BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 13.
The premiere of the feature film “44”, a work dedicated to the
heroism of the Azerbaijani people during the Second Karabakh War
and aimed at preserving historical memory and fostering patriotism
among the younger generation, was held at the Heydar Aliyev
Center.
The guests included Head of the Baku Media Center Arzu Aliyeva,
Alena Aliyeva, prominent state and public figures, and famous
representatives of culture, science, and young creative
intelligentsia.
It was an evening where pain and pride, tears and admiration,
deep emotion and immense gratitude toward the heroes intertwined.
The audience could not hold back their emotions; tears glistened in
many eyes, while a profound sense of pride swelled in hearts for
those who had secured Victory for the country at the cost of their
own lives. As the final scenes appeared on screen, the hall erupted
in prolonged applause. The audience rose from their seats, giving
the filmmakers a standing ovation.
Yet, the most poignant moment of the evening was the appearance
on stage of the mothers of the martyrs, women whose pain knows no
solace, and whose hearts forever cherish the memory of sons who
gave their lives for the Motherland. In that moment, words failed
to suffice. Behind each of them lay a personal tragedy and an
irreparable loss, yet also a boundless maternal pride. Their
appearance on stage was not merely a touching moment of the
premiere, but a moment of profound silence in the soul of everyone
present, a moment where art touched life itself, and the story on
screen took on faces, destinies, and real human pain…
Just feel the weight of these mothers' words...
"It’s difficult for me to speak after watching this film. On one
hand, it’s very hard; the emotions I have relived are overwhelming,
but on the other hand, this film evokes a tremendous sense of
pride. As the mother of a martyr, I want to express my sincere
gratitude to everyone who poured their energy and soul into its
creation.
May Allah be pleased with you for bringing this story to the
screen. May the Almighty grant health to everyone who contributed
even the smallest part to this work. This is truly a great story, a
part of our history.
For future generations, for our children and youth, this film
will serve as a powerful example. It will remain with us forever.
All the families of martyrs must know: even though our children
have perished, they live on. Heroes like these, our brothers,
preserve the memory of our sons and ensure they do not vanish from
our lives.
First of all, I wish to express my gratitude to our Supreme
Commander-in-Chief, our President Ilham Aliyev. I pray that our
President always stands with the Azerbaijani people and that dark
clouds never gather over our country. Thanks to our President’s
policies, and thanks to the blood and self-sacrifice of our
soldiers and officers, we live in a free country today.
I pray for all our martyrs and wish health to our veterans, our
veterans, as well as the soldiers and officers who stand guard over
our security and protect us. May Allah shield them from enemies.
They protect..." ...us, giving us the chance to live, and may the
Almighty always be their protector.
For us, the mothers of martyrs, watching this film was
incredibly difficult, we were in tears almost as soon as it began.
From the very first scenes, recalling the times when our sons were
still alive, when they loved, dreamed, and planned to start
families, our hearts ached with pain. As a mother, I felt every
moment deeply. It felt as though we were reliving everything our
children had gone through.
This film is our life. It is the life of our sons. It likely
reflects the destinies of all the heroes of the Karabakh War.
We were able to return to Karabakh thanks to all those who
fought for it in the past and those who continued that struggle,
despite the passage of so many years. Thank God, we believed in our
children. And today, we can say with pride: Karabakh is ours!
On behalf of the families of the martyrs, I wish to express
immense gratitude to the film's creators. Thank you for preserving
the memory of our sons and for portraying their lives and
destinies.
May their memory live on forever. For us, this film is like the
return of our sons; it feels as though they have come back to life
on the screen.
Thank you for everything. We, the families of the martyrs, will
always stand by you and support you.
I’m proud of the entire Azerbaijani people and our valiant sons;
I am proud of our President, Ilham Aliyev. We never retreated, nor
did we let fear stop us. You know that our city, Ganja, endured
several terrorist attacks. Yet, despite all this, our people did
not back down—they kept fighting and went off to war.
I want to express my deep gratitude to every actor, every person
involved in making this film, and everyone who poured their effort
into it. May your efforts be rewarded!
In every scene, I recognized something familiar, something from
my own life. It was all so authentic that it was impossible to
remain unmoved.
Once again, on behalf of all the mothers of martyrs, I express
my deep gratitude to the country's leadership and the entire
Azerbaijani people.
For us, this film is like a living embodiment of our fallen
sons. Thank you for preserving their memory and for allowing us to
see them on screen once again.”
A hero of the 44-day Patriotic (Second Karabakh) War, Zaur
Huseynov, also shared his impressions on behalf of his fellow
soldiers.
"Today, we watched more than just a film about the war. Today,
we once again connected with our national history and historical
memory. We revisited the pages of the Azerbaijani people's glorious
and heroic history, witnessing the courage of our sons and the
strength and determination of our state.
