Experiencing Interruptions?

Sing Tar

Rebellious poet praises banned musical instrument in his poem. He is punished by the state authorities and proclaimed an enemy of the state.

  • Leyli Alakbarova
    Director
  • Leyli Alakbarova
    Writer
  • Leyli Alakbarova
    Producer
  • Yaqub Zeynalzada
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    7 minutes 40 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 31, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    10,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Azerbaijan
  • Country of Filming:
    Azerbaijan
  • Language:
    Azerbaijani
  • Shooting Format:
    digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Leyli Alakbarova

Leyli Alakbarova is a multidisciplinary artist from Baku, Azerbaijan. In 2003 she received a bachelor's degree in Architecture from Civil Engineering University in Baku, Azerbaijan. Between 2013 and 2019 she pursued her career as a Photographer, during which she had a solo photography show in 2014 and was a part of a number of group shows including “Names” and “A Doll’s House”. Following her solo photography exhibition “Eyes reflecting history” she was awarded “Documentary Photographer of the Year” by the Photographers Union of Azerbaijan in 2020.
She has exhibited her textile work in the Museum of Modern Art in Baku, Azerbaijan (November 2022) and in the international group art show “O” on gender equality (December 2022.) Her textile series was a part of the group show “Metacode” in the Museum of Azerbaijani Painting XX-XXI centuries. (November, 2022) Her short film “The Gift” was a part of the program of Balkan Film Festival in Stockholm (December 2022.) Her short films were most recently screened during Loop Festival City Screen (November 2023.)
Leyli is currently pursuing her artistic career in Barcelona, Spain.

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Director Statement

As a child born and raised in the Soviet Union, I use the visual and material language of the past to discuss issues surrounding identity through a (social, political, and feminist lens).  There is a word in Russian, “насаждать” that can be loosely translated to “impose”. Having lived through the collapse of the Soviet Union and lived internationally, I can now look back and try to uncover Azerbaijani narratives that were often imposed upon me by a Russian cultural presence. Exploring what it is to be Azerbaijani for me is a process that involves rediscovering a cultural identity that was lost,  while accepting and understanding another that I grew up with.
My short films construct worlds in which the history and culture of both places are considered but through fiction, I get to construct new narratives and identities through the symbolic language.