Lead
Directed by Rustam Babazade
Azerbaijan · 2026 · 20 min · Drama
Submitted to RTV International Film Festival 2026Synopsis
Over the course of a few days, a younger brother secretly returns to his native village after years of absence, fleeing the consequences of a crime committed in the city.
About the film
Over the course of a few days, a younger brother secretly returns to his native village after years of absence, fleeing the consequences of a crime committed in the city. He has not been home for ten years and did not attend his parents’ funeral. He hides in their abandoned house. The older brother lives there alone, withdrawn and guarded. Discovering the younger brother hiding in a shed, he confronts him but does not turn him in. Instead, he shelters him in the basement, placing himself at risk. When a police inspector arrives in the village and begins questioning the older brother, tension intensifies. He remains silent. The brothers visit their parents’ grave, standing together for the first time in years. As the days come to an end, a shared meal becomes a quiet gesture of care, opening the possibility of separation without resolution or absolution.
Director(s)
RUSTAM BABAZADE Screenwriter • Film Director Member of the Azerbaijan Union of Film-makers (AUF) Based in: Baku, Azerbaijan Profile Rustam Babazade is an Azerbaijani screenwriter and director. His work explores family relationships, memory, identity and the emotional consequences of social change through intimate, character-driven stories. His films have been screened at international festivals, including the Cannes Short Film Corner, Sofia MENAR Film Festival and Kazan International Muslim Film Festival. In 2022, he received the Best Director Award at the Baku International Short Film Festival for Last Autumn. His latest short film, Lead (2026), continues his exploration of family bonds and moral dilemmas. Education Azerbaijan State University of Art and Culture M.A. in Cultural Studies (2002–2004) B.A. in Literary Creativity and Screenwriting (1998–2002) Selected Filmography Writer & Director • From zero to one (2026) – Documentary short film • Lead (2026) – Short Film • Last Autumn (2022) – Short Film • The Clay (2014) – Short Film • Black & White Rainbow (2011) – Short Film Screenwriter • When the Stadiums Are Silent (2023) – Feature film • Olympia (2021) – Feature film • Goodbye, Schmidt! (2019) – Feature film Producer • Lead (2026) Editor-in-Chief • Charlotte (2026) – Short film • I Am Looking for My Brother (2022) – Short film Co-Director • We Remember You, Arif! (2026) – Documentary feature film Awards & Recognition • Best Director – 13th Baku International Short Film Festival (2022) for Last Autumn • Winner – Azerbaijan Union of Cinematographers Feature Screenplay Competition (2025) for Bride • National Humay Award Nominee (2026) o Best Screenplay o Best Short Film (Lead) Selected Festival Screenings • Festival de Cannes – Short Film Corner • Kazan International Muslim Film Festival • Sofia MENAR Film Festival • Cyprus International Film Festival • Vladivostok International Film Festival • Shanghai Cooperation Organization Film Festival • Baku International Short Film Festival Professional Experience • Screenwriter of the Opening Ceremony, First Baku Cinema Breeze Film Festival (2024) • Jury Member, AIAZ Film Festival, Baku (2025) • Screenwriting Workshop Trainer, Baku (2026)
Trailer
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Film stills
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RTV International Film Festival — Inaugural Online Edition · 2026