With the support of the Ministry of Culture and the Cinema Agency (ARKA), the "Omarket" platform was opened on October 3. Held for the first time in our country as part of the Baku Cinema Breeze International Film Festival, it will play a crucial role in promoting Eastern films globally. During the ceremony at the Heydar Aliyev Center, guests were first introduced to an exhibition aimed at promoting the activities of representatives of the creative industries. The exhibition brought together creative clusters such as cinema, animation, music, cultural start-ups, game technologies, fashion, design, as well as creative spaces.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Culture Saadat Yusifova noted that Baku Cinema Breeze, held for the first time, unites all film festivals operating in our country and brings together the film ecosystem. The "Omarket" exhibition, organized within the framework of the project, highlights the considerable potential for the development of the film industry in our country and reflects the support of our state for this development. She mentioned that the "Baku Cinema Breeze" platform involves representatives from more than 15 countries, hosts more than 100 guests, and organizes events with around 300 films, giving our talented directors the opportunity to express themselves and reach a global audience.
Each film screened at the festivals has been made with a lot of effort, creativity, and love.
It was noted that several projects are being implemented by the Ministry of Culture to support young talents, increase their potential, and achieve international recognition for our national cinematography. These include the ARKA film project competition announced for 2023, the competition to support post-production film projects announced this year, and the CCI grant competition to promote cultural and creative industries for non-governmental organizations. The Ministry of Culture also regularly supports film festivals for animation, feature films, short films, and documentaries. It was highlighted that relevant state initiatives are currently being considered by the Working Group on CCIs.
These initiatives include the project for the development of film parks, the establishment of preferential conditions for representatives of the film industry, and the adoption of laws and official documents regulating the "rebate" mechanism. Close cooperation between the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Economy, the Intellectual Property Agency, and other relevant authorities is essential in this regard.
It was noted that as part of the "Creative Discussions" project, which has been attended by thousands of people over the past two years, trainings, master classes, and creative discussions have been organized in the capital and districts to raise awareness about the film cluster and other clusters. Today, Azerbaijani cinema not only serves its domestic audience but is also becoming a major player in the international film market. To further support the development, competitiveness, and profitability of the sector, additional tax incentives and investment attraction mechanisms are needed. In this regard, we would like to highlight the importance of the "Omarket" exhibition. This market is an important platform for introducing films from Eastern countries on the global stage. Azerbaijan aims to develop the film sector of our region and integrate it into the global film industry by presenting our national films at this market. At the same time, it will provide regional directors and producers with access to the global market and opportunities for international cooperation.
Orkhan Mammadov, Chairman of the Board of the Small and Medium Business Development Agency (KOBIA), highlighted the care and attention given to the film industry in Azerbaijan. He stressed that effective management of the sector depends on the optimal organization of financial, creative and human resources. In Azerbaijan, as in many European countries, state institutions play an important role in financing national films. They support the development of the local film industry and finance the production of feature films. It is also important to inform investors, train entrepreneurs, and implement other support measures.
The importance of the festival was also recognized by other speakers. The opening ceremony was followed by a panel discussion.
***The first panel session of "Omarket," entitled "Omarket: Industrial Locomotive," was dedicated to the topic "Broadcasting Platform, Co-Production." Moderated by Kamran Gasimov, a member of the American Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the panel included Maratbek Asanaliyev of the Kyrgyz Ministry of Culture's Film Industry Department, Leyla Atakishiyeva, head of the Turkish film company Kunay, Georgi Shkhvediani of the Georgian Film Centre, Azerbaijani producer Zaur Darabzade, and Russian digital media expert Nina Laricheva, who all shared their perspectives.
