NEWS

Azerbaijani movie “Axşama doğru” (Towards Evening) by Teymur Hajiyev will be featured at the 59th edition of La Semaine de la Critique 2020 in Cannes, the date that`s rescheduled. Honouring its commitment, the parallel section of the Cannes festival nevertheless continues to shine a light on emerging talents in order to support filmmakers and the film industry. To address this unprecedented situation, La Semaine de la Critique kicks off a tailored-made support programme for the films that Charles Tesson – artistic director – and his selection committees chose to actively support over the next few months. Accordingly, 5 features and 10 short films will receive the “2020 Semaine de la Critique label”. La Semaine de la Critique will guide the selected features throughout their previews and their theatrical releases in France. The films in French will be presented during a “La Semaine de la Critique carte blanche” at the Angoulême Francophone Film Festival, which will take place between August 28 and September 2, 2020. The ten short films of the non-competitive support programme will be screened online on Festival Scope Pro between October 19 and 25 to Industry professionnals and on Festival Scope between October 22 and 25 to the general audience. The 10 filmmakers of this year’s programme will be invited in December 2020 to take part in the Next Step workshop, whose purpose is to assist short film directors towards making feature films. Since its inception the workshop launched and led by Rémi Bonhomme has supported 55 filmmakers from 29 different countries.

Italian rock star Mike Coacci will present a new single on June 14.

The song "Human" will be released by all digital platforms in association with Rec106 Records.

It’s an unexpected release, as unexpected have been all the latest world events: virus, pandemic emergency and the following lockdown. Right in this scary and hard times, when tension and fear get high that the song "Human" was written, a short Rock diary to put emotions. But "Human" is also an invite to keep up human relationships, overcoming the "social distancing" and defeating a spreading distrust between each other.

To enforce this message the video clip of "Human" will be made by Mike’s fans phone videos sent from all over the world: Italy, USA, Russia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, South Africa, France, China, Japan, etc. A global message to say united: "Stay Human". 

The video will be available on Mike Coacci Official YouTube channel. 

Icherisheher State Historical-Architectural Reserve has launched a special campaign in fight against COVID-19 pandemic.

The Reserve provides all its visitors with medical face masks. In addition, all employees of the Reserve and security guards of the Maiden Tower are supplied with special masks in order to provide maximum security for all visitors.

In order to ease the restrictions imposed under the quarantine regime, thee employees of the museums operating under Icherisheher State Historical-Architectural Reserve as well as waiters at restaurants located along the castle walls are also provided with special face masks.

With its majestic buildings and ruins, Icherisheher hides a centuries-old history.

The city, built on a high hill in the form of an amphitheatre, is exposed to the sea in the lower part, and is surrounded by the Caucasus Mountains in the upper part. With its triple row of fortress walls, the Maiden Tower and other fortification facilities, Icherisheher appeared to be an impressive stronghold.

Large squares and wide streets gradually narrowed and shrank into a geometric design fascinate Baku residents and city's guests.

Numerous unique monuments, including the Shirvanshakh Palace complex, mosques and minarets, the ruins of caravanserais and bathhouses make this place one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city.

Old City became the first location in Azerbaijan to be classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

In 2000, the Old City of Baku, including the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and Maiden Tower, became the first location in Azerbaijan to be classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum has presented the 19th century embroidery (curtain) produced in Ganja.

In the traditional home interior of a wealthy Azerbaijani family, wall embroidered panels formed the central point of the interior.

Decorated with a symmetrical vertical composition — variations on the theme of the tree of life – they had no functional, but rather an exclusively aesthetic purpose that served only to decorate the interior, yet acted also as a talisman against the evil eye. Such wall panels were made of cloth or wool in dark tones, embroidered with a tambour stitch, and lined with a simple fabric.

Previosly, the Carpet Museum provided insight into the oldest embroidery from its collection.

The 12th–13th century fabric was found during the archeological excavations among the ruins in Kharaba Gilan near Nakhchivan.

From May 9 till September 9 2020, PostEurop is proud to present the most beautiful 2020 EUROPA stamps entries for the theme "Ancient Postal Routes".

Azerbaijna is participating in the competition with Shah Ismail post stamp. Produced by Azermarka LLC, the stamp is dedicated to the messenger service established by Shah Ismail Khatai in 1501.

At the compeition, the post stamp is presented by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies.

Shah Ismail has left a deep mark in the Azerbaijan's rich history.

He declared Azerbaijani as the state language, and wrote beautiful epic poems under the name Khatai.

Ismail was only a year old when his father was killed by the Aq Qoyunlu.

For six years Ismail was hiding from his enemies  in the palace of Mirza Ali, who was faithful to Safavids. Ruler of Aq Qoyunlu Rustam urgently requires the issuance of Ismail, and sent threatening letters to Mirza Ali. Making sure in their futility, he sent 300 horsemen to the palace.

Within years of hiding, Ismail studied science and military affairs before emerging at the age of 12 years to take over Azerbaijan.

Soon young Ismail took under control  the territories  of today's Iran, as well as Iraq, the Caucasus, parts of Central Asia, and western Afghanistan.

