Baku is welcoming filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts for the 17th edition of the Baku International Film Festival (BIFF), bringing together Azerbaijani and international productions. The festival began on Wednesday and will run for six days.
Established in 2004 by the Young Filmmakers Centre, the festival has grown from a student-focused event into an international platform for emerging filmmakers, with a particular emphasis on short films and debut features.
Each year, more than 1,500 films are submitted from around the world. Selected films explore cultural, political and social developments in Azerbaijan and internationally.
The programme traditionally includes international short films, feature-length debut films, an Asian Talents competition and a national competition showcasing Azerbaijani cinema. Selected filmmakers compete for the festival’s main prize, the Golden Pomegranate.
BIFF focuses on three key objectives: increasing interest in short films and debut features, which are considered an important foundation of Azerbaijan’s film industry, encouraging local filmmakers and supporting their creative work. The festival also provides opportunities for filmmakers to connect with industry professionals and introduce their work to new audiences.
“We are proud to present at the festival a colourful selection of films that bring together the cultural, political and social events unfolding in the world and in our country, along with the many characters who live through them,” said BIFF Director Fehruz Shamiyev.
Last year's festival concluded on 9 December 2025 with an awards ceremony at the Nizami Cinema Centre, attended by representatives of Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Culture, international jury members, filmmakers, actors and members of the country’s cultural community.
One of the highlights was the presentation of a special Golden Pomegranate award to renowned Iranian actress and director Niki Karimi in recognition of her contribution to world cinema.
Last year’s festival also featured a special “BAFTA Films” programme, organised in collaboration with the British Council. The screenings showcased a selection of BAFTA-nominated and award-winning British short films, including fiction, documentaries and animation. The programme aimed to introduce Azerbaijani audiences to contemporary British cinema while strengthening cultural and creative ties between the two countries.
Among the winners, “Two Excuses”, directed by Lebanon’s Samah El Kadi, received the Best Fiction Film award in the international short film competition. And Azerbaijani director Nurlan Hasanli won Best Fiction Film in the national competition for “Early Feelings”.
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