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Azerbaijan
Sleposhar
Due to public shaming, lack of awareness and education, and exclusive spaces, disabled communities struggle the most and turn into home prisoners at some point. The integration of disabled people into society is very limited in Azerbaijan and the film highlights a deaf person’s perspective on daily life. Due to little to no existing inclusive infrastructure in Baku, most disabled people find it hard to go out of their houses without being dependent on a helper. Also, those who feel comfortable going out are always subjected as someone “in need” and get many offers from the public for help which the person did not even ask for in the first place. Many also assume that people with disabilities are in need of money and often offer them some financial help as well, which leaves many in an uncomfortable situation. The public authorities who are responsible for the city design and institutions working with people with disabilities are usually very irresponsive and the needs of the community have been unfortunately neglected for years with many empty promises to provide necessary design and tools around the neighborhoods to make life easier for them.
Azerbaijan
There is no space for you
Baku hosts almost 5 million citizens and there are 2 million cars on the roads. The expansion of roads and the construction of new bridges almost paralyzed traffic for the past decade and even now, after the constructions, things are not better. Mass tourist waves and the large number of people moving to Baku every year for better opportunities worsen the situation. Thus, overpopulation and bad city infrastructure leave many citizens of Baku going through a hell of traffic and congestion during rush hours. Public transport is also very packed and not so safe for many to use. The situation proves that there is a significant need for more alternative and green forms of transportation. Cycling is proven to be one of the most sustainable ways of transport and the city’s road infrastructure exclusively leaves cyclists behind. There are no bike lanes in most parts of the city, and only a few parks have them that have no point or connection points. Also, the drivers are very aggressive and impatient with the cyclists. Many drivers create very precarious situations for cyclists and the aggression is the same for those who ride motorcycles as well. Driving on big roads with no bike lane and around the sidewalks with many underground paths make things really worse for cyclists. Also, the lack of community and cycling culture kills its potential for the future. Baku needs sustainable and innovative solutions to its major urban problems and leaving the cyclists behind only challenges the situation further.
Georgia
After The Heavy Rain
In the late 90s there were few places where one could go as a kid and have fun. Tbilisi zoo was one of them. While skipping the school, me and my friends would go there often. By that time this place had no much meaning, it was just a place to hide. I have not been to the zoo since childhood, until my kid got 3-4 years old. After almost 20years gap, revisiting this place got me into a big emotional mess. I started to go there for my photo projects, at first, I was obsessed with the architecture of the cages. Later in 2015 Tbilisi flood happened. It resulted in around 20 peoples and in half of the zoo’s animals’ deaths. Some of the wild animals escaped from the zoo and were roaming in the city, just like in Hollywood movies or animations. For me it got more meaning to observe the life of the zoo after the flood. From a happy childhood attraction, it has transformed into a saddest place, which is located in the city center, surrounded by highways and constructions. We go there and take our kids, as if we are getting them used to have fun in a most primitive way.
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