Film Agency celebrates birthday anniversary of outstanding director

Azerbaijan Film Agency has hosted a commemorative event to mark the 115th anniversary of the birth of the outstanding film director Niyazi Badalov, Azernews reports.

Supported by the Culture Ministry, the photo exhibition reflecting the film director's life, was demonstrated at State Film Fund. A video about the film director was also screened as part of the event.

In his speech, director of the State Film Fund, Honoured Art Worker Jamil Guliyev, hailed Niyazi Badalov's great role in the history of Azerbaijani documentary cinema.

Jamil Guliyev also noted that rare director's script belonging to him is preserved in the fund's museum.

Honoured Art Wworker and film critic Ayd?n Kazimzade shared his memories about Niyazi Badalov. He recalled that the prominent film director made up to 40 documentaries.

The film critic pointed out that the portraits of the war heroes of the Second World War and its aftermath occupy a special place in the director's work.

Through his films, Niyazi Badalov reflected the image resolution of the war and the rear front with unique colours.

Doctor of Philosophy in Philology Firudin Qurbansoy said that the film director put his heart into his films, which is felt in every screen work.

Speaking on behalf of the director's family members, Doctor of Philosophy in History Esmira Javadova thanked the State Film Fund for organising the event.

In conclusion, Niyazi Badalov's documentaries "His name was Serafino" and "Relay" were shown to the guests of the event.

Niyazi Badalov is regarded as one of the founders of Azerbaijani documentary cinema.

The film director produced dozens of short documentaries and newsreels for magazines like Soviet Azerbaijan, Young Generation, News of the Day, Across the Country of Soviets, etc.

Badalov also took part in dubbing Soviet films. He taught film technology at the acting department of the Azerbaijan State Theater College.

Over his life, Niyazi Badalov produced dozens of films, including General Hazi Aslanov (1945), Muhammad Fuzuli (1958), M.F. Akhundov (1962), People's Poet Samad Vurgun (1965), Island in the Mountains (1971), Bridge Over the Caspian Sea (1988), and others.

Niyazi Badalov was also a member of the Union of Cinematographers of the Azerbaijan SSR.

Honoured Art Worker Aydin Kazimzade stressed that the outstanding filmmaker contributed to the formation and development of Azerbaijani documentary cinema.

Next, the audience enjoyed Niyazi Badalov's films-150 years. Mirza Fatali Akhundov, Island in the Mountains, and Relay Race.