Artist-in-Residence: Lala Aliyeva

As part of our ongoing interviews with Artists-in-Residence at the Jacob Burns Film Center, we recently caught up with filmmaker Lala Aliyeva to discuss her current project. This residency, presented in collaboration with the Close Up Initiative, is a result of the 2024 Close-Up Pitching Forum in Tbilisi, Georgia, held earlier this year. JBFC Programming Coordinator Ian LoCascio traveled to Tbilisi to participate as an industry panelist and selected the JBFC Artist-in-Residence.

Reflecting on the experience, Ian shares,“Earlier this year, I had the honor of representing the JBFC as an industry panelist at the esteemed Close-Up Pitching Forum in Tbilisi—the country of Georgia’s beautiful capital city. At the forum, which featured a number of brilliant documentary filmmakers from across Southwest Asia and North Africa, I was particularly moved by Lala’s pitch for her film, “Strange Sea”. I’m so happy to have been able to invite her to join us as an artist-in-residence at the JBFC this past month!”

1. How did this residency come about, and how did you learn about the Burns?

The residency at Jacob Burns was one of the awards at the Close Up film industry Pitching Forum 2023-2024, but it was the only one that truly resonated with me. It felt like the perfect place for the kind of film I’m creating, so I set my heart on it.

2. Can you tell us a bit about the project you’re working on during your residency?

I’m currently immersed in my first feature-length film, Strange Sea. It’s a deeply personal journey along the shores and into the murky waters of the Caspian Sea—the world’s largest lake, though it’s receding. Through this personal exploration of past and present, I stumble upon stories that are sometimes absurd, sometimes humorous, but also deeply haunting, like the ghosts that linger in the night. The film is an impressionistic portrait of Azerbaijan, my home, as seen through the reflection of its seascape and people.

3. What are some of the most interesting things you’ve learned while working on your film(s)?

What I’ve learned is to trust my intuition. It’s like a compass, or like a dog’s nose leading me to hidden stories. I am drawn to the connection between the spaces and people, and it calls me in equal measure— faces, gestures and the spirits of their surroundings. Control is work, but letting the process flow is a joy. I follow the flow, capturing it not in polished frames, but raw and fragmented, as it truly unfolds.

4. What do you want viewers to learn from your film(s)?

Strange Sea is an experimental film meant to immerse viewers in a journey through contrasting worlds—personal memories, societal realities, and the mysterious, haunting nature of the Caspian Sea. The sea is a metaphor, representing something larger—the fleeting nature of beauty, wonder, and even life itself. I want the audience to experience a rollercoaster of emotions, from moments of calm reflection to laughter, anger, and sadness. It’s all part of the journey.

5. If you had not had this opportunity, how you would you go about completing your film project(s)?

Being in New York isn’t just about working on the film. It’s a chance to immerse myself in the city’s rich cultural life, to feed my mind, my soul and my eyes. The energy here is crazy inspiring—it’s an education in itself. This opportunity feels like opening a window to my vision for both the work I’m creating now and the journeys still ahead.

6. Which filmmakers or artists do you most admire/draw inspiration from?

There are many artists and filmmakers who inspire me, it’s hard to choose. But I’d start with Nino Orjonikidze, my first lecturer in documentary filmmaking—she lit a fire inside me, and that fire became an obsession with the art form. I also have to mention my niece, Adela, who is fearless and bursting with life. She teaches me to view the world with both innocence and wisdom—an invaluable perspective.

7. Is there anything else you’d like to add?

I didn’t tell you how New York greeted me. It all began in the skies. Just before boarding, I was unexpectedly upgraded to business class. I was confused at first, but then thought, perhaps, I truly deserved this gift from the universe. A seat that transformed into a bed, endless food and drinks, and Marlon Brando alongside Al Pacino in The Godfather. I watched it again, savoring the moment. At that time, I had no idea what magic awaited me over the coming month. And yes, the house in Pleasantville is beautiful. Thank you for energy. I charged my battery.