Author: Novastan 
Novastan
Written articles:
Sweet Milky Corn: the film, in which everyone recognizes themselves
A heated debate continues in Kazakhstan’s film industry around redistribution of the resources among the titular creative elite, privileged officials, and monopolists of the field. The industry, which depends entirely… [...]
Tile splendour
The necropolis of Shakh-i-Zinda in Samarkand is a unique testimony to Timurid architecture and tesselation – tiles in vibrant colours intricately assembled into mosaics. Credit: Akbar Ibragimov (Uzbekistan)… [...]
Canal cruise
In any weather, kayaking or canoeing train on the Ankhor Canal in Tashkent all year round. Now in summer, groups from beginners to professional athletes can be seen in these… [...]
The bridge over the river Vakhsh
A railway bridge crosses the river Vakhsh (Tajik: wild) in the city of Sarband in Tajikistan’s Khatlon region. The city was established in the 1950s for the workers of the… [...]
Kazakhstan: commemorating Victory Day without military parade
Similar to last year, May 9 in Kazakhstan is overshadowed by Russia’s war in Ukraine. Military parades have been cancelled, once again. Instead, this year’s Victory Day will mainly be… [...]
GoEast Film Festival in Wiesbaden opens on April 26
The 23rd goEast Festival of Central and Eastern European Film will take place in Wiesbaden from 26 April to 2 May. This year’s programme also includes several films from Central… [...]
Hidden Work
A hard working baker gets into the oven. The preparation of the dough starts before sunrise – only in this way thousands of loaves make it through the tandir in… [...]
Not the best moment for a bike ride yet
The winter in Shymkent is slowly coming to an end, but the rental bikes in the big city in southern Kazakhstan still have to… [...]
Billard-Saloon Osh
A bit of Wild West atmosphere in Osh in Kyrgyzstan. Only here the cowboys wear Kalpak. Credit: Davide Pilloni Find… [...]
Karakalpakstan: long prison sentences for participants in last year’s protests
Some 20 people have been sentenced to prison for their participation in the protests that took place in Karakalpakstan last summer. The trial has been controversial, as the investigation into… [...]