The festival is a non-profit cultural initiative dedicated to highlighting female filmmakers and exploring gender-related themes through cinema. Guests will participate in Q&A's, discussions, workshops and masterclasses.

Heddy Honigmann Retrospective

^{_{Heddy Honigmann}}

In a special homage to Heddy Honigmann the festival is showing 4 films of her work. Metal and Melancholy produced by Ariel Film in 1993, The Underground Orchestra produced by Pieter van Huystee Film in 1997, Good Husband, Dear Son produced by Appel&Honigmann in 2001 and Oblivion /El Olvido produced by Cobos Films in 2008. The program will be introduced by Monique Lesterhuis, Dutch documentary film maker who has worked with Heddy Honigmann on many of her films.

Competition

The Short Local Competition shows Runaway Father by Isa Sauer and produced by Pieter van Huystee Film. Isa Sauer, who’s father is from Azerbaijan will be attending the festival.

My father had been forced to flee Azerbaijan for political reasons. But the man who once had to flee his own country also disappeared from our lives.

_{Still from Runaway Father}

Minority Co-productions

Three minority Dutch productions were selected in the Best of Fests section.
Memory by Vladlena Sandu. Co-produced by Revolver Amsterdam. 
Cutting Through Rocks directed and produced by Sara Khaki & Mohammadreza Eyni. NL Co-producted by HUMAN (TV).Whispers in May by Dongnan Chen. Co-produced by Muyi Film.

Netherlands-based Turkish artist Bahar Shirin Demirel, and winner of last year’s ‘Best Short Documentary Award’ with her film Between Delicate and Violent, will be serving in this year's international jury.

Sevilfest is running from July 3–11 in Baku with parallel editions in the regional cities of Shaki and Lankaran. https://www.instagram.com/sevilfest .