Eigentlich dachte Gulnoza, sie kenne sich selbst gut genug und sei offen, für ein Filmprojekt über die Beziehung zwischen ihr und Denis, ihrem Freund. Sie wollte ehrlich und direkt sein, wollte keine Angst haben, über die Zukunft, über Religion und Glauben zu sprechen, wollte Verletzlichkeit zeigen. Die Dreharbeiten sollten zehn Tage dauern, nahmen aber eine andere Wendung.

Gulnoza Irgasheva is a filmmaker and activist based in Namangan, Uzbekistan. Gulnoza’s artistic and activist practices focus on decoloniality, Muslim women’s agency, and resistance strategy to oppression dynamics and colonial constructs based on gender, ethnicity, religion, race, and sexual orientation. Utilizing a participatory approach, their artistry involves decentralized decision-making, engaging the entire cast in every stage of filmmaking.

They commenced their filmmaking journey with the short film GURUNG during an archival footage filmmaking programme. Engaging in Ateliers Varan’s documentary programme, Gulnoza crafted the experimental documentary DEVORDAGI BOLALIK SURATIM that is set for festival distribution soon.

Gulnoza Irgasheva conceptualized and guided a series of site-specific performances, bringing together thirteen young women from Uzbekistan to explore themes of domesticity and everyday rituals at Venice Biennale 2024