Armenia-Turkey Cinema Platform

Armenia-Turkey Cinema Platform | Turkish-Armenian Yerevan Workshop

Press-release
15 April, 2010, Yerevan

“Making Films Together!”

A New Initiative by the Armenia Turkey Cinema Platform

From April 8 to10, in the framework of the Istanbul International Film Festival, a workshop by the Armenia Turkey Cinema Platform (ATCP) entitled “Making Films Together!” was held at the initiative of Anadolu Kültür (Turkey) and the Golden Apricot International Film Festival (Armenia). Before the workshop, a competition for short films (fiction, documentary or animation) was announced in both countries. Filmmakers presented topics on Armenia and Turkey: their common interests, dreams, the past and the present of the two countries.

The Armenian side submitted15 projects, the Turkish side – 40. Ten projects were chosen to participate in the workshop (five from each country). Five projects received grants for development and shooting. Among the Armenian projects, "Galata" by Diana Kardumyan and "Neighbours" by Gor Baghdasaryan were granted full funding. Kardumyan’s project is an artistic film montage of scenes in Istanbul and Baghdasaryan’s project depicts two villages and their inhabitants on both sides of the Armenian-Turkish border. Another Armenian project, "The Master of Doves," by Artur Sukiasyan, about dove keepers from Gyumry and Kars, received partial funding. On the Turkish side, full funding was given to "Don’t Get Lost Children!" by Gülengül Altinaş (scriptwriters: Garabet Orunöz, Yüce Yöney), which presents a fragment from the history of Armenian Kamp Armen children's camp in Istanbul. Another Turkish project, "Salute from Salute from Agop to Şukru" by Cem Öztüfekçi on Armenian and Turkish railway workers along the border received partial financing.

Many participants of the workshop previously participated in initiatives of the Golden Apricot festival, especially in the “Directors Across Border” and “Armenia-Turkey Cinema Platform.” Cem Öztüfekçi participated in Abbas Kiarostami’s master classes in Yerevan in 2008.

All films will be co-productions of Anadolu Kültür and Golden Apricot. The final shootings are scheduled to be completed by January 30, 2011. There is an agreement to screen the films at the Istanbul International film festival and Golden Apricot festival in 2011.

The program “Making Films Together!” will be further developed during the 2nd ATCP Script and Project Development Workshop to be held at the 7th Golden Apricot International Film Festival (11-18 July, 2010) and will be fully devoted to the co-production of Armenian-Turkish short films. Soon, anew call for entries for Armenian-Turkish short films will be announced.

The ATCP 2010 Program is supported by the U.S. Embassy in Armenia.