An Azerbaijani Film Evening was held within the framework of the 18th edition of the Sofia MENAR International Film Festival at the Cinema House. The event combined the power of cinema as a cultural bridge with the deep historical message related to the memory of the tragic events of January 20, 1990 in Azerbaijan. Two films were screened, one a short film in connection with the anniversary of the tragic events dated January 20, and the other, entitled “The Lesson“.
Among the official guests were the acting head of the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Bulgaria Chingiz Garibli, the counselor Nemat Aliyev, representatives of diplomatic missions, as well as members of the Azerbaijani community in Bulgaria. Also present was Maria Guseynova-Atanasova, editor-in-chief of the magazine “Akord“ and Chairman of the Association “Support for the Development of Azerbaijani-Bulgarian Friendship“.
The organizers of the festival, the Pozor Association, welcomed the guests, emphasizing the long-standing presence of Azerbaijan in the MENAR program and the sustained interest in films from the country. They expressed special gratitude to the Embassy for the active partnership and noted the significant presence of a young audience, for whom the film carries a strong educational and humanistic message.
In his address, Chingiz Garibli welcomed the audience and expressed gratitude to the festival leadership for the opportunity to present Azerbaijani cinema in such an authoritative international forum. He emphasized the significance of the date of January 20 as a turning point in the struggle for independence of Azerbaijan. On that tragic night in 1990, the use of military force was intended to break the will of the Azerbaijani people and silence their aspirations for freedom and self-determination. Instead, it had the exact opposite effect. The events of January 20 strengthened national unity, awakened a deep historical consciousness, and became a turning point on the path to Azerbaijan's independence. The sacrifice of the innocent victims turned pain into determination and affirmed the unwavering will of the people to restore their sovereignty and build an independent state. Mr. Garibli also highlighted the universal themes in the film “The Lesson” - kindness, compassion and the desire for acceptance - which transcend national borders and speak the language of universal human values.
The central place in the program was taken by the screening of a short video dedicated to the 36th anniversary of the tragic events known as “Bloody January“ - January 20, 1990. The video recalled the significance of this date as a turning point in the struggle of the Azerbaijani people for freedom and independence, when the actions of the Soviet army led to the death of peaceful citizens in Baku. The message emphasized the role of memory as the basis for national self-awareness and historical justice.
The feature film “The Lesson“ (2015), dedicated to the Azerbaijani director Rafik Aliyev, co-authored with Javid Tavakul, was also shown. The film was specially selected for the festival program with the active participation of the Embassy, as part of the consistent efforts to present contemporary Azerbaijani cinema to the Bulgarian audience.
The film tells the story of Khalid - a boy who, despite his sincerity and desire to help, is often misunderstood and rejected by his classmates. Through his image, the film raises important questions about empathy, tolerance and moral choice in the school environment. The roles are played by Nazim Ibrahimov, Tamerlan Agayev, Alya Aliyeva and Aina Zarbalieva.
The 18th edition of the Sofia MENAR Film Festival presents over 50 feature, documentary and short films from the Middle East, Central Asia and North Africa. The forum, founded in 2009, has established itself as a platform for cultural dialogue, which, through cinema, reveals the richness of traditions and contemporary themes in the Islamic world.
The Azerbaijan Film Night has become not only a cultural event, but also a symbolic gesture of respect for history and faith in the power of art to connect peoples, preserve memory, and promote understanding between cultures.