Azernews.Az

By Sabina Idayatova

The 90th anniversary of the Azerbaijanfilm studio named after Jafar Jabbarli, which has made an exceptional contribution to the development of national cinema, will be marked, according to an order signed by President Ilham Aliyev.

According to the decree, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism was assigned to prepare and implement relevant events while taking account suggestions of the Union of Cinematographers of Azerbaijan. The Cabinet of Ministers was entrusted to address the issues pertaining to the order.

Furthermore, President Aliyev signed an order on August 6 on the occasion of the anniversaries of several art figures, including the 80th anniversary of well-known Azerbaijani director, camera operator, and scriptwriter Rasim Ojagov.

The film industry in Azerbaijan dates back to 1898. After the nascence of cinematography, the performance of "moving cartoons" by brothers Lumier in Paris, in 1898, a photographer from Baku, Alexandre Mishon, shot film stories on oilfields and organized the first public film performance. The first films include Fire on Bibi-Heybat, Oil Fountain in the Balakhani-Sabunchu field, Caucasian Dance, etc.

In 1916 the Pirone brothers, who were entrepreneurs, established the "Film" joint-stock company in Baku, where they began to produce feature films. One of the first films shot by this studio is "In the realm of oil and millions" by Azerbaijani writer Ibrahimbey Musabeyli.

After the invasion of Azerbaijan by the Red Army and the establishment of the Soviet regime in 1920, all film and photo enterprises in the republic were nationalized. And in 1923 Azerbaijani Photo-Film Administration, APFA, was established. State Film factory started to shoot the film Maiden Tower the same year.

The most interesting feature films shot in State Film-factory from 1920 through the 1930s include In the name of God (Bismillah,1925) and Haji Gara (1928), Sevil (1929), Letif (1930) and Ismet (1934), On the Blue Seashore, Kendliler (The villagers,1939).

In 1945, directors Rza Tahmasib and Lev Leshenko made a screen version of the musical comedy Arshin mal alan (The cloth peddler) by Uzeyir Hajibeyov. Though the film was subjected to harsh criticism, the cheerfulness, humor and national coloring made it very popular not only in Azerbaijan, but also far beyond its borders. The film was honored with the USSR state award, one of the highest awards of that time.

In the late 1940s film production decreased. Only documentaries were produced, and the only feature film shot in this period was "Fatali-khan".

The 50s-60s revealed such directors as Tofig Tagizade, Hasan Seyidbeyli, Ejder Ibrahimov, Habib Ismailov, Huseyn Seyidzade, Letif Safarov, Alisettar Atakishiyev, Shamil Mahmudbeyov and others. The increase in the number of produced films led to the expansion of the theme: "Bakhtiyar" (1956); "If not this, then that", "Two from the same district" (1957); "On distant shores" (1958); "Stepmother" (1958); "The telephone operator" (1962); "Why do you remain silent?" (1967); "The secret of a fortress" (1959), etc.

The second half of the 60s and the beginning of the 70s saw the rise to fame of a plethora of Azerbaijani film directors such as Eldar Guliyev, Rasim Ojagov, Arif Babayev, Ogtay Mirgasimov, Yalchin Efendiyev, Tofig Ismailov, Gulya Azimzade, Teymur Bekirzade, Yuliy Gousman, Zaur Meherremov, scriptwriters Anar, Alla Akhundova, Rustem and Magsud Ibrahimbeyovs, Isa Huseynov, Yusif Samadoglu, Ramiz Fataliyev and others.

A film by director Eldar Guliyev, "In a southern town" (1969), was distinguished for the freshness of ideas and national peculiarity, marking a new stage in Azerbaijani cinematography.

That year, films whereby directors tried to reveal the social layer of the community and its contradictions started to be produced.

Moral problems were in the focus of The Last Night of Childhood (1970) and A Day Has Passed" (1971), The Price of Happiness (1976), Birthday Party (1977), Shared Bread (1970), etc.

A record number of films were produced and covered all genres of cinematography in the 80s.They were also distinguished for the diversity of themes.

The more interesting ones are the ones for children: Asif, Vasif, Agasif (1981), The Music Teacher (1983); comedies including The Road Story (1981), "I want to get married" (1983), etc.

The "perestroika" (reconstruction) era in the 80s finished with the independence of the former Soviet republics. Like in other areas, in cinematography elements of the private sector began to appear. Films were starting to be shot at the expense of entrepreneurs, and movie directors opened their independent film studios.

The independence gained on October 18, 1991 heralded a new era of Azerbaijani culture. The change is observed in the ideas and themes reflected in films. The first Baku International Film Festival East-West was held in Baku. As a sign of care to the national film industry August 2 is celebrated as the holiday of filmmakers.

The attaining of independence and transition to the market economy not only led to the establishment and appearance of independent privately owned studios, but also required the creation of new relations between authors and producers. Therefore, on May 17, 1999, 32 film directors, who gathered at the State Film Fund, founded the Guild of Professional Film Directors of Azerbaijan. The main objective of the organization is the protection of authors and their rights.

In the period from 1990 to 1995, there was no investment of state funds to the cinematography and all films were produced at the expense of businessmen. During this period, more than 40 feature films and 125 documentaries were produced. 1990 and 1991 are the years of a record number of produced films -- about 10 feature films and more than 40 documentaries.

The 90s revealed such directors as Ayaz Salayev, Vagif Mustafayev, Huseyn Mehdiyev, Yaver Rzayev, Jamil Guliyev, Shahmar Alekberov, Ramiz Azizbeyli, such scriptwriters as Ramiz Rovshan, Orkhan Fikretoglu, Natig Rasulzade and Aydin Dadashov.

The significant films of that period are Murder on the Night Train (1990), Execution Day (1990), The Witness (1990), The Ring of Happiness (1991), Gazalkhan" (1991), Yarasa (the 1995 film was awarded Grand Prix of the Angers Festival in France and took part in more than 20 International film festivals.

Though the political changes, the Karabakh war with Armenia and the socio-economic crisis in the early 90s affected the national film industry and impeded its further development, in recent years the national cinema took up a new pace and entered a new stage of development.

In the 90s the patriotic themes led the way in the film industry. "Hope", "Boy on a white horse", "Cry", "We will come back" and other films protray the hardships of the war, patriotism, heroism and quest for victory.

Hardships reflected in the film industry were accompanied by international success at film festivals. In 1996, "The other time" film by Huseyn Mehdizade was nominated at the international Madrid festival for Best Director and the Best Young Actress and awarded Gold Sibilla and Silver Sibilla. "Ovsuncu" by Ogtay Mirgasimov, Sari Gelin (Yellow Bride) by Yavar Rzayev, and Girov (Hostage) by Eldar Guliyev were awarded in international festivals.