night thunderstorms, chatty […]
August 28.21: Because The Night
It’s time for the big SWS: Treaty 4 (Regina) premiere, screening outdoors in the warehouse district as part of Nuit Blanche Regina, “a transformative after-dark arts festival that affords goers the opportunity to experience art like never before.” It all starts with a rainbow leading right to the venue… friends and family gather as twilight descends… images […]
August 27.21: All Together Now
Day 5 of 5 of Film Camp 2021 already????? Today, as we stitch our individual hours together into a collective vision of this very special time and place, we’re reflecting on how much fun it’s been getting to know each other and creating movie magic together over these past few days… I have a feeling […]
