{"id":9429,"date":"2026-02-24T11:33:05","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T07:33:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/anima.az\/?p=9429"},"modified":"2026-02-24T14:17:11","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T10:17:11","slug":"lachin-international-film-festival-established","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/anima.az\/en\/2026\/02\/lachin-international-film-festival-established\/","title":{"rendered":"“LACHIN” International Film Festival Established"},"content":{"rendered":"
Bax\u0131\u015f say\u0131:<\/span> 86<\/span><\/div>

The presentation of the\u00a0Lachin International Film Festival (LachinFilmFest)\u00a0has been held in the city of Lachin. Marking a significant milestone in Azerbaijan\u2019s cinematic history as the first international film festival held outside the capital, the event includes both local and international animation categories. Scheduled for\u00a0August 2026, the festival aims to uncover new creative voices in short filmmaking, showcase Lachin\u2019s cultural revival to the world, and transform the region into a new creative hub for the international cinema community. These remarks were shared by Amil Mamibayli, Director of\u00a0“HochazFilm Creative Studio.”<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Unlike mass urban festivals, LIFF turns its geographical remoteness and mountainous landscape into an exclusive advantage, fostering an intimate professional environment impossible to find in megacities. The uniqueness of Lachin lies in the harmony of its nature, the Hakari River, and its historical heritage (monuments, Gasimushagi carpets, etc.) integrated with modern infrastructure (Lachin Airport, Lachin Resort & SPA, Ho\u00e7azFilm Creative Studio, LaCinema, Abdallar Hotel, Tree House, and other recreational complexes).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

AWARDS \u2013 THE “GOLDEN OAK BRANCH”<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The festival’s official trophy is the\u00a0“Golden Oak Branch,”\u00a0inspired by the Red Oak, a symbol of Lachin\u2019s forests. This award embodies both resilience and revival. The Oak, which also appears on the State Emblem of Azerbaijan, symbolizes a will that preserves its vitality even in harsh mountain climates and grows stronger over time. The festival\u2019s visual identity and awards are inspired by this metaphor: demonstrating that human creativity does not wither in the face of criticism, war, or hardship, but is instead renewed.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Award Categories:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

International<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Best Narrative Short Film<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Best Documentary Short Film<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Best Animated Short Film<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Best Student Film<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Best Director<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

National<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Best National Narrative Short<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Best National Documentary Short<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Best National Animated Short<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Best National Student Film<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Best Director<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The\u00a0“Hakari” Award\u00a0is a special nomination for the most fluid storyline.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Total Prize Pool:\u00a05,000 USD<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

LIFF was established in 2023 by the\u00a0“HocazhFilm Creative Studio”\u00a0operating in Lachin.\u00a0Key supporters include:\u00a0The Special Representation of the President in the Lachin District, Baku Improvement Service, Ho\u00e7azFilm, Azerbaijan Union of Cinematographers, Lachin Resort & Spa, AzGeo (Geology of Azerbaijan), and Gilabi Ceramics.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

RULES AND REGULATIONS<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Lachin International Film Festival (LIFF) is organized with the support of partner state and private entities. All rights are reserved by the Organizing Committee.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Theme:\u00a0The festival accepts films on any subject.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Priority Regions:\u00a0Preference is given to cinema from Caspian and neighboring countries, CIS and Turkic States, Central Asia, T\u00fcrkiye, and Southern and Eastern Europe.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Premiere Status:\u00a0Preference is given to films not previously screened in Azerbaijan. Only films produced in\u00a02024, 2025, or 2026\u00a0are eligible. Older productions will not be considered.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Length Requirements:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Short Narrative:\u00a0Up to 30 minutes (including credits)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Documentary:\u00a0Up to 30 minutes<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Animation:\u00a0Up to 10 minutes (including credits)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Language:\u00a0Films not in Azerbaijani must be provided with\u00a0English or Azerbaijani subtitles. An SRT file and dialogue list are required.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Selection:\u00a0Selected films will be announced on the website and social media. Individual feedback will not be provided for non-selected films.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Hospitality:\u00a01-2 representatives from each film will receive an official invitation. The festival covers airfare, accommodation, and local transportation costs.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

IMPORTANT DATES<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

March 1:\u00a0Applications open via\u00a0FilmFreeway.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

July 10, 2026:\u00a0Final deadline for applications.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

August 2:\u00a0Announcement of selected films.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The festival is scheduled to be held from August 24\u201327.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a> \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[\u2026]<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9424,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9429","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/anima.az\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9429"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/anima.az\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/anima.az\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/anima.az\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/anima.az\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9429"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/anima.az\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9429\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9437,"href":"https:\/\/anima.az\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9429\/revisions\/9437"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/anima.az\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9424"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/anima.az\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9429"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/anima.az\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9429"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/anima.az\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9429"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}