SCREENPLAY COMPETITION LAUNCHED FOR THE SHORT FICTION FILM “PEOPLE OF THE BACKLINE”

The Union of Filmmakers of Azerbaijan (AKI) announces a screenplay competition for short feature films titled "People of the Backline." For several years, the UCA has consistently organized such screenplay competitions, viewing them as a vital mechanism for advancing our national cinema, fostering competition among writers, and stimulating interest in the craft of screenwriting.
The "People of the Backline" short feature film screenplay competition aims to explore—through the language of cinema—the changes, tragedies, and human destinies shaped by war, not only on the battlefield but also far from the front lines. The competition encourages authors to bring to light individual human stories that often remain obscured against the backdrop of major historical events, and to articulate the emotional and spiritual realities of the home front through a distinct and compelling cinematic voice.
The theme can be approached from various perspectives: a family awaiting a soldier’s return, a doctor tending to the wounded, a teacher, a volunteer, or a journalist involved in the war effort, an individual striving to maintain their daily life, or any protagonist experiencing the unseen impacts of war—all of these could serve as the focal point of a story. In short, the competition accepts original short feature film screenplays that depict the lives of people on the home front during wartime—capturing the moral and social challenges they faced, their losses, their solidarity, and their daily struggles.
The objective of the Union of Filmmakers of Azerbaijan (AKI) in organizing this competition is to uncover new and compelling stories, support the creativity of screenwriters, and foster the development of short film projects with the potential for future screen adaptation.

The Union of Filmmakers of Azerbaijan outlines the following terms for the screenplay competition:
– The events depicted in the submitted screenplays must take place during the 2020 Patriotic War and focus on experiences on the home front.
– There are no genre restrictions for the screenplays.
– Screenplays submitted to the competition must not exceed 52 pages.
– The title page of the screenplay must include the title of the work, the author’s full name, and—in the bottom right-hand corner—the author’s email address and contact phone number. – Screenplays must be exclusively for short narrative (fiction) films (scripts for animation, documentaries, or feature-length films are not accepted).
– Screenplays submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.
– The rights to the submitted screenplay must belong to the author; the work must be original and must not have been previously adapted for the screen.
– Short film scripts that have won in previous competitions are not eligible for entry.
– To participate, applicants must submit the following documents electronically to info@aki.az (with the subject line “Arxa cəbhənin insanları”) and provide two printed copies to the office of the Union of Cinematographers of Azerbaijan (30 Bulbul Avenue):
– The short narrative film screenplay (in standard screenplay format; font: Courier New, size: 12)
– A synopsis (maximum 1.5 pages)
– Information about the author (filmography—if applicable, date of birth, place of employment, and educational background)
– An author may submit a maximum of two screenplays.

Screenplays must be submitted to the Union of Filmmakers of Azerbaijan—in both electronic and printed formats—between October 10, 2026, and April 1, 2027. Finalists will be announced on July 15, 2027, and the winners on August 2, 2027.
The winners (1st, 2nd, and 3rd places; cash prizes of 2,000 AZN, 1,500 AZN, and 1,000 AZN, respectively) will be awarded diplomas and cash prizes.
For further information, you may contact the Union by phone at (+994 12) 493 65 86 or via email at info@aki.az.