Discoveries from Azerbaijan World Cinema

The film tells the story of the love affair between the son of the secretary of state, Riyad, and the simple woman, Nigar, and their steadfast overcoming of a number of difficulties they encounter in return.

1992. Independent Azerbaijan is fighting separatists in Karabakh. Journalist Miranda arrives from London to shoot a documentary about the Caucasian leopard. Fate brings her together with the scout Emil. Together, they go through severe trials, during which Miranda learns a lot about the Caucasian leopard and the tragic pages of Azerbaijan's recent history.

The film talks about countless crimes committed by the criminal group led by "Panjali Aslan" and eventually the destruction of this criminal group by law enforcement agencies.

Years after the collapse of the Soviet Union… The hero of the film is an actor of the provincial theater. The chaotic mood of the time he lived in directly affected his character and mental state. He suffers from depression. The environment, loneliness oppress him, he is in a state of psychological shock. He also loves his counterpart in the theater, Leyla. However, he cannot express his feelings. There comes a moment when he says “it is necessary to end everything” and leaves.

A mysterious creature called Boom-Boom enters the forest, unsettling its animal inhabitants. This children’s animated film draws inspiration from the poem ‘Bum-bum’ by poet Vaqif Samadoghlu, blending playful tension with poetic imagination.

“Goodbye Schmidt!”. A movie, which deeply hints, even though it doesn’t make to think about…* Emil Schmidt belongs to the German ethnicity and wishes to immigrate to Germany. He dreams to realize his goal by applying to the German Embassy with official requests every month, but at the very beginning, nothing is that simple, as it seems to be to him. He is being accepted, but only to the offices. He is being heard, but nobody listens to him. People feel sorry for him, but they don't help…. The remarkable hero story of this picture will share with us an autumn sorrow and a summer joy and will allow us to live through his fate and to keep silent about the meaning of life. What could be higher than human values, love and freedom? What could be closer to us than the Motherland? What could be more important for a person whose life can end at any moment?

The film tells about the problems faced by Azerbaijani youth because of drugs, as all the troubles that happen to two young friends in the course of one day are caused by narcotic substances.

'Xaş' is a traditional dish. According to custom and tradition, 'Xaş' is eaten between 4 and 5 in the morning. In the film, it is said that people, weary from the pains of life and the exhaustion of work, live more interestingly during the two hours between night and morning, while eating 'Xaş', than during the rest of their lives. Afterward, they are overcome by sweet sleep, and the entire city, the entire republic, falls into slumber. Upon waking, the mundane routine of daily life embraces them once again

Parvaz Mustavi, a South Azerbaijani, decides to start organizing weddings in Baku. When he brings an expensive, rare car inherited from his father from Iran to Baku for rent, it is stolen halfway through the journey. After losing the car and facing bankruptcy, Parvaz and his partner Yaver meet the country's most ruthless car scammers.

The film tells about the life of 25-year-old Intigam, who lives in a remote village in the south of Azerbaijan. His grandmother filmed Intigam's dance with sheep and put it on YouTube. With more than 10 million views on YouTube, Intigam is life-changing. An invitation comes to him from Baku and he has to come to Baku. They want to use the purity of the main character and embezzle the 2 million manat allocated to the author of the most viewed video of the year. Before long, the premeditated ruse is revealed and the fraudsters can't get their way. Getting used to village life, Intigam gets into funny situations in the city. In the end, there is a scandal at the award ceremony, and the ground is laid for a video that can collect the next number of views for YouTube.

Fuad is an employee of the criminal investigation department, and Anar is a musician who strives to win the love of the audience. Friends who have shared every joy and sorrow with each other since childhood are now unable to divide the love of the beautiful and successful Deniz between them. Their friendship has already passed such a test. So what will happen this time? A story as old as the world, but always relevant... It seems that they have no idea about the world...

Tamara and Murad, who once loved each other very much and then broke up, meet by chance on the street 20 years later. Murad does not “recognize” Tamara and turns this meeting into a “game”.

