“Baku Oscar” short films festival winners announced

/By AzerNews/

By Amina Nazarli

The “Baku Oscar” short films festival, organized by the Youth Fund under the Azerbaijani President, was recently held in Baku.

It sought to unlock the potential and realize the ideas of young talented filmmakers, and stimulate their further creativity.

The festival featured some 29 films. The winners of the “Best film” category were “Hit,” directed by Elvin Abdullayev and “Orphan” by Rashad Garayev.

In the “Best actor” category, Khayal Salakhov took the first place, while Zarina Gurbanova and Sevinj Tofiggizi both won “Best actress.”

Sevinj Tofiggizi was also awarded the prize for “Best music” for her score for “Orphan.”

Soltan Abdullayev won “Best film operator” award.

The history of film production in Azerbaijan goes back to 1898, when the French Lumière brothers, the first filmmakers in history, brought their invention in Baku.

French photographer and cameraman Alexandre Michon, who lived in Baku for more than 25 years, is regarded as one of the founders of the Azerbaijani film industry.

The first film studio in Azerbaijan was established in 1922, which was the forerunner to Azerbaijan’s current film production company – Azerbaijanfilm.

After a short pause, Azerbaijani Films has once again begun to take on the world's film industry.

The State program on developing Azerbaijani cinema for 2008-2018 is currently aiding in the expansion of modern national cinema.

The state covers the main part of financing domestically produced films.

The films “Nabat,” directed by Elchin Musaoglu; “The Steppe Man," by Shamil Aliyev; and short films such as “The Last One,” directed by Sergei Pikalov; “Endless Corridor,” by Lithuanian Aleksandras Brokas; "Lighthouse," by Fariz Ahmadov; "Torn,” by Elmar Imanov and Engin Kundag; were featured in many international festivals so far and won numerous prestigious awards.