Interview Archives

Ziyat Abdykaimov, expert-manager in assistive technologies and accessibility at Nazarbayev University. Photo: Courtesy of Ziyat Abdykaimov.

“Accessibility Is About Independence and Equal Opportunities”: Ziyat Abdykaimov on Kazakhstan’s Digital Divide

Kazakhstan is embracing digital transformation, but are its services accessible to everyone? Ziyat Abdykaimov, an accessibility expert at Nazarbayev University, discusses the barriers facing people with disabilities, the opportunities and… [...]

Shot the Voice of Freedom, a documentary directed by Afghan filmmaker Zainab Entezar. Courtesy of the filmmaker.

Zainab Entezar: “Vulnerability is not the opposite of resistance”

Afghan filmmaker Zainab Entezar discusses Shot the Voice of Freedom, documenting women's resistance to Taliban rule, the ethical challenges of filmmaking, and telling stories from exile. [...]

ZARAYA: The Tajik electronic artist turning sound into stories

Tajik DJ and producer ZARAYA discusses her debut track Hvareya, her musical influences, the poetry of her grandfather and her ambitions to bring Tajikistan's cultural heritage into the world of… [...]

Attabad Lake in Hunza, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, where tourism is reshaping the local economy. Credits: Nadia Ali.

Gilgit-Baltistan: Who Benefits from Development in Pakistan’s Mountain North?

Tourism, infrastructure and investment are transforming Gilgit-Baltistan, but who benefits from the region's growing economic importance? Nadia Ali, researcher at BICC-Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies, discusses political representation, contested… [...]

Merey, played by Inzhu Abeu, in Olga Korotko's Crickets, It's Your Turn (2024).

Olga Korotko: “The film is a comedy in its construction and a tragedy in its outcome”

In Crickets, It's Your Turn, Kazakh filmmaker Olga Korotko explores gender-based violence, complicity and the structures of power that sustain them. Ahead of the film's Spanish premiere in Barcelona, she… [...]

Najy Benhassine, World Bank Division Director for Central Asia, at a regional meeting with representatives of Central Asian countries. Courtesy of the World Bank.

World Bank’s Najy Benhassine on Economic Growth and Transformation in Central Asia

Central Asia is attracting growing international investment, but strong economic growth has yet to deliver deeper structural transformation. World Bank director Najy Benhassine explains what needs to change. [...]

A model wearing a creation from QASHANG, Shahina Olimzade's collection combining traditional Tajik textiles with punk and grunge influences. Photo: Shahzoda Bakhriddinova.

Tajik tradition meets punk: Shahina Olimzade is rewriting the rules of fashion

Tajik fashion designer Shahina Olimzade is challenging traditional dress codes with punk-inspired silhouettes, dark colours and cultural motifs. In an interview with Novastan, she discusses her debut collection QASHANG, her… [...]

A scene from Zero Point Action (2025), directed by Mongolian filmmaker Aldar Enkhbayar. Courtesy of the film's production team.

Trapped in a time loop: How Zero Point Action is pushing Mongolian cinema into science fiction

What happens when a man is forced to relive his own murder? Mongolian filmmaker Aldar Enkhbayar discusses the ideas behind Zero Point Action, the influence of video games, the social… [...]

Sobir aka, played by Matyakub Matchanov, in Farz (Duty), directed by Sarvar Karimov. Courtesy of the film's production team.

“When Appearance Replaces Faith”: Sarvar Karimov on His Uzbek Film Farz

Set in Uzbekistan's Fergana Valley, Farz (Duty) explores the tension between sincere faith, personal integrity and social expectations. Director Sarvar Karimov speaks to Novastan about his film's minimalist visual style,… [...]

The Bayangolyn Valley, near Kharkhorin, Mongolia. Photo: CRAST.

Beyond Karakorum: How Italian and Mongolian archaeologists are uncovering the past

Archaeologist Roberta Menegazzi discusses new discoveries in Mongolia's Bayangolyn Valley, Italian-Mongolian research cooperation, and the importance of involving local communities in preserving archaeological heritage. [...]

A scene from Mergen, a Kyrgyz psychological thriller directed by Chingiz Narynov. Courtesy of Citylab Films.

“A Person of Conscience Is Almost a Fairytale Character”: Chingiz Narynov on His Kyrgyz Thriller Mergen

Blending Kyrgyz mythology with crime drama and psychological suspense, Mergen explores corruption, environmental exploitation and the struggle for justice. Director Chingiz Narynov speaks to Novastan about the legends that inspired… [...]

Gayane Umerova, Chairperson of the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF), and Joseph Grima, Programme Director of the Aral School. Photo courtesy of ACDF.

Can design help reimagine the future of the Aral Sea? Joseph Grima on a different kind of school

Can design help address the Aral Sea region’s environmental challenges? Aral School director Joseph Grima discusses climate change, local knowledge and a new approach to design education in Uzbekistan’s Karakalpakstan. [...]

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