I traversed this path alongside my fellow soldiers. Our journey
took us through Jabrayil, Hadrut, Fuzuli, and the villages of the
Khojavand district, ultimately leading us to Shusha.
As we scaled the cliffs of Shusha, we were conquering more than
just heights; we were carrying the national pride of the
Azerbaijani people on our shoulders.
Our path was no ordinary asphalt road. It passed through the
blood of martyrs, the unyielding will of soldiers, and the prayers
of mothers; it led us across Jidir Duzu and Isa Bulaghi, and up the
cliffs and fortress walls of Shusha.
Under the leadership of the esteemed President of Azerbaijan and
Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijani warriors in the
Patriotic War put an end to our people's 30-year longing for their
native land.
The Azerbaijani soldier knew that the state stood behind him.
The Azerbaijani officer understood that the will of the entire
nation lay behind the tasks assigned to him. We knew that the
resolve of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of
Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, was unwavering.
The Azerbaijani people have returned to their lands, and this
has become a reality. Yes, we have won. And today, we bow our heads
in deep respect to the cherished memory of our comrades-in-arms who
are no longer in our ranks. They became true heroes of our Victory,
heroes whom we will never forget. May Allah rest the souls of our
martyrs!
Today, we witnessed the heroic history of the Azerbaijani people
and state brought to life on the big screen with such grandeur.
This is a significant event for our national pride and historical
memory.
On behalf of myself and my comrades-in-arms, I express immense
gratitude to the entire creative team that worked on the film. We
wrote history on the battlefield, and you did everything to
preserve it and pass it on to future generations. Long live the
sons of Azerbaijan! Long live Azerbaijan! Long live our historical
memory!" Huseynov said.
People's Artist of Azerbaijan Mehriban Zaki spoke on behalf of
the creative team.
"Dear friends, after watching the film, I tried many times to
find the right words. I wondered what I would say and how I could
express everything I was feeling. But the final scenes moved me so
deeply that it is difficult to speak about it.
Six years ago, both before and during the 44-day war, our entire
nation united around a single goal, around a single fist. That was
the fist of Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev. The entire
nation, our veterans, the soldiers who fought, our valiant army,
and the families of the martyrs rallied around him.
Every day, we awaited news with bated breath. We waited to hear
what the President would say and what news the new day would bring.
And while creating this film, we felt those same emotions, that
same unity, and that same excitement all over again.
Today we are here, you in the audience and we before you, yet
that unity remains alive. And I am certain: if the Supreme
Commander-in-Chief tells us to move forward tomorrow, we will all
rise and march as one.
Please forgive my emotions. Seeing the mothers of the martyrs on
stage was deeply moving for me. No mother wishes for the death of
her son, a piece of her own heart. Yet every mother standing here
knows that her son gave his life for the Motherland.
Dear mothers, I want to say to each of you: we are all children
of this Motherland, but in you, the mothers of the martyrs—the
Motherland itself is embodied. I bow low before you. May Allah
grant you patience and strength!" Zaki noted.
These were the words spoken at the conclusion of the film, a
work destined to take its place in the treasury of national cinema
and the glorious heroic chronicle of our people.
Before the screening, a video was shown presenting statistics on
the film's production. Guests then listened to the soundtrack of
the film "44," performed by the Symphony Orchestra of the
Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre and the State
Choral Chapel of Azerbaijan. The emotional atmosphere created by
the music was accompanied by documentary footage reflecting the
Azerbaijani people's journey to Victory. The footage featured
scenes from the struggle for Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and
the policies of National Leader Heydar Aliyev aimed at liberating
occupied lands, as well as video material showing the continuation
of this political course by the President of the Republic of
Azerbaijan and Commander-in-Chief, Ilham Aliyev.
Following this, the feature film "44" was screened.
The feature film "44" is a drama about heroism and love, told
from the perspective of a cadet. Through the portrayal of special
forces personnel, the film captures the spirit, determination, and
self-sacrifice of the generation that rose to defend the
Motherland.
The plot centers on Special Forces officer Rashad Khalilov,
Turkish orthopedic surgeon Zeynep Özdemir (working in Azerbaijan),
and Special Forces unit commander Colonel Ramazan Karimov.
Alongside the characters' personal trials and romantic storylines,
the film depicts intense military events.
"44" isn’t merely a war movie. This is the story of the
Azerbaijani people, a people whose hearts are filled with love for
their homeland, who never lost hope, and who fought selflessly to
the very end for the liberation of their lands.
The film "44" serves as an artistic chronicle of a historic
victory, a triumph achieved through the "iron fist" of the
victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief, the unity of the people, and
the heroism of Azerbaijan's brave sons.
