Draft:Elmar Bayramov

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Elmar Bayramov
Born (1986-12-28) December 28, 1986 (age 38)
Lankaran, Azerbaijan
EducationBaku State University
Occupation(s)Producer, filmmaker, screenwriter
Known forSpiritual Journey (2013); Don Marleone (2017); Let Me Run (2019); Rafa (2021); The Breath (2023)
Websitewww.oldstonefilm.com

Elmar Bayramov (born 28 December 1986) is an Azerbaijani-American filmmaker, producer, and screenwriter. He has directed documentary and narrative short films, including Spiritual Journey (2013), Don Marleone (2017), Let Me Run (2019), Rafa (2021), and The Breath (2023).[1][2][3][4][5][6]

Early life and education

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Bayramov attended the 4th Humanitarian High School in Lankaran from 1993 to 2004. He studied at the Faculty of Bibliography and Information at Baku State University between 2005 and 2010.[5]

He began practicing capoeira in 2006 after joining the Contact Capoeira Sports Club and later served as president of the Azerbaijan Capoeira Federation from 2007 to 2016. He competed in international tournaments, including third place at the 2009 Capoeira World Championship in Rio de Janeiro and first place at the 2011 "Camara" International Tournament in Baku.[5][7][8]

Career

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Bayramov worked in various capoeira organizations between 2004 and 2016 and was involved in digital design at the Sport Service Company from 2013 to 2015. He began scriptwriting in 2011, focusing on short social films. In 2013, he directed the documentary Spiritual Journey, which received an award at the 3rd International Arbaeen Award Film Festival in Tehran. In the same year, he co-founded the Black Garden Company, producing commercial videos and films until 2018. He also worked as a fight choreographer, stunt performer, and actor.[9][10][11]

Bayramov directed the feature comedy Don Marleone (2017), released in Azerbaijani cinemas. His short film Oops (2018) won an award at the Urban Action Showcase International Film Festival. His 2019 film Let Me Run received several festival recognitions. The PSA film Ladybug was screened at multiple festivals in 2020. He later developed American Quarantine, which is in post-production.[6][12][13]

In 2021, Bayramov collaborated with MMA fighter Rafael Fiziev on a documentary project. His film The Breath (2023), depicting the experiences of soldiers held in captivity, premiered in New York and won Best Director at the Baku International Short Film Festival.[4] Old Stone Films produced Rhythm of God (2022–2023), about events of the Second Karabakh War, and Mo Better, a documentary about children in Brownsville, Brooklyn. [14][15][16][17]

During his athletic career, Bayramov also received several recognitions in capoeira, including a Bronze Medal in the Azeri sports-themed short category at the World Capoeira Championship[18] and a presentation award at an international capoeira tournament in Italy.[19] He additionally participated in the Yarasa “Eşq səfəri” presentation event.[20]

Filmography

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  • The Breath (2023) [21]
  • Mo Better (2023)
  • Rhythm of the God (2022)
  • Rafa / One Day with the Champ (2021) [22]
  • American Quarantine (2020)
  • Ladybug (2020) [23]
  • Let Me Run (2019) [24]
  • Oops (2018) [25]
  • Don Marleone (2017) [26]
  • Spiritual Journey – Arbaeen (2013)[22]

Awards and recognition

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Bayramov’s films have been presented and recognized at various international film festivals. His works have received awards and nominations in categories related to action filmmaking, cinematography, and short-form production.

Awards

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  • Canada Shorts – International Short Films [27]
  • Los Angeles Film Awards – Fight Film [28]
  • Hollywood International Moving Pictures Film Festival – Best Action and Thriller [1]
  • New York Film Awards – Best Director; Best Action Film [29]
  • New York Cinematography Awards (NYCA) – Best U.S. Film [30]
  • Los Angeles Cinematography Awards (LACA) – Best Spatial Image; Best Sound Effects [30]
  • Urban Action Showcase International Film Festival – Best Battle Formation [26]
  • Fighting Spirit All Action and Martial Arts Film Festival – Best International Short Film[31]
  • Turan International Film Festival – Special Jury Award [4]
  • Baku International Short Film Festival – Best Director [32]

Nominations and festival participation

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  • Big Apple Film Festival and Screenplay Competition – Short Film [33][34]
  • New York International Film Awards (NYIFA) – Best Action/Adventure Film (Finalist)[29]
  • Freedom Festival International – Fight Film [26]

