Imagine Festival of Tolerance Started in Baku

Baku / 02.05.18 / Turan: On Wednesday, May 2, Baku hosted the Imagine festival of tolerance organized by the European Union representation in Azerbaijan.

Within the framework of the festival, from May 2 to 17, 38 films from 30 countries will be demonstrated, and art exhibitions, concerts of foreign musicians, master classes in film-making and music, and debates on tolerance themes will be organized. The entries for the films will be free. After watching the films, the audience will be able to discuss them with the director himself.

Speaking at the opening of the festival, the head of the EU representation in Azerbaijan, Kestutis Jankauskas, asked the country's media to cover the event as widely as possible in order to reach as many audiences as possible.

"This event is held not for the Ambassadors of the EU countries to Azerbaijan. This is done for the public. The goal is mutual familiarization with the culture of different countries," he said.

He noted that the current second festival of tolerance is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Azerbaijani Democratic Republic, the 10th anniversary of the beginning of the work of the EU representation in Azerbaijan, the Day of Europe, which will be celebrated on May 9, as well as universal values.

Speaking at the event, Latvia's Ambassador to Azerbaijan Juris Maklakovs noted that his country will also celebrate the 100th anniversary of independence. He noted that over the years of independence the film industry of Latvia has passed a great stage of development and pays much attention to the theme of tolerance, multiculturalism, and the diversity of society. "Within the framework of the festival, Latvia wants to share its experience in this field," the Ambassador said.

He said the festival will be opened by the Latvian film Solve My Mother, which is completely devoted to the topic of tolerance. The director of the film Eva Ozolinya noted the picture she had shot with such a strange name is devoted to the complex problems between mother and son when there is no tolerance in the family.

"After the film, the audience will be able to discuss it with me. Within the framework of the festival, I will also conduct a master class for students in Baku," she said.

Speaking at the opening of the festival, the Ambassador of Peru to Azerbaijan, Luis Chang, in turn, stressed that this festival concerns not only European countries.

"Peru is one of 10 non-European countries, which will participate in the festival. In the framework of the festival, Peruvian musicians will perform before the Azerbaijani audience. They will present a synthesis of our music with Mugam. The Peruvian musicians in addition to the concert will give a master class at the Conservatory," the Ambassador said. -71D-