LONDON / TASHKENT – Academy Award-winning actor Sir Ben Kingsley has completed filming Whispers of Wisdom, a new film series with Executive Producer Ahmed Salim (1001 Foundation) telling the stories of pioneering scholars from Uzbekistan and the broader region. The series has been created for the Centre for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan as part of a wider media initiative designed for museum visitors and international audiences.
Created as cinematic portraits, Whispers of Wisdom explores the lives, discoveries and continuing relevance of scholars whose ideas helped shape fields such as mathematics, algorithms, astronomy, medicine, physics, engineering and geography. The wider 1001 Inventions Uzbekistan initiative highlights figures such as Al-Khwarizmi, Al-Biruni, Ibn Sina and Ulugh Beg, helping audiences connect the region’s intellectual legacy with the modern world.
The project is part of a major international production bringing together Uzbek and international filmmakers. The production includes Spectre Films (UZ), Director Shokhrukh Rasulov, Producer Gayrat Muminov, Director of Photography Max Tsui, and award-winning Executive Producer Ahmed Salim, founder of 1001 Foundation.
For Ahmed Salim, the project marks a special reunion with Sir Ben Kingsley following their earlier collaboration on the acclaimed short film 1001 Inventions and the Library of Secrets, produced as part of the global 1001 Inventions initiative. That film helped introduce a richer understanding of the history of science and received more than twenty international awards and seen by more than 200 million people.
Ahmed Salim is an award-winning producer known for developing ambitious cultural and educational media projects that combine film, exhibitions and public engagement. Among his most notable productions was 1001 Inventions and the World of Ibn Al-Haytham, which he produced and co-directed and which starred Omar Sharif in what became the legendary actor’s final film appearance before his death.
The involvement of 1001 Foundation in Whispers of Wisdom reflects its long-standing mission to transform stories from the history of science and civilisation into powerful, accessible experiences for audiences around the world. Through award-winning films, exhibitions, books and educational campaigns, 1001 Foundation has spent many years helping audiences rediscover the contributions of scholars, thinkers and innovators whose impact still shapes our world today.
In Uzbekistan, this work extends beyond film. 1001 Foundation has also been involved in developing the children’s interactive exhibition 1001 Inventions from Uzbekistan to the World at the Centre for Islamic Civilization of Uzbekistan. That exhibition invites children and families into a hands-on STEM journey through the First and Second Renaissances of Central Asia, using cinematic storytelling, games, immersive sets and digital installations to bring historical pioneers to life.
Together, the Whispers of Wisdom film series and the children’s exhibition represent an important new chapter in the Centre’s public engagement work, combining scholarship, creativity and world-class production to present Uzbekistan’s intellectual heritage in fresh and inspiring ways. As Whispers of Wisdom moves closer to launch, the project stands as another example of how meaningful collaboration between filmmakers, cultural institutions and educational producers can bring the stories of the past to life for new generations.
Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/embed/Dj5LPzpS00A
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