Dreamers

Runtime: 62'

Expected release: TBD

Production stage: Editing

Budget: $150 000 (85% in place)

1st feature: No

Looking for: Gap Financing, Co-Producers, Sales Agents, Festivals and Strategic Guidance

Synopsis:

Mamed, a determined ex-footballer, adventurs in rural Azerbaijan to coach the village’s first girls’ football team, challenging the deep-seated traditions. Despite hurdles, Mamed and his wife Svetlana strive to form a team, defying societal norms fixated on early marriages. Discovering hope in an orphanage, they recruit Parishan, Fidan, Nahida, Suraya, and Farida, each with a tale of resilience. The film delves into their struggle against patriarchy, showcasing the power of dreams amidst adversity. Against Azerbaijan’s ancient allure, the movie embodies courage and unity, resonating with hope in a historically burdened world.

Director’s profile:

Imam Hasanov is an award-winning filmmaker from Baku, Azerbaijan. His first feature film, Holy Cow, was an Arte/ZDF co-production garnering support from the Sundance Institute, the Doha Institute, and Medienboard Berlin Branderburg. It premiered in the First Appearance Competition at IDFA in 2015, going on to play at HotDocs, many film festivals, and selling to TV channels around the world. Imam is also an alumnus of the Berlinale Talents and Sarajevo Talents. Imam founded an independent production company Free Art which supports creative documentaries with local impact and global relevance. Imam is also the co-founder and director of DokuBaku IDFF, the first international and the only independent documentary film festival in Azerbaijan, and the DokuBaku Film School for emerging Azerbaijani filmmakers.

Producer’s profile:

Maria Ibrahimova’s documentary Miss Gulag, produced with support from the Sundance Institute and the Ford Foundation, premiered at the Berlinale, and screened at 40 festivals and TV around the world, including the BBC. She is a two-time Berlinale Talent, EWA Mentee, and Fulbright Fellow. She completed the EAVE Producer’s Workshop in 2023 and the ACE Mentoring Program. With the American Embassy in Baku, she created Women in Motion, a program bringing Azerbaijani women into the film industry. She produced The Fisherman’s Daughter, with A. Rodnyanski (Leviathan,Loveless), and distributed by Wild Bunch. She recently produced We are Russia a documentary about young activists that supported Alexei Navalny, premiering in Visions du Reel and DOC NYC. Maria is a founding board member of the Andrew Berends Film Fellowship and a member of the European Film Academy.