By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Azemedia new logo
  • Home
  • COP29
  • Opinion
  • News
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Climate and Ecology
  • Culture
  • Diaspora
  • Interview
  • Science
  • Logistics-Transport
  • Gender
  • History
  • Defense
  • Karabakh
Aze.MediaAze.Media
Font ResizerAa
Search
  • News
  • Economy
  • Climate and Ecology
  • Energy
  • Opinion
  • Culture
  • Gender
  • Interview
  • Science
  • Logistics-Transport
  • History
  • Defense
  • Karabakh
  • Diaspora
  • Who we are
Follow US
© 2021 Aze.Media – Daily Digest
Aze.Media > Culture > “The establishment of the Cinema Agency truly marks the beginning of a new era for Azerbaijani cinema”
CultureInterview

“The establishment of the Cinema Agency truly marks the beginning of a new era for Azerbaijani cinema”

AzeMedia
By AzeMedia Published May 10, 2022 6 Min Read
Ci
Rufat Hasanov • Head of the Audiovisual and Interactive Media Department, Ministry for Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Interview with Rufat Hasanov, Head of the Audiovisual and Interactive Media Department, Ministry for Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

At the end of April, the Cinema Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan was established. This new organisation aims to improve Azerbaijan’s position and make it more accessible to the international film industry. We had a chance to chat with Rufat Hasanov, an acclaimed, award-winning filmmaker, and head of the Audiovisual and Interactive Media Department at the Ministry for Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, who offered us some insights into the new endeavour.

Cineuropa: What are the main objectives of the newly established Cinema Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and what differences will there be compared to how things were previously in the country?

Rufat Hasanov: In recent years, the Azerbaijani cinema landscape has witnessed the rapid emergence of young talent, delivering films that have been selected or awarded at major film festivals, such as Cannes, Venice, Rotterdam, Locarno, Busan and Sarajevo. Nevertheless, the state film-funding policy didn’t quite allow us to tap into this potential, with the Ministry for Culture having been the only source of financing for cinema in Azerbaijan. There was an apparent need for the implementation of new operational models and solutions, which would encourage the expression of national culture through the audiovisual medium as well as stimulate participation in international, collaborative projects. Thus, the presidential decree establishing ARKA (the Cinema Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan) on 20 April 2022 truly marks the beginning of a new era for Azerbaijani cinema.

How similar is the new institution to the format of a film centre?

Like any given film centre, ARKA will implement the state policy on cinema, including financial support for film production, as well as the distribution and promotion of Azerbaijani films both domestically and worldwide.

How will the Cinema Agency support local productions, and what are the first steps it is taking in this direction?

ARKA will provide a range of strategic funding mechanisms to support industry professionals via development, production, post-production and distribution funding programmes, as well as skill-development initiatives and international co-production opportunities in the audiovisual sector including, but not limited to, live action (including debut films), animation, documentary and TV series. Subsidies will be granted for projects selected on a competitive basis (via open calls and pitching sessions) by a Creative Expert Committee, with a focus on creativity, ambition, inclusion, transparency and sustainability.

Given that the international audience always takes an interest in new collaborations, does Azerbaijan already offer any initiatives related to international productions?

One of the most successful initiatives within the general framework of the new reforms launched by the Ministry for Culture was the launch of “Filming Azerbaijan” – the Azerbaijani Film Commission – in January 2021. Within a short period of time, we managed to make a good effort to position ourselves as a unique production location attracting a wide range of projects from Netflix and Disney+ to regional and international productions.

Why is Azerbaijan an attractive filming destination, and what is your plan regarding positioning the country within the broader film industry?

With its logistical convenience (ie, six international airports), climate conditions (incorporating nine out of 11 climate zones), combination of exquisite ancient and hyper-modern architecture, dramatic mountain scenery and the Caspian Sea coastline, Azerbaijan offers a wide range of cinematic backdrops and all within a relatively small distance from each other. We are consulting with several governmental institutions to introduce a rebate system in the foreseeable future. We also hope that the establishment of ARKA will speed up the process of our long-awaited Eurimages membership, which will undoubtedly create new opportunities for international co-productions and integration into a broader audiovisual context.

