Lovely Documentary Days in Baku/1

Tomorrow will be the final day of a training week in Baku in Azerbaijan arranged by The Azerbaijan Union of Film-makers (AUF). With filmmaker Afaq Yusifli as the workshop leader, taking care of everything, the perfect organizer behind this project that “enhances the chances of young Azerbaijani filmmakers to be selected for highly competitive international fora”. I have had the pleasure to – together with the always smiling power house Afaq – conduct the workshop as a trainer. Below you find the list of projects participating, new and old talents and I have to say that they have been working hard to improve their pitching skills – and many have changed their teasers/trailers. Some have taken part in international events and some will, inshallah. For me, first time in Baku, it has been a true pleasure to meet filmmakers with projects that have taught me more about a country – culture, geography, family patterns, history, art and much more…

I have chosen to bring a photo taken by late photographer (and poet) Dadash Adna (Dado), who will be portrayed by young filmmaker Azer Allahverdi, who lives in Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. One of the obvious talents of the workshop.

1. “Sweet memories in the abandoned village” (director: Aynur Kazimova)

2. “Sky Nomads” (Director: Aytaj Suleymanova, producer: Elmaddin Suleymanov)

3. “It’s been a long time since the photographer came to the village” (Director: Azer Allahverdi, producer: Rafael Rzayev)

4. “Alphabet of the World” (Director Eljan Mammadov, producer Zarif Bakirova)

5. “My grandfather, my father and me” (Director Haji Safarov)

6. “Untitled Memories” Director: Nargiz Mammadli, producer: Alamdar Faig)

7. “Resident of the 13th floor” (Director: Parviz Hasanov, producer Parvana Hasanova)

8. “Crystal” (Director Ruslan Mollayev, producer Sabina Jafar)

9. “Little pigeon enthusiast” – (Director: Shahin Husenyli)

10. “A man deprived of liberty” – (Director: Intigam Hajili, producer Shahin Huseynli)

11. “My virtual house” (Director Ulviyya Ahmadova, producer Nijat Dadashov)

12. “Fashion/lackness” – (Director: Anar Salahov)

13. “Sea beauty” (Director: Sevinj Mahmudova)

14. “House waiting for you sincerely” (Director: Alida Mahmudova)

15. “Motivator 2” (Director: Kamal Mushfig, producer: Yagub Murtuzlu)

Tomorrow there will be a pitching session, where a jury will award some of the projects. I hope this workshop initiative by The Azerbaijan Union of Film-makers will be followed by more to strengthen the documentary community in the country. They deserve it.

Share your love
Tue Steen Müller
Tue Steen Müller

Müller, Tue Steen
Documentary Consultant and Critic, DENMARK

Worked with documentary films for more than 20 years at the Danish Film Board, as press officer, festival representative and film consultant/commissioner. Co-founder of Balticum Film and TV Festival, Filmkontakt Nord, Documentary of the EU and EDN (European Documentary Network).
Awards: 2004 the Danish Roos Prize for his contribution to the Danish and European documentary culture. 2006 an award for promoting Portuguese documentaries. 2014 he received the EDN Award “for an outstanding contribution to the development of the European documentary culture”. 2016 The Cross of the Knight of the Order for Merits to Lithuania. 2019 a Big Stamp at the 15th edition of ZagrebDox. 2021 receipt of the highest state decoration, Order of the Three Stars, Fourth Class, for the significant contribution to the development and promotion of Latvian documentary cinema outside Latvia. In 2022 he received an honorary award at DocsBarcelona’s 25th edition having served as organizer and programmer since the start of the festival.
From 1996 until 2005 he was the first director of EDN (European Documentary Network). From 2006 a freelance consultant and teacher in workshops like Ex Oriente, DocsBarcelona, Archidoc, Documentary Campus, Storydoc, Baltic Sea Forum, Black Sea DocStories, Caucadoc, CinéDOC Tbilisi, Docudays Kiev, Dealing With the Past Sarajevo FF as well as programme consultant for the festivals Magnificent7 in Belgrade, DOCSBarcelona, Verzio Budapest, Message2Man in St. Petersburg and DOKLeipzig. Teaches at the Zelig Documentary School in Bolzano Italy.

Articles: 3977