During his rule the state became to be called Azerbaijan and Turkish for almost a century remained the state language.

“Cholchu” (The Steppe Man), a movie by Azerbaijani filmmaker Shamil Aliyev, has been awarded in three categories at international film festivals held in Japan, Italy, Israel and the USA. In a voting held virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the film won “Best Feature Film”, “Best Director“ and “Best Cinematography“ nominations. The Steppe Man” tells a story of a young steppe man who lives in remoteness from the city, closely tied to nature. His father teaches him the subtleties of life in the steppe. Soon after his father's death the young man meets a girl from a city. Their meeting becomes a new page in his life, a step to a big life unfamiliar to him before. The movie has been featured at nearly 30 international film festivals and forums, receiving a number of awards.

For more than four years, International Mugham Center has been successfully holding evenings of mugham music. The project aims at  promoting of Azerbaijan's traditional music.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, evenings of mugham music will be presented in a new format. Music lovers have a chance to enjoy a series of magnificent concerts on social networks. All concerts will be available on the Center's Facebook and Instagram.

Famous for its spectacular concerts, scientific-theoretical and research projects, the International Mugham Center is now switching to online projects, which can be found on Facebook and Instagram.

The Center successfully implements cultural projects aimed at promotion of national music: "Evenings of ashug music", "Treasury of Secrets", "Unforgettable", "Pearls of ethnic music", etc.

Heydar Aliyev Foundation has congratulated children with International Day for Protection of Children.

On behalf of the First Vice-President of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Mehriban Aliyeva, holiday gifts have been presented to the children at the orphanage No. 1, as well as to those ones treated at the Children's Psycho-Neurological Center. 

Holiday gifts included various sports equipment, bicycles, scooters, slides, clothing sets, games and toys for mental development.

Heydar Aliyev Foundation pays great attention to the children's homes and boarding schools.

The Foundation provides the institutions with the necessary medical supplies and protective equipment during COVID-19 pandemic. 

"The Steppe Man" (Cholchu), a film by Shamil Aliyev, continues to enjoy global success. The film has been named best at four international festivals. 

"The Steppe Man" won three prizes at Twilight Tokyo Film Festival (Japan) in the nominations "Best Feature Film", "Best Director" and "Best Cinematography".

At  Vesuvius International Monthly Film Festival 2020 (Italy), the national film was named the "Best Feature Film".

The jury of Holy Grail International Film Festival 2020 (Israel) awarded "The Steppe Man" with prizes in the nominations "Best Feature Film" and "Best Director's Work".

Furthermore, BRIDGE FEST 2020 (USA) named "The Steppe Man" the "Best Feature Film".

The results of the festivals were announced virtually amid COVID-19 pandemic.

The film "The Steppe Man" was produced in 2012 at the Azerbaijanfilm studio by order of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The film has been screened at 37 international film festivals.

The film tells a story of a young steppe man who lives in remoteness from the city, closely tied to nature. His father teaches him the subtleties of life in the steppe. Soon after his father's death the young man meets a girl from a city. Their meeting becomes a new page in his life, a step to a big life unfamiliar to him before.

"The Steppe Man" was selected as the Azerbaijani entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards.

The scriptwriter of the film is Vidadi Gasanov, the director of photography is Rafig Guliyev, art directors are Rafig Nasirov and Ibrahim Halil Aminov, the composer is Rauf Aliyev, and producers are Mushvig Hatamov and Azer Guliyev.

Azermarka LLC has issued a series of post stamps timed to the 100th anniversary of the outstanding Azerbaijani actress Leyla Badirbeyli.

The stamp, designed by the main artist of "Azermarka" Vugar Ayyubov depicts a graphic portrait of the actress. The vertical arrangement of stamps on a sheet of 16 (4x4) stamps resembles a film tape. 

Stamps were printed by the Bobruisk United Printing House in Belarus with a circulation of 300,000 copies. At the same time, about 200 envelopes under the name "First Day" have been designed as well. 

Leyla Badirbeyli left a bright mark on the history of Azerbaijani art. For many years, she has served as a source of inspiration for young artists. Her internal spirit made her an outstanding actress and dancer.

When she was a child, she often visited an all-girls club with her mother, where she discovered her dancing and artistic skills.

Her passion for art strived future actress to continue dancing lessons even when she went to school. However, in 1936 dancing turned from hobby to livelihood when Leyla was offered a spot in the Song and Dance Ensemble named after Muslim Magomayev, successfully touring throughout the Soviet Union.

Meanwhile, Leyla recognized in herself an actor talent and became an actress of the Azerbaijan Drama Theater.

A timeless duet between Rashid Behbudov and the beautiful Leyla Bedirbeyli championed the film "Arshin Mal Alan" to audiences in almost 50 countries! The film, created in a time of war, delighted the entire post soviet area.

Bedirbeyli’s art coincided with the "golden age" of Azerbaijani theater in the 1940s to 70s, when the nation’s greatest artists of several generations met on the stage at the same time.