With the support of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey and the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan, and in cooperation with the Baku Yunus Emre Institute (YEI) and the Local Thought Association, the "6^th Turkish Films Week" was held in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, between December 17-21, 2022.

Turkish Films Week kicked off with the screening of director Semih Kaplanoğlu's “Bağlılık Hasan” (Commitment Hasan). 

The opening program held at Nizami Kino Center was attended by Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey Ahmet Misbah Demircan, Deputy Minister of Culture of Azerbaijan Vagif Aliyev, AK Party Ordu MP Metin Gündoğdu, Turkish Ambassador to Baku Cahit Bağcı, YEI Baku Coordinator Selçuk Karakılıç, Turkish Films Week Coordinator and Director Öner Kılıç and various guests from the cinema and art community.

Many actors, directors, screenwriters and producers from Turkey, including Umut Karadağ, İpek Tuzcuoğlu, Murat Şeker, Tunç Davut, Mustafa Kara, Galip Güner, Fatih Osmanlı and Hacı Mehmet Altınel were also present at the event. Before the screening, plaques were presented to those who contributed to the organization of the event and to the filmmakers attending from Turkey.

“CINEMA HAS MANY DUTIES OF ITS OWN”

In his statement to the press, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Demircan noted that Turkey and Azerbaijan have very strong historical and cultural ties.

He stated: "We are aware of the responsibility that fell on us after the 2^nd Karabakh War. Cinema has its own duties in carrying this process to a stronger future and keeping this feeling alive. As ministries, we are working together to further develop this process with joint productions and projects."

In addition to film screenings, Turkish Films Week will bring together directors, actors and producers from Turkey with Azerbaijani film artists for bilateral meetings on co-productions and interviews.

"WE ARE ALREADY AT HOME" 

İpek Tuzcuoğlu and Umut Karadağ came together with Baku State University students for an interview. Tuzcuoğlu talked about the development of the film industry in Turkey and mentioned that cinema in Azerbaijan is developing rapidly.

She answered the students’ questions on the life of an actress, the “behind the scenes” of a film set, and series and films in which she performed. She said: “You do not have to welcome us. We are already at home, we welcome you." Actor Umut Karadağ also talked about his experiences and said that acting requires turning experience into practice.

FREE MOVIE SCREENING

In addition to film screenings, Turkish Films Week brought together directors, actors and producers from Turkey with Azerbaijani film artists for bilateral meetings on co-productions and interviews.

Throughout the week until December 21, in addition to “Bağlılık Hasan” (Commitment Hasan), people of Baku had the opportunity to see "İyi ki Varsın Eren" (Glad You Are Here, Eren), "Ankara Yazı - Veda Mektubu" (Ankara Summer- Farewell Letter), “Aşkın Ömrü” (The Life of Love), "Rafadan Tayfa Göbeklitepe", "Adanış - Kutsal Kavga” (Dedication - The Sacred Fight) and "7. Koğuştaki Mucize” (Miracle in Cell No. 7).

During the Baku Turkish Film Week, in addition to movie screenings, directors, actors and producers from Turkey came together with students of Baku State University and Fine Arts University. Semih Kaplanoğlu held a masterclass with important faces of the cinema world at Azerbaijan Yarat Center.

TURKEY'S CINEMA EXPERIENCE IS PASSED ON TO AZERBAIJAN

Turkish Films Week aims to bring Turkish films together with Azerbaijani cinephiles, while bringing together the representatives of the cinema sector of the two countries to cooperate for joint projects, passing Turkey's cinema experience on to Azerbaijan, connecting directors, actors and screenwriters with each other and contributing to the cultural industry.