By the order of Heydar Aliyev in 2000 dated December 18, August 2 was declared “Day of Azerbaijani Cinema”.

After two years since the first cinema show in France, August 2, 1898, Alexander Mishon, publisher and photographer, secretary of scientific-photo of Baku, who lived and worked in Baku for more than 25 years had arranged independent demonstrations of plots “The Oil Gush Fire in Bibiheybat”,  , “Ceremony of send-off of His Majesty Emir of Bukhara”, “The Caucasian dance” newsreel – documentary and “You are caught” feature plots. The given plots were demonstrated at the World Exhibition in Paris in 1900 and kept there. Two of them – “The Oil Gush Fire in Bibiheybat” and “The Oil Gush in Balakhany”, were returned from French film archive in 2001 to Azerbaijan. 

As a result of this historical fact by order of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev dated December 18, 2000, August 2 was declared as professional holiday of cinema workers – day of Azerbaijani cinema.

In 1908, professional cameraman Grossman started to shoot plots about the life of Baku oil fields. This plot was a subject of interests of “Pate” and “Gaumont” film studios of France, and they also sent their operators to Baku. In 1915, Pirone Brothers had established in Baku “Filma” Joint Stock Company and had shot in 1916 short fiction film “Oil and country of millions” based on the same name novel of writer Ibrahim bey Musabayov and in 1917 “Arshin mal alan” based on the same name operetta of U. Hajibeyov. Director of both films was Boris Svetlov and cameraman Grigori Lemberg. They both were invited from Petersburg.

In May 1918 after declaration of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan the new government had implemented many cultural and political reforms. Diplomatic and cultural-economic relations with foreign world gave impetus to bringing of first samples of world cinema to Baku and new public views. As a result, the number of lovers of cinematography began to increase in Baku. In 1918, they united in “The Council of servicemen of Cinematography and Theatre". On May 28, 1919, on anniversary of the Azerbaijani Democratic Republic newsreel was shot. Unfortunately, the film, which is the first example of screen publicism did not reach our days.

Later, after the establishment of Soviet rule in Azerbaijan, in 1922, the first cinema factory was established in the republic. In 1923 it was renamed to “Azerbaijan Photo-Film Department” (APFD) by a special decree of the People’s Education Commissariat. In 1924, the APFD shot the first Soviet movie – “The Maiden Tower” directed by Vladimir Ballyuzek. The screenplay was based on the legend of the Maiden Tower.

The films studio had following names in 1923-26 as “Azerbaijan Office of the Photo-Cinema” (APFD), in 1926-30-ess as “Azdovletkino”, in 1930-33 as “Azerkino”, in 1933 as “Azfilm”, in 1934 as “Azdovletkinosenayesi”, in 1935-40-es as “Azerfilm”, in 1941-59 as “Baku studio”. But since 1961 till date it named as “Azerbaijanfilm” named after Jafar Jabbarly.

To date, Azerbaijanfilm has produced more than 2,000 films of various kinds and genres. Most of the famous and beloved movies in Azerbaijani cinema are musical comedies. Remaking Svetlov’s ”Arshin mal alan” in 1945 (also in 1965) popularized this genre and over the years movies like “Rendezvous” (1955), “Bakhtiyar” (1955), “If not this, then that” (1965), “Where is Ahmad?`” (1964), “Mother-in-law” (1978), etc. were made. Several of them, including “Arshin mal alan”, “Bread Equal”, “Birthday”, “Investigation” and “Scoundrel”, have received State awards. Such films as “Stepmother”, “On the Far Shores”, “Arshin Mal Alan”, “Our Teacher Jabish”, “The Last Pass”, “Nasimi”, “Alien Time”, “Sary Gyalin”, “Koldun”, “Buta”, “Stepniak”, “Nabat” and “Downstream” have won awards at international and other film festivals.

During the first period of national leader Heydar Aliyev’s leadership, attention and care were paid to the development of national cinema. In general, the Azerbaijani art of cinema played an important role in the formation of the aesthetic taste and worldview of the audience, serving to preserve the national spirit of our people. National leader Heydar Aliyev highly valued Azerbaijani cinema art, said: “many generations of Azerbaijani people brought up by cinema, formed, developed and become cultural under the influence of cinema… The services of Azerbaijani cinema on the way of development of our people are indispensable”.

1970s and 1980s are remarkable for historical films, which constitute an unforgettable part of our history and are part of the golden fund of our culture. They were screened and created in terms of artistry. In those years 110 feature films, 500 documentaries and science films, 96 issues of “Mozalan” satirical magazine and 44 animation films were produced in Azerbaijan. The films “Our Teacher Jabish”, “Kura Indomitable”, “Bread Equal”, “Dervish Blows up Paris”, “Seven Sons of Mine”, “The Last Pass”, “Nasimi”, “Dede Gorgud”, “Babek”, “Nizami”, “Apple Like an Apple”, “Looking for the Girl”, “Our Grandfather’s Grandfather”, “A Tail Wind”, “The Sound of the Swirl”, “Gharib in the Land of Jinns” and others were filmed during those years. One of the main aspects that distinguished these films was their deeper penetration into the life of our people, and most importantly, our centuries-long history, traditions and national values. Under Soviet rule, such examples of art were created at the initiative of the great leader that are considered the golden fund of our national cinematography.

