Vera Brezhneva captivates her Baku fans
The International Mugham Center has hosted the awarding ceremony of the second Booktrailer Festival in Azerbaijan.
Booktrailers are short videos that promote a book or an author, providing a good illustration of the book content. The project aims at promoting books, supporting and developing creative forms of reading, searching talented young people in cinematography and promoting bookrailers as a part of art and business.
The festival, which took place under the slogan "Promote a book, get promoted with a book!" was organized by actor Ruslan Sabirli with support of Azerbaijan's Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
The festival was timed to the World Book Day or World Book and Copyright Day, held annually on April 23.
“Book is the best friend. How often do we hear these words? In modern life there are a huge number of various sources of information, but nothing can replace a book, a priceless gift to mankind. It's a storehouse of knowledge, a great thoughts and good advice, source of wisdom and conscience.” This was the keynote speech delivered by Ruslan Sabirli.
In their speeches, First Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan Vagif Aliyev, MP Ganira Pashayeva, honored art workers Mushfiq Hatamov, Ayaz Salayev and Kanan Mammadov, actress Senuber Iskenderli stressed the importance of the project and wished young people further creative achievements. Later the winners were named. Booktrailers were assessed by each member of the jury individually. In the end, the Organizing Committee summarized the assessment of each jury member.
Director of the film Studio "Azerbaijanfilm", honored art worker Mushfiq Hatamov, poet, Secretary for creative affairs at Azerbaijan's Union of Writers Ilgar Fahmi, film director, screenwriter, the founder of the production center “Cinema Evi” Elchin Musaoglu, film critic, writer, film maker Ayaz Salayev, cameraman, honored artist Kanan Mamedov chose the winner of the festival.
Thus, the first place went to Elnur Rzayev, who created book trailer on the book by Ramiz Rovshan "Breath". The second place was shared by Emin Hasankhanzadeh (Mushfiq Khan, “O 2”) and Orkhan Adigezalov (Agshin Yenisey, "I Write you a letter").
The third place was shared by Galib Mirzaliyev (Azer Elshadoglu, "Night man"), Javidan Alizadeh (Tarana Valid ,"Suicide,) and Veli Mammadov (Sahila Ibrahimova, "Coup").
The first place got a prize in the amount of 1000 manats ($ 558), while the winners of the second and third places 800 manats ($446) and 500 manats ($279), respectively.
The festival's participants expressed gratitude to the event organizers.
The gala evening was hosted actress and radio host Aygun Akif, who appeared in a gorgeous dress from the fashion house of Gulnara Khalilova.
Media partners of the event are Trend.az, Day.az, Milli.az, Azernews.az
Russian pop-singer Vera Brezhneva gave a marvelous concert to her fans in Baku. The spectacular show called #NUMBER1 took place at the Heydar Aliyev Palace on April 20, Trend Life reported.
For Baku audience, Brezhneva prepared an interesting and vibrant program, featuring both new and old songs.
The gala concert gave the audience a lot of positive emotions. Brezhneva warmly chatted with the audience and highly appreciated hospitality of Azerbaijani people.
"Finally my dream has come true! I have been in Baku several times and performed at various concerts and events, but for the first time I perform on such a big stage. Azerbaijan welcomed me with bright sunshine and lovely weather!" said the singer.
Each performance featured a video installation, enchanted melodies and wonderful dances. During the gala concert, the singer also shared with spectators interesting stories of her life.
In summer, Vera Brezhneva will come back in Baku. She will be a guest of the summer music festival "Zhara" scheduled for July 27-31.
For the past five years, Vera Brezhneva was awarded such prizes as "Golden gramophone", "the Best performer of the year", "Most stylish singer", "Diva of the year" and has repeatedly won in such nominations as "the Best song and video of the year".
In November 20, 2014, she became a goodwill Ambassador of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) in Russia and CIS countries.
In July 2007, Brezhneva decided to have a break from the band, which ended in December 2007 with the official announcement of her leaving the band.
In May 2008, Vera premiered her first single called "I Don't Play". The song was written by her former producer Konstantin Meladze. The second single Nirvana came out on 27 October 2008. Third single Ljubov "Love in the big city" was released in 2009.
Vera has also appeared in a number of Russian-language films. She played Katya in the film Love in the Big City in 2009 and its two sequels in 2010 and 2013. Most of her film work has been in romantic comedies.