The Department of Gender and Women’s Studies – organized by Maryam Kashani in collaboration with Curator of Campus Arts Research / Krannert Art Museum curator Amy L. Powell – is thrilled to host CEC Artslink filmmaker in residence Leyli Gafarova.
Please join us for a public screening of the film POST-TRUTH/DOC THEATER LAB followed by a discussion on socially engaged art practices in Baku, Azerbaijan. We hope you can join us!
CEC ArtsLink supports transnational cultural mobility and collaboration, empowering artists and arts leaders to engage communities in dialogue and creative projects for a more equitable, compassionate and sustainable world. For more information, please visit www.cecartslink.org.
POST-TRUTH / DOC THEATER LAB
Documentary / 30 min / Azerbaijan / 2023
Director: Leyli Gafarova
Subtitles in English
The film delves into Salaam Theaterlab's exploration of documentary theater techniques in Azerbaijan, a place where censorship and self-censorship hinder artistic expression. Guided by exiled DocTheater Moscow actor Nikolay Mulakov, a diverse group of Baku-based actors, social workers, writers, theater-makers, and enthusiasts immerse themselves in interviews and discussions, focusing on the theme of "post-truth" and the aftermath of war. Their objective was to share these stories with various audiences while ensuring the safety of the performers. As the journey progresses, the film begins to blur the distinctions between interviewers and interviewees, revealing an abstract portrait of contemporary Azerbaijani society.
About the Artist
Leyli Gafarova was born in Baku, Azerbaijan, raised in The Netherlands, and is currently based in Baku. She is an independent filmmaker and co-creator of Salaam Cinema Baku, a community based cinema and art space. She has shot and directed “Once upon a Time in Shanghai” (2018), a documentary film about the production of a feature film in the eponymous neighborhood, itself located between Baku’s major railway lines. Her practice centers around processes, research and discoveries.
Leyli is interested in subjects such as gender, national identity, urbanism and (self)- censorship. When producing works she searches for ways to question what is natural and what is constructed. She has curated film programs, educational programs and exhibitions including Hometown Weather and co-curated Things We Sense About Each other.
Social Media Tag: #leyligafarova
