Renowned British actor Ben Kingsley, often described as “an icon of British cinema,” will serve as narrator in a special educational and scientific video project about the Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan. The news was announced by the Center’s press service.
The video is being produced as part of the 150 Films on History and Culture project, developed in collaboration with the Uzbek Agency of Cinematography. In addition to Kingsley, other international film and television stars — including Morgan Freeman, Denzel Washington, Mel Gibson, Burak Özçivit, and Angelina Jolie — are also expected to participate as narrators.
The announcement was made during an extended meeting of the Center for Islamic Civilization’s Academic Council, where participants discussed the Center’s development, enrichment of its exhibitions, expansion of international cooperation, and the integration of modern information technologies.
“Each documentary clip or video project is reviewed by the Academic Council, which ensures the highest standards of content and quality. Through every frame, we aim to convey truth, history, and enlightenment,” said Rajab Rajabov, the Center’s deputy director.
The meeting also focused on promoting the Center’s activities internationally. It was noted that partnerships have been established with leading global broadcasters, including CNN, BBC, and Euronews. In particular, creative video projects in the styles of Euronews and CNN are planned, dedicated to one hundred great Uzbek scholars.
The Center for Islamic Civilization, located in Uzbekistan’s capital near the Khast-Imam complex, is designed in the style of medieval architectural monuments, with four portals each 34 meters high and a central dome rising to 65 meters. It includes a Hall of the Quran, a 460-seat conference hall, and a museum whose exhibitions cover the entire history of Uzbekistan — from pre-Islamic times to the present day. The Center aims to serve as a platform for studying the heritage of the ancestors and reinterpreting it in collaboration with the International Islamic Academy of Uzbekistan and educational institutions around the world.
