The "Golden Apple" International Turan Film Festival, reflecting the common values and cultural relations of the Turkic world, held in Izmir, Türkiye, has come to an end. The festival, supported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Türkiye, the Film Directorate, and the State Archives Directorate, organized for the first time by the International Turkic Culture Organization (TURKSOY) and Ege University, was attended by the State Committee for Affairs of Refugees and IDPs of the Republic of Azerbaijan within the framework of the Action Plan for the Implementation of the State Program I “Great Return to the Liberated Territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan”.

The participants of the festival were once again reminded that President Ilham Aliyev pays constant attention to the resolution of the problems of refugees and IDPs in Azerbaijan, and these issues are among the priorities of state policy. The care for our compatriots, the prompt consideration and resolution of their appeals, are also among the main directions of the activities of the First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva.

The State Committee's exhibition “Silent Witnesses: Journey to Turkic Tribes”, consisting of about 50 photographs prepared on the life and living conditions of IDPs in Azerbaijan, the liberated territories, and the restoration and reconstruction works carried out in those territories, as well as the support of Turkic-speaking countries to the Great Return to the ancestral lands, was exhibited on the first day of the festival.

Taking into account the active participation in the dissemination of truths about the refugees from Karabakh to the world, Nasimi Narimanov, Advisor to the Chairman of the State Committee for Affairs of Refugees and IDPs, was awarded the “Gift to Human Rights” prize at the festival. Among the recipients of awards in various nominations are Fejir Alptekin and Ahmet Janbaz, chief advisers to the President of Türkiye, Prof. Dr. Ughur Unal, head of the State Archives of Türkiye, Dr. Yasin Yıldız, Director of the National Palaces Directorate, Birol Geven, head of the Cinema Directorate of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Türkiye, and other high-ranking officials.

It should be noted that a total of 1055 applications from 77 countries were received for participation in the film festival. In the final stage, there were 158 films from Türkiye, 47 from Azerbaijan, 31 from Kyrgyzstan, 21 from Kazakhstan, 15 from Uzbekistan, and 10 from Turkmenistan competing.