Bildschirmfoto 2022-05-10 um 00.02.29

You Might Also Like

“And that constant yapping from the ambassador…” — Musabayov responds to Iran’s loud claims

Farhad Mammadov: New Delhi begins searching for “culprits” among Islamabad’s allies

Azerbaijan does not seek permission to deepen ties with the EU – Elchin Amirbayov

A Stained Glass Beyond Time: An enchanting evening in Baku’s artistic spiral

Azerbaijan and Israel: Strategic partnership in an era of tectonic change

AzeMedia May 10, 2022 May 10, 2022

New articles

If Karabakh is a “disputed territory” for Moscow, then Kaliningrad is Königsberg, Chechnya is Ichkeria, and the Kurils are not part of Russia
Opinion June 12, 2025
1536x864 cmsv2 e847fdab bd87 5834 9faf 8e2a78273603 9290681
Armenia and Azerbaijan dialogue in the context of the European Political Community
Opinion June 12, 2025
960x0
Peace with land mines?
News June 12, 2025
Turkish and uzbek soldiers
Joint military exercises to strengthen ties between Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan
Defense June 12, 2025
416955141 0 0 2000 1130 2072x0 60 0 0 b43c7384a10e7ffb76ad7ba8db50304c
“And that constant yapping from the ambassador…” — Musabayov responds to Iran’s loud claims
Interview June 11, 2025
7
Azerbaijan and Germany deepen energy partnership: Gas exports to Germany to double
Energy News June 10, 2025
Maxresdefault
Azerbaijani Ambassador rejects ‘kangaroo court’ allegations in Vardanyan trial
News June 10, 2025
262802
The Organization of Turkic States is emerging as a key geopolitical actor in Eurasia
Opinion June 10, 2025
Farhad 1
Farhad Mammadov: New Delhi begins searching for “culprits” among Islamabad’s allies
Interview June 10, 2025
347495270800715
Medinsky, Karabakh, and the “extra chromosome”: When presidential advisors lose track of the map
Opinion June 10, 2025

You Might Also Like

416955141 0 0 2000 1130 2072x0 60 0 0 b43c7384a10e7ffb76ad7ba8db50304c

“And that constant yapping from the ambassador…” — Musabayov responds to Iran’s loud claims

June 11, 2025 4 Min Read
Farhad 1

Farhad Mammadov: New Delhi begins searching for “culprits” among Islamabad’s allies

June 10, 2025 6 Min Read
Azerbaiyan si la ue quiere acercarse a china tiene que aumentar su presencia en caucaso

Azerbaijan does not seek permission to deepen ties with the EU – Elchin Amirbayov

June 3, 2025 4 Min Read
Vitraj 1

A Stained Glass Beyond Time: An enchanting evening in Baku’s artistic spiral

May 30, 2025 3 Min Read
Dik 1536x1024 1 750x375

Azerbaijan and Israel: Strategic partnership in an era of tectonic change

May 24, 2025 5 Min Read

Dr. Orkhan Zamanli: “A doctor is not a manager — but the system turns us into one”

May 16, 2025 19 Min Read
Img2024

Azerbaijan’s capital welcomes the 3rd Contemporary Music Festival in May

May 15, 2025 3 Min Read
416955141 0 0 2000 1130 2072x0 60 0 0 b43c7384a10e7ffb76ad7ba8db50304c

Musabayov: “Russia’s double standards are harming bilateral ties

May 5, 2025 10 Min Read

Useful links

426082d1 a9e4 4ac5 95d4 4e84024eb314 pojkz91103g6zqfh8kiacu662b2tn9znit7ssu9ekg
Ab65ed96 2f4a 4220 91ac f70a6daaf659 pojkz67iflcc0wjkp1aencvsa5gq06ogif9cd0dl34
96e40a2b 5fed 4332 83c6 60e4a89fd4d0 pojkz836t9ewo4gue23nscepgx7gfkvx6okbbkasqo
759bde00 a375 4fa1 bedc f8e9580ceeca pq8mvb9kwubqf6bcadpkq5mz16nayr162k3j2084cg
aze-media-logo-ag1

We are a unique political and socio-cultural digest offering exclusive materials, translations from Azerbaijani media, and reprints of articles from around the world about Azerbaijan.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Cookies Policy

Email: editor@aze.media

© 2021 Aze.Media – Daily Digest
aze-media-logo1 aze-media-logo-ag1
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?