It's one of the most corrupt countries in the world and widely criticised for its human rights record but this year Azerbaijan is hosting Eurovision - one of the most glitzy TV music competitions in the world.
Mehdi Parpanchi
as Self - Host
Though both the historical and modern-day persecution of Armenians and other Christians is relatively uncovered in the mainstream media and not on the radar of many average Americans, it is a subject that has gotten far more attention in recent years.
The film is dedicated to the ethnogenesis of a small people, preserving their traditions and language, the Udi people
A 2008 documentary and debut feature film of Bafta-Award nominated director Jamie Jay Johnson. It follows the lives of the participants of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2007, specifically the entrants from Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Georgia. The film sees them proceed from the national finals that saw them crowned the representatives of their country through to the international song festival itself held in Rotterdam, the Netherlands where they each compete against 16 other acts.
Documentary following singer Olly Alexander as he prepares to represent the United Kingdom at the long-running celebration of music, the Eurovision Song Contest. Cameras follow the Years and Years singer on the promotional circuit as he releases his song Dizzy, juggles press attention, performs at European parties in Madrid and London and prepares for the event itself
The recent democratic revolutions throughout Eastern Europe—Serbia in 2000, Georgia in 2003, and the Ukraine in 2004—all seemed to follow a quick and easy pattern: the exposure of rigged elections, followed by massive street protests, and a regime that collapsed without a fight. But THE DEMOCRATIC REVOLUTIONARY HANDBOOK reveals the lengthy and meticulous preparations behind these seemingly spontaneous demonstrations, showing how modern marketing techniques have combined with revolutionary politics to transform the region's governments.
Behind the scenes documentary on the planning and execution of the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo, Norway.
Behind the scenes of the 1992 Eurovision Song Contest from Malmö, Sweden. See the stage builders create the giant viking ship that was the centre piece of that year and everything else that goes into creating the spectacle of Eurovision.
Nemo looks back at his career and journey so far and then takes us along for the ride all the way to the Eurovision Song Contest.
Documentary following Germany's representatives Lord of the Lost on their journey to Eurovision.
A light-hearted but revealing profile of the 2006 British Eurovision representative.
Eurovision aka the Gay World Cup. A poetic documentary about Eurovision Song Contest fans. The film hears the intimate testimonies of what the contest means to them.
Richard Fairbrass goes behind the scenes of the 1998 Eurovision Song Contest.
The pro-Palestinian, anti-capitalist, BDSM-provocative, techno-punk performance art ensemble Hatari unsurprisingly drew attention to themselves with their performance at the Icelandic qualifiers for the Eurovision Song Contest. So much so that they won and therefore were allowed to perform at the main event in Tel Aviv. But what now? Should they boycott the event, swallow their idealism, or use their airtime to criticise the host country for their illegal occupation of Palestine? The Icelandic director Anna Hildur joins the boys in the band all the way to the fateful final.
A documentary project that shows viewers behind the scenes of this cultural exchange and explores the current processes of integrating Ukrainian culture into the European context. The heroes of the project are the participants and visitors of the festival, who demonstrate with their own stories the unique connection and cultural integration of Ukraine into the plane of Liverpool, one of the cultural capitals of Europe. In particular, Sarah Fisher, director of Liverpool's Open eye gallery, Yuliia Kurinna, a volunteer and displaced person from Nova Kakhovka, and actor and director Yurii Radionov will share their thoughts.
Olly Alexander is preparing to fulfil one of his biggest life ambitions - to represent the United Kingdom in the much-loved Eurovision Song Contest. Ahead of the grand final in May, Olly joins fellow Eurovision lover and commentator Graham Norton to talk candidly about competing in Sweden. As an extra treat for Eurovision fans, Olly reveals the first full play of the music video on TV for his Eurovision song Dizzy.
This definitive music documentary, featuring a greatest hits soundtrack and bounty of classic performance clips, provides an inside look into how Swedish pop group ABBA's music was made, as the former members and various colleagues tell their story from pre-ABBA days onward.
In December 2016 a remarkable chapter in music history was closed as the Finnish punk rock band Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät (PKN) retired. Punk Voyage is a feature length documentary film about the last years of the band, with all the ups and downs included. After becoming celebrities in Finland, this incredible quartet continued to conquer new fans around the World. In its seven years run PKN played nearly 300 gigs in 16 countries. In 2015 the band was selected to represent Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest, where they played to over 100 million television spectators. However, the busy traveling and success created a lot of pressure within the band: Kari struggled with the temptations and responsibilities brought by publicity; Sami extended his territory to politics and religion; Toni's and the band's roadie Niila's crush to the the same girl caused conflicts; and Pertti, tired of this all, decided to retire.
Faced with the wreckage of a failed film project and the turmoil of his troubled youth, a young filmmaker, urged by his friends, seeks refuge in therapy. Each session becomes a battleground where he confronts his deepest fears and darkest nightmares. As his life unfolds in the therapist's office, a glimmer of hope emerges amidst the chaos. Yet the journey is fraught with peril, forcing him to confront painful memories and insecurities. Through unwavering determination, he triumphs over his nightmares, emerging from the shadows reborn and renewed. This film is a testament to the power of the human spirit, offering hope even in the darkest of times.