Eldar Tofig oglu Kuliyev was born on January 18, 1941 in Baku, in the family of the famous composer, one of the founders of Azerbaijani pop music Tofig Kuliyev. After graduating from high school in 1958, he got a job as an assistant director at the Azerbaijanfilm studio and worked there for one year.  In 1960 Eldar Kuliyev entered VGIK (All-Union State Institute of Cinematography) in Moscow. After graduating in 1966, he was trained as a film director.

In 1967, Eldar Kuliyev got a job at the Azerbaijanfilm studio and worked there until the end of his life. Since 1987, he has been the artistic director of the experimental youth creative studio “Debut” at the Azerbaijanfilm studio, and in 1999 he was elected president of the Guild of Professional Film Directors of Azerbaijan.

Eldar Kuliyev, taking advantage of world achievements and adopting the advanced experience of world cinematography, has written new pages in the annals of Azerbaijan's cinematography. The rich creativity of the artist, distinguished by the depth of ideas, paying special attention to the analysis of human spirituality on the background of social and political events, bringing up kindness, responsibility and humanism, occupies a worthy place in the golden fund of our culture. The achievements of Azerbaijani cinematography are such brilliant screen works of Eldar Kuliyev as “In This Southern City”, “The Bay of Joy”, “Babek” and “Nizami”, as well as many other feature and documentary films.

The diversity of content and relevance of the theme, active civic position and sense of modernity, subtle psychologism of images and vitality of events are unique aspects of Eldar Kuliyev's work. Characterized by the diversity of his creative palette, the artist managed to turn the viewer into a contemporary of different epochs. His historical films, expressing respect for the past of our people, play an important role in promoting our national and moral values and educating the younger generation in the spirit of loyalty to the Motherland.

Eldar Kuliyev's great directorial skill brought him wide fame outside our country. The films he directed and the scripts he wrote successfully represented Azerbaijani culture at the international film festivals and were welcomed by art historians and audiences. Being a professor at Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts, Eldar Kuliyev taught effectively for many years, spared no effort, knowledge and skills, and brought up several generations of Azerbaijani directors.

Eldar Kuliyev's merits in the development of Azerbaijani culture were highly appreciated by the state. He was awarded the honorary titles of “Honored Art Worker” and “People's Artist”, awarded the Republican State Prize and “Honorary Diploma of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan”, as well as the highest awards of independent Azerbaijan - the orders of “Shohrat” (Glory), “Sharaf” (Honor), “Istiglal” (Independence).

Eldar Tofig oglu Kuliyev passed away on April 16, 2021 at the age of 81.

Recommended literature:

1. Əbdülrəhmanlı, Nəriman Hacı oğlu. Azərbaycan kino sənəti tarixi : (4 cilddə) : [monoqrafiya] /N. Əbdülrəhmanlı ; [layihə. rəhb. R. İbrahimbəyov] ; red. Z. İsmayılova ; nəşrinə məsul Əli İsa Cabbarov ; vizual material. üzrə məsləhətçi N. Abbas ; foto təminatı: P. Quliyev, N. Ələkbərov, R. Qasımov ; qapaq dizaynı R. Həsən ; [Azərbaycan Kinomatoqrafçılar İttifaqı]. C. 3. Bölmə 4 Azərbaycan kinosu: inkişaf ənənələri və janr müxtəlifliyi (1961-1991-ci illər). - Bakı: [Qanun], 2020. - 629 s.
2. Əbdülrəhmanlı, Nəriman Hacı oğlu. Azərbaycan kino sənəti tarixi : (4 cilddə) : [monoqrafiya] /N. Əbdülrəhmanlı ; [layihə. rəhb. R. İbrahimbəyov] ; red. Z. İsmayılova ; nəşrinə məsul Əli İsa Cabbarov ; vizual material. üzrə məsləhətçi N. Abbas ; foto təminatı: P. Quliyev, N. Ələkbərov, R. Qasımov ; qapaq dizaynı R. Həsən ; [Azərbaycan Kinomatoqrafçılar İttifaqı]. C. 4. Bölmə 5 Azərbaycan kinosu inkişaf müstəqillik dövründə (1991-2018-ci illər). - Bakı: Qanun, 2020. - 719 s.
3. Kazımzadə, Aydın Ələsgər oğlu. Azərbaycan kinosu: 1898-2002: [2 сilddə] /A. Kazımzadə; Azərb. Resp. Mədəniyyət Nazirliyi; elmi red. İ. Rəhimli, A. Salayev. I cild. - Bakı: Nağıl evi, 2003. - 239 s.
4. Kazımzadə, Aydın Ələsgər oğlu. Azərbaycan kinosu: 1898-2002: [2 сilddə] /A. Kazımzadə; Azərb. Resp. Mədəniyyət Nazirliyi; elmi red. İ. Rəhimli, A. Salayev. II cild. - Bakı: Nağıl evi, 2003. - 372 s.
5. Sadıxov, Nazim. Azərbaycan kino rejissorları : Portretlər /N. Sadıqov ; red. S. İsmayılova ; rəyçi. F. Səfiyev. - Bakı: İşıq, 1988. - 157 s.