Gunel Gadirova
PORTFOLIO: LINKTR.EE/GADIROVA
Summary
Filmmaker and visual storyteller, working across film directing, screenwriting, project management, and artistic consulting, with experience delivering high-quality creative outputs in collaborative professional environments.
LINK FOR PORTFOLIO: Linktr.ee/gadirova
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Film Tutor
Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts
01.2023 - Current
- Facilitated MA and BA courses in filmmaking practice and visual storytelling, fostering student engagement and creativity.
- Facilitated engaging classroom discussions to enhance student understanding.
- Developed personalized lesson plans for diverse student needs.
- Assessed student progress and provided constructive feedback regularly.
Creative and Artistic consultant
freelance
01.2020 - Current
- Developed creative strategies for various artistic projects and client needs.
- Advised organisations on creative strategy, enhancing visual communication and fostering artistic development.
- Consulted with clients to understand their vision and artistic goals.
- Facilitated brainstorming sessions to generate innovative design concepts.
Film director, Screenwriter
freelance
01.2016 - Current
- Directed film projects from concept through final cut.
- Developed and directed impactful cinematic projects across diverse formats.
- Collaborated with writers to develop compelling scripts and narratives.
- Managed production teams to ensure seamless film execution.
Founder, Director
White Blue Urban film production company
01.2023 - 01.2025
- Oversaw all aspects of operations including product development, marketing, sales, customer service and finance.
- Developed and implemented a comprehensive business plan to launch the company.
- Identified potential partnerships to expand the reach of the business.
Film Director, Producer
Ta(r)dino 6 Art Platform
01.2021 - 12.2021
- Directed short documentary showcasing challenges faced by female artists in Azerbaijan, raising awareness of gender disparities in the arts.
Film Director
Chaikhana Media
01.2021 - 12.2021
- Directed film projects from concept development to final production stages.
- Managed on-set operations, ensuring smooth workflow and adherence to schedules.
- Directed short film highlighting education challenges during COVID-19 pandemic.
Project manager
Trans Europe Halles | Ta(r)dino 6 Art Platform
01.2021 - 12.2021
- Led project teams to enhance cultural initiatives and community engagement.
- Coordinated cross-functional collaboration to streamline project workflows and communication.
- Developed project plans to align with organizational goals and cultural objectives.
- Led programme coordination, partnership communication, and artist support for Cultural Accelerator programme, enhancing collaboration and support for artists.
Film Director
Debut Studio
01.2020 - 12.2020
- Directed film projects from concept development to final production stages.
- Collaborated with writers and producers to create compelling narratives.
- Managed casting sessions, selecting talent for various roles.
- Wrote and directed short comedy fiction, showcasing unique storytelling and engaging character development.
Screenwriter, Film Director
VarYox
01.2019 - 12.2019
- Developed and directed award-winning short film highlighting challenges of girls' education in Azerbaijan.
- Developed original screenplays for various genres and formats.
- Collaborated with directors to refine scripts and enhance storytelling.
- Conducted research to ensure authenticity in character development and dialogue.
1st AD
Cinealliance Production
01.2019 - 12.2019
- Directed budget allocation and financial planning for multiple film projects, optimizing resource utilization.
- Led cross-functional teams to ensure timely execution of production schedules.
1st AD
Sodruzhestvo Film School
01.2019 - 12.2019
- Oversaw project management and operational efficiency for film projects.
Photographer, Videographer
The European Azerbaijan Society
01.2016 - 12.2017
- Captured high-quality images for cultural and diplomatic events, enhancing visual storytelling.
- Collaborated with teams to create impactful visual content for promotional materials and campaigns.
- Built strong client relationships to accurately align photographic services with specific needs.
Script Editor
Azerbaijanfilm Kinostudio
01.2015 - 12.2015
- Edited scripts for film and television productions, enhancing clarity and coherence to support effective storytelling.
- Collaborated with directors to refine narrative pacing and character development, strengthening overall narrative impact.
Copywriter
Cinealliance Production
01.2014 - 12.2015
- Crafted compelling scripts for film and video projects, enhancing narrative quality.
- Collaborated with directors to align narrative vision with creative content, ensuring cohesive storytelling.
- Researched industry trends to inform storytelling techniques and boost audience engagement.
- Developed engaging scripts for film and promotional content.
- Collaborated with directors to align messaging with creative vision.
