Armenian Genocide Film “Aghet” Screened at US Capitol Hill

A standing room only crowd of legislators, staff and community activists applauded the Capitol Hill screening of “AGHET: A GENOCIDE,” a powerful documentary by German filmmaker Eric Friedler depicting Ottoman Turkey’s annihilation of 1.5 million Armenians from 1915 to 1923 and calling attention to the costs of the current Turkish government’s ongoing international campaign of genocide denial, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).  Read more... (748 words)

Turkey Will Continue Seeding Hatred Towards Armenians in Elementary Schools

A Turkish court has rejected a case filed by the Hrant Dink international foundation against the Turkish Ministry of Education.

The foundation named after the slain Armenian-Turkish journalist Hrant Dink requires that that showing of Sari Gelin: The True Face of the Armenian Cause in Turkish elementary schools be stopped.

This is a documentary that Turkish authorities effectively use by showing it in Turkish elementary schools in an attempt to seed hatred towards Armenians and distort the essence of the Armenian Genocide.

The complaint mentions that the film runs counter to the creation of democracy and tolerance – one of the main objectives of education – and therefore negatively affects the psychology of the children.  Read more... (224 words)

Turkish Film Director Aawarded Golden Apricot in Yerevan

Golden Apricot 7th international film festival in Yerevan draw to an end on July 18. The ceremony of handind the awards took place in Moscow Cinema in downtown Yerevan.

This year about 120 films were shown of all the 500 applications received. Forty five films competed in 3 nominations judged by 5 international jury.

Golden Apricot, the main prize, in Best Feature Film Contest nomination was awarded to Kosmos by Turkish film director Reha Erdem.

The Silver Apricot prize was awarded to My Joy by Sergei Lozintsa.

Pavel Kostomarov’s Together was awarded the Golden Apricot in Best Documentary Film nomination, while the Silver Apricot went to The Woman with Five Elephants by Vadim Jendreyko.  Read more... (224 words)

Fatih Akin: Fear Is The Reason of The Armenian-Turkish Conflict

German film director of Turkish origin Fatih Akin has arrived in Yerevan within the framework of the Golden Apricot 7th International Film Festival. He will present the film “Soul Kitchen” to the Armenian audience.

Sharing his impressions from Yerevan, the director described the Armenian capital city as “hospitable, modest, somewhat magic and mysterious.”

“On these days I’ll try to spend less time in cinemas and avail myself of the opportunity to get to know Yerevan better,” Fatih Akin told reporters today.

According to the director, fear is the cause of the conflict between Armenians and Turks. “It’s the fear to face the truth. Fear devours soul, and fear has devoured many souls in my country. Overcoming this fear is the only way towards normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations. I’m confident that the cinema has the power to overcome that fear, and I’m sure it will happen one day,” he said.  Read more... (211 words)

TRT Bans Armenian Version of Full of Sorrow

Turkish state-run TV Company TRT has banned all its channels from airing the Armenian song of Alex – a Turkish citizen.

According to local Turkish daily TRT has ruled that Full of Sorrow (Aciyla dolu), a song in Alex’s CD titled Hetk (Trace) cannot be aired on a Turkish TV channel.

Alex has expresses dissatisfaction and surprise saying the song is only about love.

“I have not pursued any other aim with that song; it has no political message. The Armenian text of the song narrates a love story.
Banning it is not a solution, and I think, that it should be left to people to evaluate it,” said he.  Read more... (145 words)

Armenia’s Foreign Minister Hosts Participants Of The Golden Apricot Film Festival

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia hosted a reception for participants of the “Golden Apricot” International Film Festival. Guests and participants of the “Golden Apricot,” Ambassadors accredited in Armenia and representatives of international organizations were present at the reception.

Among the guests were renowned representatives of world cinematography Alen Terzyan, Atom Egoyan and Claudia Cardinale.

“The Golden Apricot expands its traditions and geography, by gathering more and more artists from different countries of the world, who speak different languages, but communicate in one language – the language of cinema, which contains a great uniting power,” Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said in his opening remarks.  Read more... (194 words)

Golden Apricot 7th Yerevan International Film Festival underway

Golden Apricot 7th Yerevan International Film Festival underway

Golden Apricot 7th Yerevan International Film Festival got underway July 11. “Mayrig” (Mother) by Henry Verneuil marked the opening of the festival.

Traditional apricot-blessing ceremony took place in St. Zoravor Church on Sunday, prior to the official opening ceremony of the festival. The stars of Hamo Beknazaryan, Ruben Mamulyan, Sergey Parajanov and Henry Verneuil were opened on the Star Alley in front of Moscow Cinema with participation of Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, Culture Minister Hasmik Poghosyan, Yerevan Mayor Gagik Beglaryan and the world-famous Italian movie star Claudia Cardinale.

Culture Minister Hasmik Poghosyan granted the famous actress a gold medal of Culture Ministry at the official opening ceremony.  Read more... (262 words)

Adam Schiff to host Capitol Hill Premiere Of Acclaimed Armenian Genocide Documentary ‘AGHET’

US House Armenian Genocide Resolution author Adam Schiff (D-CA) will be hosting the Capitol Hill premiere of “AGHET: A GENOCIDE” – a powerful documentary by German filmmaker Eric Friedler, documenting the annihilation of 1.5 million Armenians from 1915 to 1923 and calling attention to the current day Turkish Government’s international campaign of Genocide denial, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

The 90-minute documentary, dubbed in English, will be shown on Wednesday, July 21 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm in Room 2325 of the Rayburn House Office Building Room, adjacent to the US Capitol.  Read more... (434 words)

Yerevan Hosts Premiere Screening of Tigranakert Documentary

On June 4, Yerevan hosted a premiere screening of Tigranakert documentary.

Director of the film Tigran Khzmalyan said that the documentary was created during 1.5 year, mainly in Artsakh. “I learned much while shooting the film, that is why it should present interest also for viewers,” Khzmalyan told journalists.

Commenting on limited number of viewers, Khzmalyan said he had not managed to organize a big advertisement campaign of the film.

He added that Armenia has always been Tigranakert, as this word literally means “created by Tigran,” while Armenia has become a political factor during the tenure of Tigran the Great. “The fact of Tigranakert revelation as a result of excavations is among important achievements of the Artsakh victory,” Khzmalyan said.  Read more... (159 words)