A short film by Emil Guliev in honor of Victory Day in Azerbaijan.

The film tells the heartwarming tale of Ilgar Suleymanov, a former Olympic medalist who has settled into a quiet life in his hometown. Despite having close friends and a love for fishing, Ilgar is haunted by his loneliness and lack of direction. However, when an unexpected visitor arrives at his doorstep, Ilgar's life takes an exciting and unexpected turn, leading him on a journey that will take him from Azerbaijan to the distant shores of Cuba. This poignant and uplifting film explores the universal themes of friendship, love, and the search for meaning in a touching and unforgettable way.

Two men from neighbouring villages – the Armenian Artavaz and the Azerbaijani Gadir – find themselves in the chaos of the conflict between their two countries. Brought together by a play of fate, they flee an incomprehensible war.

The mother-in-law is very different from the mother-in-law of 40 years ago. The modern mother-in-law is the wife of one of the oligarchs. Living a luxurious life, Janan spends her days in massage parlors and shopping. However, like most mothers-in-law, she likes to interfere in her child's choices. So, although her son Fuad wants to marry the daughter of the maid who works in their house, Janan strongly objects, stating that she is not suitable for their family. Fuad, in turn, asks for help from his uncle Shohrat. They meet Ilgar, who presented the fake bride to the mother-in-law in the film 40 years ago. Ilgar introduces the foreign bride Mufita to Janan as the daughter of the king of Atruba. And all the adventures begin from then on.

Shot during the Nagorno-Karabakh War, "Fəryad" is only one of its kind. Following the Khojaly Massacre, Ismayil, an officer tasked with collecting the bodies, crosses enemy lines to avenge the brutal murder of a local schoolgirl. There he gets captured by Armenians and waits for the day to be exchanged for an enemy POW.

On a platform in the middle of the sea, the industrial machinery of an oil rig attempts to send out a warning of an impending catastrophe.

Ruslan and Sevda, who have been childless for five years, try to avoid the question, "So, any news?", but everyone they meet keeps asking it. Shahnisah’s mother is looking for a wealthy husband for her, but she continues to stay at home with her poor boyfriend, Vusal. Asif and Tahmine have three daughters, yet they work day and night for a "son’s blessing" based on others’ opinions. What unites them is that their lives are turning into a romantic comedy.

The wedding day planned by Lala's father is fast approaching. Emil realizes that time is against him and he must act urgently. At that moment, an opportunity arises: Lala's father is leaving town for a few days to prepare for the wedding. Emil asks her brother Zaur for help in saving Lala from this marriage. Zaur, however, is faced with a difficult choice - his father's will, family traditions and influence in society, or loyalty to his friend and protecting his sister from the same fate.

Three friends - Mahir (the actor), Bahram (the director) and Firuz (the screenwriter) want to make a film on a serious topic. However, no investor helps them. The friends, left in despair, decide to make the film on their own account. Mahir wants to sell his car, Bahram the gold he took from the house, and Firuz wants to make the film by selling the ancient carpet in their house.

The movie is about the mixed relationships between a failed artist and his girlfriend. Returning home after a long period of imprisonment, the father tries to improve his son's life in the most radical ways.

In a remote Azerbaijani village, things take a turn for the worse on the wedding night when the firing of a gun, a local tradition, doesn't go according to plan.

A man goes to prison for years for a crime his cousin committed. After his release he moves to his native village and lives a simple life. But when his cousin comes to visit, his old thoughts of revenge return.

The film "Eternal Mission" tells about the tumultuous fate of the delegation of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic sent to the Paris Peace Conference in January 1919 under the leadership of Alimardan Bey Topchubashov, the Speaker of the Parliament.

Unable to find a cure for her illness, Leyla's father and mother take her to the hospital in Umbaki and forget about her once and for all. For Leyla, life begins with the arrival of student Eldar for an internship at this hospital.

The film tells the story of the difficult lives of actors.

The feature film reflects the terrible days of the tragedy and the suffering experienced through the example of Durdana Aghayeva and her brother Elshad Aghayev, who witnessed the Khojaly genocide and were subjected to severe torture for 8 days in Armenian captivity.

