Queer cinema emerges in AzerbaijanCEFR A1
4 Dec 2025
Adapted from Adila Aghayeva, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Zulfugar Karimov, Unsplash
Level A1 – BeginnerCEFR A1
2 min
64 words
- There are frequent violations of LGBTQI+ rights.
- Azerbaijan ranks low on the Rainbow Map.
- Hate speech by some state officials rises.
- Queer people face problems in arts and cinema.
- New short films and documentaries appear.
- These films record lives that were erased.
- Filmmakers include trans and non-binary people.
- Some films show violence and survival stories.
- Films start to build a queer film history.
Difficult words
- violations — an action that breaks a law or rule
- rights — a legal or moral freedom or claim
- hate speech — words that hurt or attack a group
- queer — a word for people who are LGBTQI+
- documentaries — a film about real people or events
- Filmmakers — a person who makes films or movies
- trans — a person whose gender is different from birth
- violence — physical harm or force against people
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Do you like short films or documentaries?
- Have you seen a film about people's lives?
- Have you heard the word queer before?
