Sermon to the Birds

Davud and Sura are under siege. They wait for the Hunter. Hunter is omnipresent.

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Nominated for Cinematography

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Nominated for Directing

Original title: Quşlara Xütbə Year of Production: 2023 Duration: 103 min Country of Production: Azerbaijan, Mexico, Switzerland Languages: Azerbaijani Subtitles: English Director: Hilal Baydarov Cinematographer: Hilal Baydarov Editor: Hilal Baydarov Sound Design: Thomas Becka Producer: Eishan Abbasov, Hilal Baydarov

“Sermon to the Birds” is a cinematic audiovisual experience, set in the mesmerising beauty of the Azerbaijani mountains. It depicts Davud and Sura, who, facing a siege and waiting for rescue by the Hunter, wed in the mountains and allow themselves to be guided by dreams to find their way.

Through stunning visuals and a meditative tone, the film delves into the spiritual and existential questions that arise when one is alone with one’s thoughts, offering a poignant reflection on the interplay between humanity and the natural world.

Hilal Baydarov's “When the Persimmons Grew” (2019) is also screening at MIRAGE.

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Join for a post-screening in depth conversation featuring director Hilal Baydarov, a filmmaker praised for his distinct visual language and poetic cinematic approach. This film has been named the MIRAGE Film of the Year.

Thursday

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Sermon to the Birds

Conversation: Director Hilal Baydarov

Vega Scene Sal 2

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Sermon to the Birds

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Sermon to the Birds

See the program Buy festival pass

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Hilal Baydarov was born in Baku, Azerbaijan. During his high school years, he won the national championships of mathematics twice in 2004 and 2005. After a master in computer sciences, he left for Sarajevo to study film directing with Bela Tarr.

In 2011, he led the Azerbaijani team at the informatics olympiad. After a master in computer sciences, he studied at the Sarajevo Film Academy under Béla Tarr before going on to make his trilogy of documentaries set in Katech Azerbaijan "When the persimmons grew" (2019) which won the Heart of Sarajevo for Best Documentary at the Sarajevo and the inter-religious Award and Special Jury Mention at Visions du réel; "Mother and son" (2019) premiered in the main competition at IDFA and "Nails in my Brain" (2020) at Cinema du réel. After that, he made "In Between Dying" (2020) premiered in Venice Main Competition, and "Crane Lantern" (2021) in TOKYO IFF. Then, he started to work on the "War Tales" trilogy and the first film "Sermon to the Fish"(2022) premiered in Locarno Competition.

“I believe that human nature within us and the nature outside are intertwined. I strive to depict nature as having the same characteristics as the characters. I continually seek this pattern. I'm not attempting to capture picturesque images; I aim to reveal the aspects of nature that resonate with the characters. This philosophy also extends to sound. I believe everything possesses a character, including sound and music.”

Filmography

Crane Lantern (2022)

Sermon to the Fish (2022)

In Between Dying (2020)

When the Persimmons Grew (2019)

Mother and Son (2019)

Nail in the Head (2019)

Hills Without Names (2018)

Birthday (2018)

Hilal Baydarov was born in Baku, Azerbaijan. During his high school years, he won the national championships of mathematics twice in 2004 and 2005. After a master in computer sciences, he left for Sarajevo to study film directing with Bela Tarr.

In 2011, he led the Azerbaijani team at the informatics olympiad. After a master in computer sciences, he studied at the Sarajevo Film Academy under Béla Tarr before going on to make his trilogy of documentaries set in Katech Azerbaijan "When the persimmons grew" (2019) which won the Heart of Sarajevo for Best Documentary at the Sarajevo and the inter-religious Award and Special Jury Mention at Visions du réel; "Mother and son" (2019) premiered in the main competition at IDFA and "Nails in my Brain" (2020) at Cinema du réel. After that, he made "In Between Dying" (2020) premiered in Venice Main Competition, and "Crane Lantern" (2021) in TOKYO IFF. Then, he started to work on the "War Tales" trilogy and the first film "Sermon to the Fish"(2022) premiered in Locarno Competition.

“I believe that human nature within us and the nature outside are intertwined. I strive to depict nature as having the same characteristics as the characters. I continually seek this pattern. I'm not attempting to capture picturesque images; I aim to reveal the aspects of nature that resonate with the characters. This philosophy also extends to sound. I believe everything possesses a character, including sound and music.”

Filmography

Crane Lantern (2022)

Sermon to the Fish (2022)

In Between Dying (2020)

When the Persimmons Grew (2019)

Mother and Son (2019)

Nail in the Head (2019)

Hills Without Names (2018)

Birthday (2018)

No items found.

Hilal Baydarov was born in Baku, Azerbaijan. During his high school years, he won the national championships of mathematics twice in 2004 and 2005. After a master in computer sciences, he left for Sarajevo to study film directing with Bela Tarr.

In 2011, he led the Azerbaijani team at the informatics olympiad. After a master in computer sciences, he studied at the Sarajevo Film Academy under Béla Tarr before going on to make his trilogy of documentaries set in Katech Azerbaijan "When the persimmons grew" (2019) which won the Heart of Sarajevo for Best Documentary at the Sarajevo and the inter-religious Award and Special Jury Mention at Visions du réel; "Mother and son" (2019) premiered in the main competition at IDFA and "Nails in my Brain" (2020) at Cinema du réel. After that, he made "In Between Dying" (2020) premiered in Venice Main Competition, and "Crane Lantern" (2021) in TOKYO IFF. Then, he started to work on the "War Tales" trilogy and the first film "Sermon to the Fish"(2022) premiered in Locarno Competition.

“I believe that human nature within us and the nature outside are intertwined. I strive to depict nature as having the same characteristics as the characters. I continually seek this pattern. I'm not attempting to capture picturesque images; I aim to reveal the aspects of nature that resonate with the characters. This philosophy also extends to sound. I believe everything possesses a character, including sound and music.”

Filmography

Crane Lantern (2022)

Sermon to the Fish (2022)

In Between Dying (2020)

When the Persimmons Grew (2019)

Mother and Son (2019)

Nail in the Head (2019)

Birthday (2018)

No items found.