AZERBAIJAN DIRECTOR FARIZ AHMEDOV REPRESENTED ON THE JURY BOARD OF TRABZON FILM FESTIVAL

The Trabzon Film Festival, which was held for the first time in the Turkish city of Trabzon, has ended. The festival, which took place from December 24 to 28, 2025, was also significant for Azerbaijani cinema. Thus, Azerbaijani director Fariz Ahmadov successfully represented our country at the international level as a member of the festival jury.

Two main competitions, “Documentary” and “Short Feature Film”, were held within the framework of the festival, which was jointly organized by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Trabzon Governorship and the Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality. The winners of both competitions were awarded the festival’s main prize, the “Golden Taka”.

A total of 53 films were screened during the festival. The program included children’s films, competition films, special selections, documentaries, as well as gala screenings. Film screenings, master classes, workshops and open discussions were organized throughout the event. According to official information, approximately 40 thousand people participated in the festival events, and about 17 thousand spectators attended the film screenings.

The jury of the festival included Vuslat Saraçoğlu, Naim Kanat, Didem Balçın, Bahriye Kabadayı, Sevinç Yeşiltaş, Alper Kaya, Vedat Atasoy and Fariz Ahmadov. The Azerbaijani director, together with other well-known film professionals, participated in determining the winners by evaluating the competition films.
A number of well-known figures were awarded for their contributions to the art of cinema at the festival's gala night. Actress Meral Çetinkaya was presented with the "Labor Award", Hüseyin Avni Danyal and Hülya Koçyiğit with the "Honor Award", and Ahmet Mümtaz Taylan with the "Lifetime Achievement Award".

The festival management announced that the event will be held on a larger scale next year.

Fariz Ahmadov's representation on the jury of the Trabzon Film Festival is considered a clear indicator of the growing prestige of Azerbaijani cinema on international platforms and makes a significant contribution to the active participation of local directors in the world cinema environment.