Yesterday, a group of talented artists who have made significant contributions to the development of our country's culture and arts, as well as to enhancing its international prestige through their diverse and prolific creativity, were awarded the "New Uzbekistan Stars" National Award.

The "New Uzbekistan Stars" National Award ceremony stood out this year with a unique spirit and format compared to previous years.

Candidates for the award were selected from professionals working in various fields, including theater, circus, music (pop, traditional, academic, folklore, composition), dance, as well as visual and applied arts, literature, and other cultural and artistic domains. A total of 20 individuals were honored.

In accordance with the regulations (Resolution No. PQ-594 of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan, dated October 14, 2022), the "New Uzbekistan Stars" National Culture and Arts Award Commission reviewed and selected nominees based on their achievements throughout the year.

The winners and laureates were determined in the following categories:

▪️ Best Theater Actress of the Year – Sevara Shodiyeva (for the role of Juliet in the play "Romeo and Juliet")
▪️ Best Theater Actor of the Year – Hamza Hasanov (for the role of Cholpon in the play "Cholpon")
▪️ Best Theater Director of the Year – Obidjon Abdullayev (for the play "Kulolning Armoni")
▪️ Best Puppet Theater Performance of the Year – "Alp O‘g‘lon" (Kashkadarya Regional Puppet Theater, directed by Akmal Khudoyorov)
▪️ Best Theater Performance of the Year – "Cholpon" (Uzbek National Academic Drama Theater)
▪️ Best Public Library of the Year – Sa’dulla Kurbanbayev (Director of the Tashkent Regional Special Library for the Blind)
▪️ Best National Cultural Center of the Year – Republican Turkmen National Cultural Center
▪️ Best Feature Film of the Year – "Bahodir Yalangtosh", directed by Jahongir Ahmedov
▪️ Best Writer/Poet of the Year – Qutlibeka Rahimboyeva (Head of the Social-Political Department of "Saodat" magazine)
▪️ Best Media Project of the Year – "Ovoz" television project
▪️ Best Instrumentalist of the Year – Saidakmalkhoja Tursunkhojayev (from the "Bek" National Doira Players Ensemble of the Uzbekistan State Philharmonic)
▪️ Best Orchestra of the Year – Uzbekistan State Symphony Orchestra
▪️ Best Traditional Female Singer of the Year – Adolat Ismoilova (Maqom singer of the Yunus Rajabi Maqom Ensemble)
▪️ Best Traditional Male Singer of the Year – Bobur Kenjayev
▪️ Best Pop Female Singer of the Year – Jasmin (Madina Fayzullayeva, singer from the "Uzbekconcert" State Institution)
▪️ Best Pop Male Singer of the Year – G‘aybulla Tursunov (singer from the "Uzbekconcert" State Institution)
▪️ Best Dancer of the Year – Dilnoza Mirzayeva (from the "Navbahor" Ensemble of the Uzbekistan State Philharmonic)
▪️ Best Circus Artist of the Year – Darina Matveyeva (High-ranking artist of the "Uzbekcircus" State Institution)
▪️ Best Comedian of the Year – Jamshid Normatov
▪️ Best Opera Performer of the Year – Otabek Nazirov (Uzbekistan State Symphony Orchestra)

The award recipients were honored with a special statuette, a certificate, and a financial reward equivalent to 100 times the base calculation amount, as per the Minister of Culture’s directive.

It should be noted that this was the third time the "New Uzbekistan Stars" National Culture and Arts Award ceremony has been held in the country.