Culture policy

Culture policy

‘Harmony’ documentary presented in Rome-PHOTO

29 September 2026 02:43 (UTC +04:00)

The presentation of the “Harmony” documentary was held in Rome, Italy, on September 28, APA reports.

Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva attended the event.

The documentary was produced in partnership with Azerbaijan’s State Committee on Religious Associations, the Moral Values Promotion Foundation and the Baku Media Center. Arzu Aliyeva, head of the Baku Media Center, is the film’s executive producer.

The ceremony was attended by members of the Azerbaijani delegation, officials of the Holy See, representatives of the diplomatic corps and religious communities, as well as religious figures.

Before the screening, guests viewed a photo exhibition highlighting Azerbaijan’s religious and cultural heritage and multicultural values.

Addressing the event, Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to the Holy See Ilgar Mukhtarov thanked everyone involved in producing the documentary.

“The ‘Harmony’ documentary invites us to reflect on how diversity can enrich our worldview and bring people closer together. The film presented today tells the story of three young women belonging to different religious traditions who share the same homeland – Azerbaijan. Through their daily lives, the film conveys a simple but profound message: religious differences should not create distance between people,” he said.

Mukhtarov noted that Islam, Christianity and Judaism have deep roots in Azerbaijan, adding that mosques, churches and numerous synagogues are not merely monuments to this diversity but part of a living tradition of coexistence.

Father Laurent Basanese, head of the Office for Islam at the Holy See’s Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, read out a message from Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, Prefect of the Dicastery.

The message said the documentary presents the experience of coexistence among representatives of different religious traditions in Azerbaijan in a context characterized by multiculturalism and mutual respect.

“Harmony does not require us to erase our differences; rather, it calls on us to learn to live with those differences in a spirit of respect, dialogue and fraternity,” the message said.

The cardinal also stressed that interreligious dialogue should not be limited to statements or formal meetings but should be reflected in relationships, education, culture and the everyday lives of people of different faiths.

Chairman of Azerbaijan’s State Committee on Religious Associations Ramin Mammadov said that, for centuries, Azerbaijan’s location at the crossroads of East and West had helped shape a culture of multiculturalism, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence.

He described “Harmony” as an important moral message from Azerbaijan to humanity, saying the documentary reflects the country’s realities through the daily lives, family values and strong friendship of three women belonging to different religions.

The documentary was screened at the conclusion of the event.

The film is also being presented at international festivals and various cinema platforms.