Academic Researcher
Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences
01.2008 - 12.2013
- Developed research proposals aligning with national scientific priorities.
- Published articles in peer-reviewed journals to disseminate knowledge.
- Gathered and analyzed large amounts of data for project research.
- Maintained detailed records of research activities, experiments, and results.
Education
MA - Filmmaking
London Film School
United Kingdom03-2019
BA - Philology
Baku State University
Azerbaijan06-2007
Skills
- Film production
- Visual storytelling
- Visual communication
- Project management
- Creative consulting
- Collaborative teamwork
Initiatives And Interests
- 2025, MART FILM STUDIO, Initiator of the platform for visual artists and filmmakers.
- Film directing workshop, Initiator of the workshop for filmmaking and acting students, independent and established filmmakers.
- Film and visual culture, urban architecture and design, music, photography, fine art, fashion, editorials, contemporary art
Programmes
- 2025, Azad Mirzejanzade Development Programme, Finalist. Developing Fiction in Cinema film directing intensive course project., Azerbaijan
- 2022-2023, SOFA Film Development Programme, Participant. Developed Council for Audiovisual Production (CAP) project., Germany
- 2021-2022, Creative Producers Development Programme, Participant. Developed a short film project., UK
- 2014, Film directing workshop by Elmar Imanov, Participant. Directed and produced a short fiction film during a 7-day intensive filmmaking course., Germany, Azerbaijan
- 2014, World from Dawn till Dusk, Participant. Directed two short documentary films as part of a 60-minute documentary almanach., Poland, Azerbaijan
- 2014, Triggering on (Y)Our Creativity workshop by J. Selimkhanov, Participant. Developed three short artistic projects., YARAT, Azerbaijan
Languages
Azerbaijani, native
English, C1
Russian, C1
French, A2
Turkish, B2
Festival Screenings And Awards
- 2021, Success Story of Remaining invisible, IKT SF, IKT Congress
- 2019, Qız Oxusun, Best Social Film, Baku International FF, won
- 2019, Images of Absence, Encounters FF UK
- 2019, Images of Absence, Bucharest Shortcut Cinefest
- 2019, Images of Absence, Cinemadamare FF
- 2014, Baku from Dawn till Dusk, Cottbus FF 2014
- 2014, Baku from Dawn till Dusk, Kazan FF
Filmography
- 2026, Rehearsal, short, writer, dir., in development
- 2021, Success Story of Remaining Invisible, short doc., dir., Ta(r)dino 6, Azerbaijan
- 2021, Notion of School, short doc., writer, dir., Chaikhana Media, Georgia, Azerbaijan
- 2020, Family Portrait, short, dir., Debüt Studio, Azerbaijan
- 2019, Qız Oxusun, short, writer, dir., VarYox, Azerbaijan
- 2018, Images of Absence, short, writer, dir., London Film School, UK
- 2017, Bronco, short, producer, London Film School, UK
- 2016, Three Portraits, short doc., film editor, sound recordist, London Film School, UK
- 2016, Time, short, writer, dir., film editor, London Film School, UK
- 2014, Oil Workers Street and Heydar Aliyev Centre in 'Baku from Dawn till Dusk', short doc., dir., Poland, Azerbaijan
Timeline
Film Tutor
Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts
01.2023 - Current
Founder, Director
White Blue Urban film production company
01.2023 - 01.2025
Film Director, Producer
Ta(r)dino 6 Art Platform
01.2021 - 12.2021
Film Director
Chaikhana Media
01.2021 - 12.2021
Project manager
Trans Europe Halles | Ta(r)dino 6 Art Platform
01.2021 - 12.2021
Creative and Artistic consultant
freelance
01.2020 - Current
Film Director
Debut Studio
01.2020 - 12.2020
Screenwriter, Film Director
VarYox
01.2019 - 12.2019
1st AD
Cinealliance Production
01.2019 - 12.2019
1st AD
Sodruzhestvo Film School
01.2019 - 12.2019
Film director, Screenwriter
freelance
01.2016 - Current
Photographer, Videographer
The European Azerbaijan Society
01.2016 - 12.2017
Script Editor
Azerbaijanfilm Kinostudio
01.2015 - 12.2015
Copywriter
Cinealliance Production
01.2014 - 12.2015
Academic Researcher
Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences
01.2008 - 12.2013
MA - Filmmaking
London Film School
BA - Philology
Baku State University