In this modern film, Elias, tired of his life, tries to kill himself, but wakes up in a house in Cannes where he meets Arthur, a man hiding from the mafia. Despite having nothing in common and not speaking the same language, they become friends and navigate their contrasting lifestyles together.

Not much has changed in the lives of the main characters of the first "Ring of Fortune" over the past 27 years. Moshu continues to write his poems, Seylu first does housework and then takes care of his children, especially Khoshu. Rasim remains a hard-working businessman. The situation changes unexpectedly. Rasim's daughter Deniz comes to visit her father with her newly-formed fiancé. At the same time, Seylu's younger brother Fedot also returns from Russia and tries to make his own plans around the beautiful Deniz.

Residents are slowly leaving the village due to thirst. Only one family, aunt Nakhish and man Rahim, endured a thousand hardships to guard the grave of Allahverdi, their only child who died in the Karabakh war.

An ex-soldier suffering from PTSD decides to visit his mother in his remote home village in an attempt to find some peace of mind. He participates in a mystical Spring cleansing ritual set around a temple inside a 13th-century cemetery in the middle of the forest, where he encounters a mysterious little girl. His innocent alter-ego brings him face-to-face with his inner demons and sets him on a difficult path to acceptance and redemption.

"Endless Corridor" is the definitive account of an agonizing human rights tragedy in which hundreds of Azerbaijanis massacred after Armenian Forces stormed the city of Khojaly during the Nagorno-Karabakh War. It happened in 1992, but the full story never been told throughout the world until now.

Teymur and Khyrdakhanim are a married couple. They watch a televised wedding program at home every evening. And one day Teymur tells Khyrdakhanim, let's get married again. You go to that show and pretend you're homeless and let them take pity on you and give you a dowry and money, and I'll call you and propose to you. Khyrdakhanim goes to the show and the call comes. During the show, Khyrdakhanim recognizes the caller, Teymur says yes, and all the adventures begin from there.

A comedy film directed by Ramiz Hasanoglu.

Kidnapping a bride goes wrong when two men realize they kidnapped the bride’s twin.

The film tells the story of the funny and entertaining love adventures of the protagonist Shirbala (Hajibaba Bagirov).

The events in the film mainly take place at the railway station. The main character, Karim, has the greatest goal — like his father — to kill flies. And for this work he considers himself a true hero. In short, the main meaning of the film is that those who are engaged in idle work actually consider themselves to be concerned with serious, vital issues.

Young Ruslan rows for a team coached by his father Ali, who places many demands upon his son and is continually dissatisfied by his performance. But when tragedy strikes, his father is overcome with emotions he doesn’t know how to deal with. Debut director Asif Rustamov treats the heavy topic with remarkable subtlety and discretion, emphasizing the characters’ carefully elaborated psychology.

Seymour Tahirbekov is an international chess grandmaster from Azerbaijan. Having won the Candidates Tournament, Seymour earns the right to challenge the defending world champion Skroten Gudmonson in the World Chess Championship match. With a few weeks left before the championship match, Seymour’s psychological and emotional state deteriorates under escalating abuse and pressure to succeed by any means.

A young man tells the dream he had about running away with the daughter of chief of police to his grandma. People spread and exaggerate rumors as if it was a real story until it reaches to the chief himself.

A veteran wounded in the war, wakes up from a three-month coma and learns that his mother has passed away and that his daughter has been placed in a boarding school. Later, she tries to put her life in order so that she can have her child. The film, which tells about his struggle to get his daughter back, focuses more on the scars of war on human psychology and the struggle of people who have left the war to live than on the heavy battle scenes.

Eldar, Bakhtiyar, Elnur and Alihuseyn are childhood friends. Eldar is thinking of marrying the girl he loves, Gunay, but he doesn't have the money to have a wedding. While looking for money with his friends, he sees an advertisement for a program called "Lie Detector" with a prize of 10,000 manats and joins the program. As a result of the questions asked throughout the program, Eldar is confronted with his interesting and funny past.