Produced with the support of the Ministry of Culture of
Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijan Cinema Agency (ARKA), and the Baku Media
Center, "44" stands as one of Azerbaijan's major cinematic projects
of recent years in terms of production scale, the number of
specialists involved, filming locations, technical resources
utilized, and the level of international collaboration. The film’s
Artistic Director Anar Alakbarov, Directors Ismail Safarali and
Maxim Smetana, Screenwriters Anar Alakbarov and Ismayil Iman,
Producer Orman Aliyev, Cinematographer Alexander Pozdnyakov, Editor
Elshad Rahimov, Composer Ruslan Aghababayev, Sound Designer Teymur
Karimov.
The film was in production for five years, spanning from script
development to the completion of post-production. Specifically,
work on the screenplay and directorial script took two years,
pre-production took one year, the actual filming process lasted 14
months, and post-production took another year.
The core creative, acting, and administrative team consisted of
455 people. When including military personnel, extras, actors in
bit parts, and contracted specialists, the total number of project
participants reached several thousand.
The project engaged 198 specialists from various fields.
Participants included 2,500 military personnel, 42 special forces
operatives, 32 actors in lead roles, 1,143 actors in supporting
roles, and approximately 2,000 extras. Veterans of the Patriotic
War were also among the cast.
Alongside Azerbaijani actors, the film features the renowned
Turkish actress Özge Gürel. Before filming, the cast underwent
military-tactical training at a Special Forces training base. Units
from all branches of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces were involved in
the production.
Filming took place in Baku, Absheron, Aghdam, Jabrayil, Fuzuli,
Goranboy, Ganja, Khojaly, Khojavend, Khizi, Lerik, and Shusha. In
total, the production spanned more than 130 locations.
The production involved over 150 units of military hardware,
weaponry, engineering equipment, aircraft, and vehicles, as well as
communications gear, personal equipment, and specialized apparatus.
Assets used for filming included tanks, infantry fighting vehicles,
multiple launch rocket systems, artillery, attack helicopters,
unmanned aerial vehicles, engineering machinery, and armored
vehicles, alongside small arms, machine guns, sniper rifles,
grenade launchers, anti-tank missile systems, and mortars.
To realistically recreate large-scale combat scenes, the
production utilized 300,000 rounds of training and live ammunition
of various types, hundreds of units of training ordnance, and
significant quantities of pyrotechnics, smoke effects, explosives,
and specialized stunt equipment.
The editing process for the 112 hours of raw footage took a full
year, resulting in a final film with a runtime of 2 hours and 38
minutes.
International specialists were engaged at various stages of the
project. Stunt work, stunt choreography, pyrotechnic effects,
on-set sound recording, camera support, makeup services, music
recording, mixing, sound design, CGI creation, color grading, and
final image processing, as well as the provision of technical
equipment for premieres, involved specialists from 13 countries:
the U.S., Germany, Austria, Belarus, the UK, Georgia, Iran,
Kazakhstan, Poland, Russia, Türkiye, Ukraine, and Estonia.
CGI work for the film was carried out jointly with Ukrainian
specialists at the Estonian studio UMP, which specializes in 3D
graphics, computer animation, and visual effects. No artificial
intelligence products were used in the making of the film.
Post-production, including color grading, digital image
processing, and mastering, was handled by the Polish studio
FixaFilm, a Dolby Vision-certified facility specializing in final
image processing. The initial music recording took place at New
York Production Studios in the U.S.; subsequently, the score was
recorded in Baku by the Symphony Orchestra of the Azerbaijan State
Academic Opera and Ballet Theater, conducted by Honored Artist of
Azerbaijan Eyyub Guliyev. Final music mixing and mastering were
performed at the renowned UK facility AIR Studios.
The total effort dedicated to the film's musical production
amounted to 394 hours, comprising 202 hours of studio recording and
192 hours of post-processing. Sound post-production—including sound
editing, the processing of all audio elements and effects, and the
integration of the musical score- spanned a period of six months.
Final sound mastering, including the creation of a professional
Dolby Digital 5.1 mix, was carried out over 450 hours at the ORK
Film Company with the participation of Russian specialists.
Particular attention was paid to accessibility during the film's
production. Using modern technology, an audio-described version was
created for visually impaired viewers.
Specifically for the premiere screenings, a state-of-the-art
projection screen was purchased from the German-Austrian firm LANG
AG, and a cutting-edge cinema projector with a DCP playback system
was leased from the German company BIG Cinema. This equipment marks
the first time such technology has been used in Azerbaijan to
screen a feature film of this scale. Modern systems ensuring
high-quality sound were also utilized during the screening.
To mark the premiere, a special publication was produced
featuring photos and information about the filming process,
archival materials, and the work of the creative team, alongside a
limited edition of commemorative gift sets.
Plans are in place to promote the feature film "44"
internationally through screenings abroad and participation in
international film festivals.
The film "44" will be released in cinemas across the country
starting October 15.
