Pejvak's 'Shokouk: A Cosmicomedy in Four Acts' Explores Soviet Space History Through Performance Film
The artistic collaboration known as Pejvak showcases 'Shokouk: A Cosmicomedy in Four Acts,' a 17-minute film that delves into the theme of Soviet space exploration, designed to mimic the Baikonur Cosmodrome. It includes visuals of laborers painting over flags on a billboard at a space station, accompanied by sounds of Kazakhs impacted by toxic radiation. The storyline features a fictional character from the 19th century who is punished for encouraging workers to escape to the moon. Other scenes depict a karaoke bar in Uzbekistan and a derelict USSR space station. Directed by Rouzbeh Akhbari and Felix Kalmenson, this film was available online from January 3 to 27, 2025, through the Art Lovers Movie Club. Pejvak has received international recognition and accolades, with backing from the Canada Council for the Arts.
Key facts
- Pejvak's film 'Shokouk: A Cosmicomedy in Four Acts' is 17 minutes long
- The film screened online from January 3 to 27, 2025
- It features field recordings from Kazakhs impacted by toxic radiation near Baikonur Cosmodrome
- The work references Andrei Ujică's 1997 documentary 'Out of the Present'
- Pejvak is a collaboration between Rouzbeh Akhbari and Felix Kalmenson
- The duo won the Prix George at Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur in 2020
- The film was produced as part of a fellowship with Van Abbemuseum and L’internationale
- Support came from the Canada Council for the Arts
Entities
Artists
- Rouzbeh Akhbari
- Felix Kalmenson
- Ulyana Toporovskaya
- Lera Kim
- Iraqli Qolbaia
- Valery Pimenov
- Omar Khayam
- Nasirdin Al-Tusi
- Carlo Rovelli
- Andrei Ujică
- Sergei Krikalev
- Zufar Raimov
- Cheng Baoshan
- Tsin Baoshan
- Carlo Cappai
- Foziljon Yunusov
- Sadriddin Shahobiddinov
- Umarxo’ja Tillaxo’jayev
- Jocopo Falsetta
- Ardasher Abdulhay o’g’li
- Zabixulla Shahaldarov
- Xusan G’aforov
- Fozliddin Musulmonov
- Shaxnoza Valiyeva
- Mengxiao Hu
- Jokūbas Čižikas
- Tiange Yang
- Jianru Jin
- Konrad Zięcina
- Paweł Rosiak
- Chris Lange
- Hayrulla Sodiqov
- Spartak Velsin
- Ziyavuddin Karimov
- Doniyor Rajabov
- Abduhamid Abduvorisov
- Zokirjon Otajonov
- Islom Shorustamov
- Turgay Esenin
- Islander Abdumajid
- Ruslan Haydarov
- Evgeniy Anatulin
- Yevgeniy Valdimirov
- Ibrohim Xojimov
- Sirojiddin Ataniyazov
- Aleksandr Votinsev
- Yunus Ali
- Dior Toshmuhammedov
- Feruzbek Rustamov
- Umid Jalolov
- Mark Abdullin
- Ilhom Tilavov
- Arman Hajimatov
- Jamshid Atamov
- Nadejda Vicheslav
- Elena Tangriyeva
- Umida Xolmurodova
- Jangil Asay
- Aygul Maratova
- Shahida Artikova
- Sarvinoz Valiyeva
- Rushana Valiyeva
- Aleksandra Timonova
- Aselya Makarova
- Lana
- Lola Abdurahmanova
- Valentina Maratova
- Mara Hojiyeva
- Feruza To’xtayeva
- Omina To’xtayeva
- Dilorom Hikmatullayeva
- Dmitry Rogozin
- Sohiba Rustamova
- Juldiz
- Anastasiya Vildanova
- Lyubov Votinseva
- Tatyana Timoryan
- Yuliya Bagdanova
- Xurshida Rasulova
- Oysanam
- Chinara
- Roza Temirova
- Munisa Sodiqova
- Shaxnoza Murodova
- Nick Aikens
- Nav Haq
- Alice Brygo
Institutions
- Art Lovers Movie Club
- artreview.com
- São Paulo International Film Festival
- Tampere Film Festival
- Doclisboa
- Sharjah Film Platform
- Kasseler Dokfest
- Arkipel Jakarta International Documentary Experimental Film Festival
- Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival
- Media City Film Festival
- Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur
- Villa Arson
- Van Abbemuseum
- MAC VAL
- M HKA
- Z33
- Si Shang Art Museum
- Sobey Art Award
- REJBEL.STUDIO
- L’internationale
- Canada Council for the Arts
Locations
- Baikonur Cosmodrome
- Kazakhstan
- Ulytau Region
- Tehran
- Iran
- Saint Petersburg
- Russia
- France
- UK
- Japan
- Uzbekistan
- Beijing
- China
- Dnipro
- Ukrainian SSR
- Netherlands
- Belgium