“EARLY FEELINGS” WINS “BEST DIRECTOR” AWARD AT AN INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION IN AUSTRIA

The film *Early Feelings* is a coming-of-age story. The events take place during the 2002 FIFA World Cup. The protagonist, 11-year-old Ziya, encounters death for the first time; the passing of a neighbor prompts him to reflect on the finite nature of human life. While trying to process these emotions, he falls in love with a girl who has arrived from the city—only to discover that two other boys in the neighborhood are also interested in her. Thus, the protagonist finds himself grappling with the concepts of both death and love. Football also plays a significant role in the film—a detail that is, in a sense, autobiographical. During the 2002 World Cup, the vast majority of the older generation in Azerbaijan supported the Turkish national team, whereas children tended to favor the teams that displayed the strongest play. In the film, the father supports Turkey, while his son supports Brazil—a difference that creates additional conflict between them. Nurlan Hasanli, the film’s screenwriter and director, noted that the world premiere of *Early Feelings* took place at the Krakow Film Festival. “The film subsequently received the ‘Best Film’ award in the local category at the Baku International Film Festival, and the ‘Best Director’ award at the ‘Umid’ (Hope) Forum for Newcomers in Kyrgyzstan. It was also screened in the ‘Short Film Corner’ section of the Cannes Film Festival and included in the market at the Clermont-Ferrand Film Festival. Most recently, it won the ‘Best Film’ award at the Baikonur Film Festival in Kazakhstan. The film was also featured in the main competition of the Linz Film Festival in Austria, where it received the ‘Best Director’ award. The screening and distribution of short films present certain challenges, not only in Azerbaijan but globally as well. Nevertheless, in recent years, online platforms dedicated exclusively to the screening of short films have emerged. International festivals play a crucial role in bringing such films to audiences,” he added. Nurlan Hasanli stated that the screening of the film "Early Feelings" (*Erkən hisslər*) at festivals and its subsequent awards represent a significant achievement for the creative team: "The creators and producers of a film strive to bring their work to an audience. Participation in prestigious festivals is also important in terms of receiving invitations to other festivals and expanding the film's commercial potential. Success at festivals signifies that the creator's work has been recognized and valued. At the same time, this success serves as a kind of 'calling card' for the producer and the production company, facilitating the promotion and sale of future projects. Furthermore, the screening of the film at international festivals is significant in terms of representing Azerbaijan within the film industry. 'Early Feelings' was produced with the support of the Cinema Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan."