FARIZ AHMADOV’S FILM “STEPS IN SILENCE” WINS ANOTHER AWARD IN POLAND

The film "Steps in Silence," produced by the Baku Media Center, was featured at the NNW International Film Festival—one of Europe’s prominent cinematic platforms. The 18th edition of the festival, held in Gdynia, Poland, from October 1 to 4, 2026, showcased 60 selected works from across the globe. The film was honored with the festival’s "Special Jury Mention" award.
Co-produced by the Baku Media Center, Drygas Film Production, and Polish Television (TVP)—with financial support from the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijan Cinema Agency, and the Polish Film Institute—the film documents the demining process in the territories of Karabakh that have been liberated from occupation.
The protagonists of the film are members of an all-female demining team. Demining is sometimes referred to as a "hidden war," as the danger, while ever-present, remains invisible. The camera follows the lives of these women; despite the highly dangerous and risky nature of their work, they are portrayed simultaneously as caring mothers and as elegant, well-groomed women. In their daily lives, themes such as technical signals, danger, willpower, vulnerability and strength, and life and death are conveyed to the audience through the medium of silence.
The film’s executive producer is Arzu Aliyeva, President of the Baku Media Center; the co-producer is Vita Želakevičiūtė (Poland); the producer is Orman Aliyev; the director is Fariz Ahmadov; the screenwriters are Fariz Ahmadov and Ismayil Iman; the cinematographer is Mateusz Czuchnowski; the editor is Rasim Ismayilov; and the creative producers are Maciej Drygas (Poland) and Tahir Aliyev.
It is worth noting that this feature-length documentary by Fariz Ahmadov previously received the award for "Best Cinematography" at the 66th Krakow Film Festival.
The film will also be featured at the upcoming Astra Film Festival, to be held in Romania from October 17 to 25, 2026. Such festivals serve as unique forums for discussion, bringing together directors, historians, and real-life protagonists who have shaped history. The representation of Azerbaijani cinema on such prestigious international platforms is of great significance for promoting the country’s cultural heritage and the potential of its documentary filmmaking on a global scale.