January 1990, Baku. The Soviet Union hasn't collapsed yet. Around 300 thousand Azeri have been forsed out from their homes in Armenia and Daghlig Garabagh. Rallies of protest, political meetings spring up in Baku. The old patriarch, Ismail gathers under his roof distant relatives, people of different nationalities, beliefs, and ideas. The old man is tortured by everything happening around him: unrest in the city as well as discord and discarder in his own overpopulated apartment. All his efforts to preserve the family are in vain. People want to live separately. Former friends become bitter enemies because of the senseless aggression.

Baku, Azerbaijan. A famous photographer postpones his wedding once again due to an important job offer. During the inevitable quarrel with his fiancée, they have a car accident.

Seven friends decide to play a game at their dinner party, in which each member needs to read aloud all incoming text messages or put phone calls on speaker for all to hear. This causes many revelations to materialize.

The film is based on the events of Rasim (Rasim Jafarov), a literature teacher who came to Baku from the village to become a movie director. There he meets Leyla, a beautiful woman who he falls in love with. She calls him Fellini in honor of Italian film director Federico Fellini.

Story of a painter hiding in the attic claiming to be French and refusing to speak Azerbaijani even with his family. To return him to his roots, his family and in-laws try different methods.

The restaurant opens for just one table — but that table tests everyone’s patience. Staff in love, uncontrollable managers, a worn-out waitress, and a chef who couldn’t care less about the world — today, they all had to break free from someone’s control. There is only one question: at the end of this “special service,” who will pay the bill?

In the 15th century, in Central Asia, the ruler of the Darebey Khanate, Adalet Khan, had two sons — the wise and brave Hozu, and the cunning Karabugday. Seeking to seize the throne, Karabugday kills their father during a hunt and blames Hozu, who is imprisoned. Under Karabugday’s incompetent rule, the khanate weakens, and famine and chaos spread.

The film tells the story of the events during the night of January 19 to 20, 1990, when the Soviet Army invaded Baku and its surroundings and killed many civilians.

Maryam, an immigrant living in the US returns to her small village in Azerbaijan after discovering that her father is alive and residing in a psychiatric facility. She tries to help recover his mind with her memories but the struggle against the disease turns into a fight with her own conscience.

A documentary that follows Thomas Goltz and a group of riders on old Soviet motorcycles as they carry the first symbolic barrel of Caspian oil from Baku to Ceyhan along the future BTC pipeline. Using rare historical footage, personal interviews, and scenes captured during the journey, the film shows Goltz's legacy as a war reporter, his strong connection to Azerbaijan, and how oil shaped the identity of the country.

The film on the Khojaly tragedy, tells the story of a young officer, unfolding against the backdrop of the terrible events of February 1992.

The movie tells about the fate of young people, about their pure love and desire for friendship. Falling into the net of dirty people, only love saves them from death.

Short film about rehabilitation, dedicated to a healthy future at the Hayat Namine rehabilitation center.

The events coincide with the last day of the year. Vagif, who retired a few years ago, returns from playing chess with his former deputy, who is also a recluse, and picks up a woman he knows from afar in his car. From the phone calls they receive on the way, it becomes clear that the passenger's son, just like Vagif's daughter, lives abroad with his family. During the conversation, it also becomes clear that this woman is Nigar, Vagif's former classmate with whom he studied for half a year and his first love, to whom he never had the chance to confess his love. Both of them are now widows. The day, which continues with surprise meetings, ends with both of them attending the New Year's celebration with other former classmates and their grandchildren Banuchichek and Beyrak, who came from abroad to spend the holiday with them.

A film is built around the idea that the end of one person’s life gives a new beginning to another. The storyline highlights themes such as the value of life, loss, and hope.

The events in the film take place in a remote place, far from the modern city and civilization, where the real and the unreal worlds meet. There, mysticism and reality are so intertwined that all kinds of miracles are expected. The people there live by their own unwritten laws. The punishments given to those who violate them are also completely different.