Nizami Cinema Center
Date of foundation: 1934
Director: Ali-Sattar Guliyev
The Nizami Cinema Center was put into operation in 1934. The architects of the building were Sadig Dadashov and Mikayil Huseynov. Although this cinema, called "Injasanat", was put into operation on February 1, 1934, the first screening in the cinema took place on December 25, 1939. It was the film "The Fourth Periscope" shot by director Viktor Eysimon at the Lenfilm film studio.
Initially, the cinema had three halls - winter, summer and variety hall. In the latter, various orchestras performed, lectures were given, advertising and chronicle films were shown, and events were held. The cinema was famous for its large, heavy, velvet curtain, which was pulled down before each session, just like in a real theater. Then the lights of the large glass-bottomed chandelier slowly dimmed... Sweets, carbonated water, and ice cream in waffle cups, which became popular in the city, were sold in the buffet. The waiters offered them to the audience in the hall on silver trays. Before each session, vocalists and small ensembles entertained the audience. The audience would come to the “Inchesanet” cinema an hour before the session for these performances. Singers such as Ogtay Aghayev, Natavan Sheykhova, and even Zeynab Khanlarova, who were later awarded the title of People’s Artist, performed here. The cinema was also famous for its jazz concerts.
During the war, the cultural life of Baku continued. Anti-aircraft installations and anti-aircraft machine guns were installed on the territory of the summer cinema. “Inchesanet” presented films captured during the war to the audience.
After the war, the screening of the film “Arshin Mal Alan” in 1945 won the hearts of the audience.
In 1947, the cinema was renamed “Nizami” on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of Nizami Ganjavi. The external and internal appearance of the cinema was changed in 1974. It was painted pink. A metal globe with a lattice was placed on the columns and on the roof, which took on different colors under the influence of lights in the evening. Two more new small halls were opened: on the ground floor - the winter hall, and above - the summer hall. After the renovation, the “Nizami” cinema hosted the VII All-Union Film Festival. The last XXI All-Union Film Festival was held in Baku in 1988 in this very cinema.
Until the 90s of the last century, the cinema lived its own life. Then commercial facilities and cafes were opened here, and the rooms were converted into video halls.
In November 2011, the new life of the “Nizami” cinema began, after three years of major repairs and restoration, the temple of national cinema was given to the audience.
The cinema building resumed operations on November 24, 2011 after major renovation. The opening was held by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.
After the reconstruction, two 50- and 80-seat cinema halls were created on the first floor of the cinema, a large 500-seat hall on the second floor, and a 24-seat VIP hall on the fifth floor. The 500-seat hall has the largest 18-meter screen in Azerbaijan. In addition to the screening halls, the building also has trade kiosks, a cafe, a press center, a restaurant, and administrative rooms.
Since 2024, the director of the Nizami Cinema Center has been Ali-Sattar Guliyev.
