DokuBaku IDFF

DOKUBAKU | VOL 10 | STELLAR CIVILIZATION |
INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL |
05 OCT | 11 OCT | 2026
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN

Founded in 2017 as a meeting point for bold and free documentary voices, DokuBaku — the first independent and leading International Documentary Film Festival in the region — has grown into a significant platform for contemporary non-fiction cinema. Rooted in artistic freedom, critical thinking, and the search for new documentary forms, the festival creates an open and dialogical space for filmmakers, researchers, and audiences who use cinema to question reality, power, memory, and the future.

Taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from OCTOBER 5–11, 2026, DOKUBAKU presents its 10th anniversary edition under the theme STELLAR CIVILIZATION.
This special edition invites filmmakers to rethink humanity’s place in the universe — not as a dominant, self-centered force, but as a conscious, responsible, and interconnected particle within a vast cosmic system.

By transcending borders, notions of ownership, and linear ideas of “progress” and “time,” the theme proposes civilization as an ethical, spiritual, and relational process. Here, civilization is grounded in responsibility, interdependence, care, and cosmic humility. Stellar Civilization questions not only how humans coexist with one another, but also how they live alongside the planet, other life forms, and the unknown.
DokuBaku seeks documentary works that look both upward and inward — films that explore planetary consciousness, science and space, ecological memory, invisible histories, ancestral knowledge, and speculative futures. In this context, cinema becomes both a telescope and a mirror: a tool for observing the vastness of the universe while enabling deep human self-reflection. Through these stories, the festival calls not for conquest, but for imagining and shaping a civilization that belongs to the cosmos through awareness, responsibility, and care.

As Azerbaijan’s first independent documentary film festival, DokuBaku IDFF features dozens of film screenings, as well as masterclasses and workshops led by international film professionals. The festival’s core mission is to foster the development of documentary filmmaking in Azerbaijan as a means of expression and critical thought, support local filmmakers working in the genre, connect the country’s film scene with the international film community, discover new voices, and contribute to the sustainable growth of Azerbaijan’s film industry.

● DOKUBAKU INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL

DokuBaku is Azerbaijan’s first independent International Documentary Film Festival. Established in 2017, the festival is dedicated to showcasing a carefully curated selection of outstanding documentary films from around the world. Alongside its international program, DokuBaku also features a local competition aimed at supporting Azerbaijani filmmakers and fostering the growth of the country’s non-fiction film industry.

Committed to bridging the gap in Azerbaijan’s cultural and cinematic landscape, DokuBaku IDFF provides a platform for Azerbaijani documentary filmmakers while offering audiences a distinctive, thought-provoking international documentary film program. The festival goes beyond screenings, hosting panel discussions, debates, and workshops that bring together local and international filmmakers, industry professionals, and cinephiles.

● Our Mission

DokuBaku is driven by the following objectives:

● Fostering an independent documentary film industry in Azerbaijan by inspiring and supporting both emerging and established filmmakers;

● Providing a platform for documentary film screenings and facilitating knowledge exchange between local and international professionals;

● Encouraging the production of new local documentary films through exposure, networking, and collaboration opportunities;

● Promoting international co-productions and positioning Azerbaijani documentary cinema on the global stage

Over the past 10 years, DokuBaku has played a pivotal role in enriching Azerbaijan’s cultural scene and strengthening its documentary filmmaking community. With its compelling film programs, dynamic discussions, and impactful events, the festival continues to leave a lasting mark on audiences and industry professionals alike.