In 1898, Alexandre Michon filmed a short silent documentary film titled "Balaxanı mədənində neft fontanı". It is considered to be the pioneer film in the history of Azerbaijani cinema and globally, dedicated to oil production. The film premiered on August 4, 1898, in Baku.

 Shot on a 35-millimeter reel in the Lumière brothers' studio in 1898, this film captures the uncontrollable flames and dense smoke of the catastrophe. Alexandre Michon's next screening was presented on August 2 of that same year, and it included the film “Bibiheybətdə yanğın”. Two years later, this film was showcased at the Paris International Exhibition, and some of its scenes were presented in France in 1995 as part of the centenary celebration of world cinema. Back on the films related to oil, one of the earliest works in this category is the film “Neft və milyonlar səltənətində” produced in 1916 by director Boris Svetlov at the "“Piron qardaşları” film studio, based on the short story by screenwriter Ibrahim bek Musabekov.

In 1956, Huseyn Seyidzada directed another historical contribution to our cinema by creating Azerbaijan's first color film, "O olmasın bu olsun”. In the early years of the last century, foreign film companies had begun engaging in film production in Baku. The film factory of the Piron Brothers, the companies like "Pathé" and "Filma", and other foreign entities were involved in filmmaking activities in Baku. By a special decree of the People's Commissars' Council on March 5, 1923, the Azerbaijan Photo-Cinema Administration (AFKI) was established. On December 20, 1920, during a session of the Collegium of the Azerbaijan People's Commissariat of Education, a decision was made regarding the opening of the "Cinema Films Factory." On April 28, 1923, the opening ceremony of the First State Film Factory of AFKI was held. The history of the "Azerbaijanfilm" film studio begins precisely with this event. The film factory went by various names over the years, including the State Film Factory of AFKI, Azdövlətkino (Azerbaijan Photo-Cinema Industry and Trade Union), Azərkino, Azərfilm, Azdövlətkinosənaye (October Revolution's Tenth Anniversary Film Factory), Azərfilm (Azerbaijan Photo-Cinema Industry Administration), Baku Film Studio, Azerbaijanfilm Studio, and Azerbaijanfilm Studio named after Jafar Jabbarli.

 Heydar Aliyev's proclamation, "Cinema is the mirror of our people!" demonstrated his profound concern and care for the national film industry, whether during the Soviet era or his leadership in Azerbaijan's years of independence. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, during a period of stagnation in cinema and other sectors, the attentive efforts of Heydar Aliyev led to a revival of Azerbaijan's film industry. Under the guidance of the National Leader, the process of shaping the normative-legal framework for film activities in Azerbaijan commenced in 1993. On December 22 of the same year, the State Film Archive of the Republic of Azerbaijan was established. The establishment of National Cinema Day in Azerbaijan also stands as a historic milestone, achieved through Heydar Aliyev's invaluable contributions to this field. While for many years, Soviet Film Day was observed as the National Cinema Day in Azerbaijan, President Heydar Aliyev's decree on December 18, 2000, officially marked August 2, 1898, as the initiation of the national cinematic storyline. For over 20 years, August 2 has been celebrated as the Day of Azerbaijani Cinema dedicated to cinema workers.