References

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  1. ^ a b Azernews.Az (2020-01-29). "National film named best in U.S. [PHOTO/VIDEO]". Azernews.Az. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  2. ^ "Elmar Bayramovun "Nəfəs" filmi beynəlxalq festivalda mükafata layiq görülüb". diaspor.gov.az (in Azerbaijani). Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  3. ^ "Elmar Bayramovun "Nəfəs" filmi Haaqa Beynəlxalq Film Festivalının əsas proqramına daxil edilib". diaspor.gov.az (in Azerbaijani). Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  4. ^ a b c "Azerbaijan's "Breath" movie blows away judges at international film festival (PHOTO)". Trend.Az. 2025-05-09. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  5. ^ a b c "World Capoeira Federation". www.capoeira.ws. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  6. ^ a b "Elmar Bayramov". FilmFreeway. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  7. ^ "Tarixi – Azərbaycan Kapoeyra Federasiyası" (in Azerbaijani). Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  8. ^ "THE WINNERS OF THE TOURNAMENT HAS BEEN DEFINED". www.capoeira.ws. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  9. ^ "Azərbaycanlı rejissorun ekran işi amerikalıları təəccübləndirdi - VİDEO". Metbuat.az (in Azerbaijani). Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  10. ^ "Yanan binadakı uşaqlar haqda qısa film - VİDEO". Milli.Az (in Azerbaijani). 2015-05-21. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  11. ^ kaspi.az https://web.archive.org/web/20251119201554/https://kaspi.az/storage/newspapers/files/kaspi-2023-12-08.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-11-19. Retrieved 2025-11-19. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  12. ^ aquaviridis (2017-03-08). "Azərbaycanda "Xaç atası" filminə parodiya çəkilir-"Don Marleone"". Frame.az. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  13. ^ ""Don Marleone" filminin təqdimatı olacaq - FOTOLAR | Senet.az". senet.az. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  14. ^ Azernews.Az (2021-07-09). "Film company shot film about UFC fighter". Azernews.Az. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  15. ^ "Documentary about Azerbaijani UFC fighter [Teaser] - ARAZ.TV". 2021-07-01. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  16. ^ "UFC-də döyüşən yeganə azərbaycanlı haqqında film çəkildi (VİDEO) | Qaynarinfo.az". qaynarinfo.az. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  17. ^ "Film about Bakhtiyar, who was captured by Armenia, screened in US". Report.az. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  18. ^ "AZERI SPORTSMAN WIN BRONZE MEDAL IN WORLD CAPOEIRA CHAMPIONSHIP". azertag.az. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  19. ^ "Italy hosts international capoeira tournament". azertag.az. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  20. ^ ""Yarasa" "Eşq səfəri" sənədli-bədii filmini təqdim edir". Publika.Az (in Azerbaijani). 2014-11-30. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  21. ^ ""The Breath" dedicated to the captives of the first Karabakh War was presented in New York". diaspor.gov.az (in Azerbaijani). Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  22. ^ a b "Elmar Bayramov: Redefining Cinema, Inspiring Change - Discover Craze". 2024-06-05. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  23. ^ "Today.Az - National artist achieves another success". today.az. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  24. ^ "Azerbaijani short film wins "Best Foreign Film award at London festival". News.az. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  25. ^ "Azərbaycanlı rejissorun filmi ABŞ-da mükafat qazandı — Fotolar + Video". Qafqazinfo (in Azerbaijani). 2019-12-17. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  26. ^ a b c Azernews.Az (2020-12-23). "National filmmaker achieves another success [PHOTO]". Azernews.Az. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  27. ^ "Canada Shorts | 2019 Festival Results". canadashorts.com. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  28. ^ "December 2019". LA Film Awards. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  29. ^ a b "December 2019". newyorkfilmawards. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  30. ^ a b "Azərbaycanlı rejissorun filmi ABŞ-da mükafat qazandı — Fotolar + Video". Qafqazinfo (in Azerbaijani). 2019-12-17. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  31. ^ "Award winners". The Fighting Spirit Film Festival. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  32. ^ "Winners of the 14th BakuISFF". filmfestival.az. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  33. ^ "- Kreativ Azərbaycan". - scip.az. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  34. ^ "Screenplay Competition | Big Apple Film Festival". Big Apple Film Festi. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
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