The first Azerbaijani Student Film Festival was held in Baku this past weekend. This is one of my favorite PCV projects that has happened in Azerbaijan. I love it because it promotes everything worth promoting in this country-critical thinking, creativity, acting a little differently, etc etc.
The festival itself was incredibly fun. 13 submitted films for the contest and a host of movies made by the Zagatala Movie Club were screened. Americans and Azeris gasped, laughed, and even cried at what we saw. Below are my favorites.
3 GÜN - 1st Place Short Narrative
This film was great. Its fully in Azerbaijani but you can totally follow what's happening. Stolen goods, honor amongst thieves, double crossing, and the editing and soundtrack keep great pace. I was pleased to see this take first place its category.
We Want To Live Too - 2nd Place Documentaries
This video has a special space in my heart because it was produced by Naile, a girl in Khachmaz that Lannea and I worked with. I'm going to warn you now: its pretty graphic.
Crazy Summertime - 1st Place Music Video
This is Azeris making fun of Azeri village people and its hilarious. Ruslan, the main guy in this video, was the star of the festival. He's been a key member in the Zagatala Movie Club and is a massive ham. This movie had PCVs rolling on the floor.
Melek - 3rd Place Documentary
Whoa, this one's emotional. Its really really well done and it was hard for the Americans in the audience, who have gone so long without seeing their family, to keep from choking up. Its still difficult for me to watch.
THE-TELL-TALE HEART - 2nd Place Short Narrative
You can't really go wrong with Poe. This was a very skillfully showing of the Tell-Tale Heart and it has beautiful atmosphere to it.
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