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On February 24, shooting of the movie based on the novel “Ali and Nino”, a worldwide bestseller, will start. On this occasion, a press conference was held, February 22, at the Heydar Aliyev Center, with the creative team of the movie “Ali and Nino”.

Vice-president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, executive producer of the movie Leyla Aliyeva participated in the press conference.

Talking about the project, Leyla Aliyeva said they are nearing the end of a long journey and  the preparation works for the shooting of the movie “Ali and Nino” has been completed: “I’m very glad at the end of this journey we could manage to accomplish this project. I’m very pleased to see everyone of you in Baku and am glad we participate in turning the nice, such an epic love story as “Ali and Nino” into a movie. I’ve read “Ali and Nino” repeatedly and so far I remember the feeling  I had experienced when I read it first time. Written early in the 20th century, this work clearly pictures the people that had lived at that time, and the places. It personifies a love story reverberating to day, one hundred years later. I’m very pleased the movie will be shot in the streets of Baku, in Icherisheher, at the Opera and Ballet Theatre, Gobustan and mountains of Khynalyg – the places that are described in the novel. Azerbaijan is a country of ancient traditions. Situated at the crossroad of Europe and Asia, this country is an example of tolerance and dialogue. I’m pleased to welcome these talented actors and the team to Baku. I’m confident with their help we will be able to revive this unforgettable story. Good luck to everybody.”

Movie director Chris Thykier thanked the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and Vice-president of the Foundation Leyla Aliyeva for the support provided for the accomplishment of the project. According to him, a good script has been written for the movie, an excellent international-level team is formed and nice places and strong shooting team are available.

Then questions of correspondents were answered.

Script writer of the movie, Academy Awards winner Christopher Hampton emphasized that, as in the work, in the movie too, the struggle of Azerbaijan for independence will be reflected: “I had not been familiar with this book before Chris sent it to me. It turned out to be a very interesting book. Certainly there are some complex moments, and I gave my consent due to this complexity. We worked together with our colleague Asif to be loyal to the novel. We tried to shoot the film as it is written in the book. In the movie, we will of course try to reflect Azerbaijan’s struggle in that period for independence. I think the oil boom in that period and today’s development created conditions for this work’s being more urgent today”.

Leyla Aliyeva  said this movie will demonstrate how important that struggle was for Azerbaijan and, at the same time, onlookers will witness a nice love story: “Why this book? I think this book mostly  reflects how important Azerbaijan’s independence was. The second reason is that this is a nice epic love story.”

In the movie, the character of Ali will be played by Adam Bakri, and Maria Valverde will act as Nino. The movie’s acting team includes also world-renowned actors Mandy Patinkin and Connie Nielsen. They will play the roles of parents. 

Actors Riccardo Scamarcio, Humayun Ershardi, Fakhraddin Manafov, Assad Buab, Numan Akar and Halit Ergenc are also in the team of actors.

For the shooting of the movie, a world-class team comprised of production designer Carlos Conti, director of photography Gokhan Tiryaki, costume designer  Michelle Clapton and editor Alexander Berner  is formed.

International sales of the movie will be dealt with by IM Global.