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Gerard Depardieu and Tim Roth star in movie about FIFA shot in Azerbaijan

The movie's preem is scheduled for next summer
Photo ITAR-TASS/Ivan Ivanov
Photo ITAR-TASS/Ivan Ivanov

BAKU, October 23. (Itar-Tass). — Shooting of film dedicated to the 100th anniversary of FIFA started in Azerbaijan on Wednesday. In the movie directed by Frederic Auburtin are starring Tim Roth and Gerard Depardieu. Roth plays the role of current FIFA president Joseph Blatter, and Depardieu represents the third FIFA head Jules Rimet.

As reported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan, Depardieu, who is also one of the producers, is currently in Baku overseeing the work. The movie will be shot not only in Azerbaijan, but also in Brazil, Switzerland, France and Germany.

The organization of the movie set was carried out by Azerbaijanfilm production company. “This is a huge project. We are shooting in Sakhil settlement in the suburbs of Baku. Up to 160 people are on the set,” the film production company’s director Mushvig Khatamov told Itar-Tass. He added that the scratch of the movie filmed by France-based Leuviah Films was ‘F2014’. However, the movie-makers keep in secret the final title of the movie. Khatamov also noted that he considered a big success for his studio the fact that the movie was being shot in Azarbaijan. “Before, in such cases producers tended to choose famous studios, such as Czech-based Barrandov, or production companies in Bulgaria or Hungary. Movie production is not only shooting. A big organizational work, set construction are left behind the scenes, and all this is now done by Azerbaijani specialists. I guess the fact that we’ve been entrusted to do this important work is the recognition of professionalism of Azerbaijani movie-makers,” Khatamov said.

He added that the shooting in Azerbaijan would last until October 26. One of the episodes might be filmed on Bakcell Arena stadium, where recently took place the match between Azerbaijan and Russia in the qualifying round of the World Cup 2014.

The movie’s premiere is scheduled for summer 2014, before the World Cup start in Brazil.

It is not the first shooting in Azerbaijan for Gerard Depardieu. In 2012, he was starring here in a documentary about the trip of Duma senior through Azerbaijan. Depardieu played the role of his great compatriot. The shooting was made in Baku, ancient Azerbaijany cities Kazah, Guba, Sheki, Shemaha and even on Neft Daslari (Oil Rocks) in the Caspian Sea.