Closing Ceremony of “AKIDocs – Documentary Film Development and Pitching International Project”

Apr302025

As previously reported, the Azerbaijan Union of Filmmakers announced an open call for applications for AKIDocs – Documentary Film Development and Pitching International Project on April 1, 2025. A total of 11 participants and 4 observers were selected for the program, which took place from April 22 to 29.

The project was mentored by renowned documentary film expert Tue Steen Müller and concluded with participant presentations to a jury comprising AUF Executive Secretary Ali Isa Jabbarov, as well both directors and cinematographers Daniel Guliyev and Oktay Namazov.

Speaking at the project’s closing ceremony, Ali Isa Jabbarov stated:
“While our documentary film traditions have progressed, they still fall short of international standards, and much work remains to be done. We are organizing these events to support the development of creative documentary filmmaking—this is just the first step. More important than choosing a winner is the formation of a documentary film community and the fostering of meaningful relationships. We are especially proud Tue Steen Müller being with us in this project and hope his collaboration with AUF will also continue in the future.”

Tue Steen Müller stated in his blog that: This project enhances the chances of young Azerbaijani filmmakers to be selected for highly competitive international fora. I have had the pleasure to conduct the workshop as a trainer. New and old talents, and I have to say that they have been working hard to improve their pitching skills – many have changed their teasers/ trailers. 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.

Based on the jury’s decision, the following projects were selected as the winners of AKIDocs project:

  1. Filming Support Award – Dado, directed by Azer Allahverdi
  2. Travel Support Award for an international project abroad– Sky nomads, directed by Aytaj Suleymanova, produced by Elmaddin Suleymanov
  3. Pre-Production + Teaser Support Award – Untitled, Memory, directed by Nargiz Mammadli, produced by Alemdar Faig
  4. Post-Production Support Award – Jahan`s alphabet, directed by Eljan Mammadov, produced by Zarif Bakirova
  5. Logistics Support Award – My Virtual Home, directed by Ulviyya Ahmadova, produced by Nijat Dadashov
  6. Pre-Production Technical Support Award – Sweet Memories in the Abandoned Village, directed by Aynur Kazimova

The winning projects will receive both financial and organizational support from the Azerbaijan Union of Filmmakers.

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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.

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