AZERBAIJAN FILM CRITICISTS AND FILM EXPERTS GUILD ESTABLISHED AN ANNUAL AWARD

The Azerbaijan Guild of Film Critics and Film Experts, established in 2025, begins its activities by establishing a local film critics' award in order to support film production in the country, as well as stimulate the improvement of the artistic quality of audio-visual products. A team of 17 filmmakers, headed by the head of the guild, Professor Nadir Badalov, evaluated a total of about 50 full-length and short feature and documentary films that were released on the big screens in the country in one way or another - released in cinemas or shown at festivals - in professional categories. 23 films are nominated for awards in various nominations.
The shortlist of nominees for the nominations has been presented to the public:

“Best Directorial Work” nomination:
“The 21st Miracle” - (director Shahin Gahraman)
“Apathy” - (director Hikmet Rahimov)
“The Door” - (director Vusal Ahmadzadeh)
“Qarabagh FC: 30 Seasons Away” - (director Fuad Guliyev)
“Meeting with the Sky” - (director Rufat Shahbazov)
“Monologue of a Lonely Man” - (director Emin Efendiyev)

“Best Screenplay” nomination:
“The 21st Miracle” - (screenwriters Elchin Muradov)
“The Lost Diary” - (screenwriters Sadagat Karimova)
“The Door” - (screenwriters Vusal Ahmadzadeh, Emin Efendiyev, Alikhan Rajabov)
“Meeting with the Sky” - (screenwriters Orkhan Mardan, Vugar Huseynov, Talib Ahmadov)
“Series” - (screenwriter Alikhan Rajabov)
“Monologue of a Lonely Man” - (screenwriter Emin Efendiyev)

“Best Cinematography” nomination:
“21st Miracle” - (cameraman Shahmar Safaroglu)
“Apathy” - (cameraman Hasan Aslanov)
“Meeting with the Sky” - (cameraman Shahmar Safaroglu)
“Series” - (cameraman Iman Imanov)
“Taghiyev. Oil” - (cameraman Vladimir Artyemev)
“Monologue of a Lonely Man” - (cameraman Daniel Guliyev)

“Best Artistry” nomination:
“21st Miracle” - (artist Vugar Gurbanov)
“Apathy” - (artist Malaksima Mammadova)
“Meeting with the Sky” - (artist Sevda Gasimova)
“Series” - (artist Elvin Aliyev)
“Taghiyev. Oil” - (artist Sabuhi Atababayev)
“The Monologue of a Lonely Man” - (artist Arif Niftiyev)

“The Best Musical Solution” nomination:
“The 21st Miracle” - (composer Rustam Zeynalli)
“Apathy” - (composer Aflatun Abdullayev)
“The Lost Diary” - (composer Sadagat Karimova)
“Meeting with the Sky” - (composer Ruhin Mammadov)
“Taghiyev. Oil” - (composer Etibar Asadli)
“The Monologue of a Lonely Man” - (composer Azer Hajiasgarli)

“The Best Actor” nomination:
“Actor” – (Samimi Farhad)
“Apathy” – (Tural Bakhish)
“The Lost Diary” – (Mazahir Salimov, Edgar Amrahov, Amil Mehdiyev, Anar Ahmadov and other guys)
“The Door” - (Nurlan Rustamov)
“Meeting with the Sky” - (Taleh Yuzbeyov)
“Monologue of a Lonely Man” - (Elshan Askerov, Mahir Darvish)

“Best Actress” nomination:
“21st Miracle” - (Kemale Priyeva)
“Apathy” - (Shahla Aliqizi)
“Hozu Daye” - (Zemfira Abdulsamadova)
“Lost Diary” - (Zafina Mirzabayova, Eleonora Abdullayeva, Leyla Saidumova, Rahila Omarova and other girls)
“Meeting with the Sky” - (Kemale Piriyeva)
“Series” - (Nazi Heydarova)

“Best Film” nomination:
“Actor”
“Apathy”
“The Door”
“Qarabag FK: 30 Seasons Away”
“Meeting with the Sky”
“Monologue of a Lonely Man”

“Best Short Feature film” nomination:
“The Red Color of the Second Planet” (director Azer Guliyev)
“Well” (director Rufat Rey)
“Lent” (director Murvugar Abdulov)
“Silence Has No Wings” (director Zaur Mukhtarov)
“Pine Grove” (director Ilkin Umarov)
“Distant” (director Daniel Guliyev)

In the “Best Short Documentary” nomination:
“Grandfather’s House” (director Leylakhanim Ganbarli)
“Homeless Month” (director Atanur Nabiyeva)
“Novruzname” (director Erturan Najafi Gol)
“POV: Memory” (director Igor Smola)
“Prius” (director Emil Ali)
“God’s Salvation Hand” (director Babek Abbaszade)

The names of the winners will be announced in the near future.