Dear Pennies & Pens,
On December 22, 2012, I attended and covered the Seventh Annual M&TVA (Music & TV, Video Arts) Awards in Tashkent, Uzbekistan (Central Asia) with my business partner/Co-Founder of The Network, Cacha` and our Videographer, Addison Wright.
The M&TVA Awards was established by the Fund Forum along with the Authors and Performers Guild of Uzbekistan and the TVM channel in 2006. The M&TVA Awards highlights the achievements of Uzbek artists in music, TV, and video arts. This year seventeen awards were presented to outstanding Uzbek artists. Additionally, Gulnara Karimova awarded grants from the Guli brand to winners of the Yangi Avlod Children’s Art Festival, fashion designers, as well as musicians.
This year, 5,000 people attended the M&TVA Awards ceremony which was held at the Istiqlol Palace in Tashkent. The awards ceremony featured comedic shorts by Uzbek singer and actor Jahongir Poziljonov which were shown on the stage screen prior to each award announcement. The ceremony also featured the Yangi Avlod (New Generation) Children’s Creativity Festival Winners as well as Uzbek pop stars like the Zarba and Sahro music groups who performed ‘Hayot uchun’ (In the Name of Life), and singers Bahtiyor Rahmanov and Shokhruhhon. Googoosha (Gulnara Karimova) also sang a song titled Ota (Father).
Yangi Avlod (New Generation) Children’s Creativity Festival Winners performing at the M&TVA Awards
Singer, Shokhruhhon on stage with back back-up dancers at the M&TVA Awards
The M&TVA Awards nominees were chosen by online and SMS votes from the public while the final decision was made by a group of judges who are famous cinema and radio professionals, theater and film actors, and journalists. I truly enjoyed the awards because it was interesting to see Uzbek culture presented in such a unique and dynamic way. Prior to the awards beginning I met some of the artists and performers backstage so it was great to see their transformation from backstage to the on stage performances.
Winner of Kelajak Ovozi (Voice of the Future) Young Talents Contest performing at the M&TVA Awards
Overall, it was a cool event and I had a fabulous time. Cacha` who is The Network’s official photographer took all the photos from the event while Addison shot video footage of the event which will be compiled into a mini-documentary video of the event. In essence, The Network was able to create unique writing, photography, and video coverage of the event so please stay tuned for future projects.
And there it is. de la Pen…All Pen Everything.
Pennies & Pens with Something To Say