Screening of film about Kipchak ruler Eldiguz takes place in Azerbaijan
Baku’s Heydar Aliyev Center hosted a gala screening of the film ‘Atabegs of Azerbaijan’ (the Atabay state of Azerbaijan), revealing a vital victory of Shams al-Din Ildeniz (Eldigüz), who was of Kipchak origin, over the Byzantine–Georgian armies in 1163 in Dabil (present Nakhchivan), Kazinform News Agency correspondent reports.
Thanks to this victory, Eldigüz was able to consolidate the state, expand the frontiers of Islam, which earned him the title of Shamseddin - "sun of the faith”.
A Kipchak by origin, Eldigüz raised to the status of ruler from an ordinary slave thanks to his accomplishments. Eldigüz achieved the rank of Emir in one of the military divisions of the Sultan, and then the atabeg, by mastering the art of war and foreign languages.
The film ‘Atabegs of Azerbaijan’ was co-produced by Azerbaijani television, Şahdağfilm studio and Turkish production companies İkinciYeni Film, Patik Prodüksiyon and Ernet Grup. The project’s official partners are the Azerbaijani Culture Ministry and the Cinema Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ARKA).
The film features the traditional Kazakh yurt that rulers of the Atabay state used as their command post, maintaining their historical roots. The two-series feature documentary tells the history of the state, its founders, palace intrigues as well as atabegs’ pursuit of strong army.
Starring Zabit Samedov, Azerbaijan’s well-known fighter, who played the role of Eldigüz, the film includes over episodic roles, with its production crew consisting of up to 500 people.
The film aroused great interest among the public, hailing an amazing job of casting and the work of historians.
The film ‘Atabegs of Azerbaijan’ is set to make it to the big screen on December 5.