After gaining independence in 1991 Azerbaijani cinema entered a new stage. Although the political and economic situation in Azerbaijan was not stable at the time, the local film industry kept producing new movies. In the years of independence, special attention was paid to the art of cinema under the leadership of the Great Leader. By a decree of the national leader of August 19, 1998, the Law “On Cinematography” was adopted in Azerbaijan. At the same time, a number of Azerbaijani films were awarded high state awards, actors, directors, and screenwriters received awards at International Film Festivals and competitions. The Azerbaijan State Film Fund was established in 1996.

The work done by the national leader for the development of cinema is successfully continued by the president of the country Ilham Aliyev. On February 2007, 23, the head of state signed orders “on the development of the art of cinema” and on August 2008, 4, “state program on the development of Azerbaijani cinema for 2008-2018”. The state program will increase the production of films, as well as supply modern cinema equipment and appliances, expand the production of films together with foreign countries, and reconstruct cinemas. In recent years, Azerbaijani films have been represented at more than 40 international festivals held abroad.

The country is currently undergoing systematic reforms towards the development of cinematography and the modernisation of this sphere, according to the Presidential Decree “On Some Measures Related to the Development of Azerbaijani Cinematography” of 1 March 2019.

More than 250 feature films, documentaries and animated films on topics of particular importance to the interests of the country have been produced at Azerbaijanfilm and other State studios and some independent film enterprises with State budget funding for the development of the film sector. More than 60 films have been screened at 231 international film festivals in 59 countries and have won 146 different awards.

All these steps taken in recent years, in the future will improve the implementation of state policy in the field of cinematography, modernize the local production and broadcasting infrastructure, ensure international competitiveness and participation in many international joint projects, film production, as well as the internationalization of Azerbaijani cinematography experience by joining international platforms. In recent years, the participation and awarding of films produced by Azerbaijan in the world’s most prestigious international film festivals, as well as the increase in the amount of investment in film production, indicate the qualitative new development of the national cinematography.

Films made in recent years at Azerbaijanfilm studio took part in more than 50 international film festivals, brought the realities of Azerbaijan to the world and won prestigious awards. “Buta”, “Stepnyak”, “Nabat”, “Grad”, “Last stop”, “Red garden”, “Valuable names”, “Interrupted memories”, “Gala”, “40th door”, “No revenge, no death. Letters from the Past”, “Plot”, “The Actress”, “The Dance of Good and Evil” and others are fine examples of Azerbaijani cinema created in the years of independence have also been demonstrated at international festivals and gained success.

Azerbaijani cinema emerged from the great trials of the time with honour, taking the path of service to the people and becoming a beloved art direction. The national leader Heydar Aliyev highly valued Azerbaijani cinema art noting that our cinema history and achievements would always be our national, cultural wealth which we should cherish for future of our country.

Recommended literature:

1. Kazımzadə, Aydın Ələsgər oğlu. Azərbaycan kinosu : 1898-2002 / A. Ə. Kazımzadə ; elmi red.: İ. Ə. Rəhimli, A. Salayev ; red.: Ə. Müğanlı, V. Saleh ; Azərbaycan Respublikası Mədəniyyət Nazirliyi. I cild : Bədii və cizgi filmlərinin izahlı kataloqu. - Bakı : Nağıl evi, 2003. - 239 s.
2. Kazımzadə, Aydın Ələsgər oğlu. Heydər Əliyev və kinematoqraf / A. Ə. Kazımzadə ; elmi red. A. Ə. Dadaşov ; red. M. Bəyişli. - Bakı : Mütərcim, 2007. - 204 s.
3. İsmayılov, Tofiq Hüseyn oğlu. Türk xalqlarının kino sənəti : monoqrafiya / T. H. İsmayılov ; elmi red. T. İ. Əfəndiyev ; red. D. O. Osmanlı ; ön sözün müəl. N. Q. Cəfərov ; Azərbaycanda Atatürk Mərkəzi, Azərbaycan Dövlət Mədəniyyət və İncəsənət Universiteti. - Bakı : Çaşıoğlu, 2008. - 160 s.
4. Kazımzadə, Aydın Ələsgər oğlu. Kino və zaman : 1923-2016 / A. Ə. Kazımzadə ; red. G. İsmayıloğlu ; Azərbaycan Respublikası Mədəniyyət və Turizm Nazirliyi. - Bakı: Şərq-Qərb, 2016. - 784 s.