"Especially if we consider that we live in Azerbaijan”

In the context of Azerbaijan, particularly when considering the local situation, two foreign films, "Oppenheimer" and "Barbie," have been screening in Azerbaijani cinemas since July 20. These films are being shown at cinema chains such as "Cinemaplus" and "Parkcinema." The screenings are offered in various languages, including Russian, Turkish (with dubbing), Azerbaijani (with subtitles), and the original language of the films. However, there has been ongoing discontent among viewers regarding the dominance of the Russian language in the screenings.

Numerous complaints have been posted on social media platforms, primarily directed at the cinema chains. Some of the comments express frustration over the lack of subtitled sessions in the original language, especially English, and emphasize the desire for a more balanced language selection.

The marketing director of "ParkCinema," Uzeyir Abdullayev, acknowledges the audience's concerns and conveys the cinema's wish for foreign films to be dubbed into Azerbaijani. However, he explains that the limited Azerbaijani market size discourages studios from fulfilling this demand.

The sentiment is shared by "CinemaPlus" as well. The chairman of its board of directors, Zaur Darabzadeh, attributes the absence of Azerbaijani dubbing to the lack of dubbing studios meeting international standards in the country. Furthermore, foreign film representatives allow Azerbaijani screenings only after a certain period to protect content security. Darabzadeh emphasizes the gaps in copyright regulations in Azerbaijan.

Despite the challenges, there is an option to watch films in Azerbaijani with subtitles. Additionally, if a film is officially dubbed in Turkish, it is offered to Azerbaijani viewers by "CinemaPlus." The film screenings are distributed with around 50% in Turkish, 30% in Russian, and 20% in English, based on an algorithm-driven schedule aligned with sales.

Film critic Aygun Aslanli explains that quality dubbing involves professional translation, editing, and financial investment. The absence of Azerbaijani dubbing is attributed to financial constraints and the prevalence of Russian and Turkish languages among the audience. Aslanli indicates that films shown in Azerbaijani cinemas are sourced from studios and comply with licensing agreements.

Aygun Aslanli also highlights the presence of cinema halls in Azerbaijan, mainly within shopping centers. These halls prioritize commercial interests and tend to showcase popular films to attract audiences and generate income. The absence of state regulations and cultural funds for cinemas is seen as a significant obstacle. Aslanli proposes that the government establish legal frameworks and financial support systems to encourage the screening of diverse films in Azerbaijan's cinema landscape.