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New and Old programs in the Frames of 8th Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival

May 25, 2011 17:39

The 8th edition of “Golden Apricot” Yerevan International Film Festival will be held in July 10-17, in Yerevan. VivaCell-MTS is the sponsor and faithful partner of the festival. Its director Ralph Yirikian believed in the conceptions of Golden Apricot IFF from the very beginning; and greatly contributed to the promotion of the festival’s credibility. The government supporter is the Ministry of Culture.

Today during the press conference, the director of the festival, Harutyun Khachatryan, the minister of Culture, Hasmik Poghosyan, the director of VivaCell-MTS, Ralph Yirikian presented the programs and competitions of this year’s festival.

“Golden Apricot is one of the unique phenomena in our reality which accompanies us all year long. We always wait for July as we know that“Golden Apricot” will commence, that the city will be changed and full of life and motion. We always expect the best from “Golden Apricot”. Actually I think this year’s “Golden Apricot” will be the continuation of our expectations since there will be surprises, interesting programs”, says Hasmik Poghosyan.

The minister added that the festival enthusiastically progressed within 8 years. “If the participant countries of the 1st festival were solely 11, then this year they are 60”, says he mentioning “This is not merely a festival “.

The interviewees presented the program of the 8th “Golden Apricot” Yerevan IFF to the journalists. The traditional competitions of Feature, Documentary and Armenian Panorama are enriched with the “Stone” nomination.

“There is an innovative festival within this festival which is the idea of young people. The youth organized Short Film competition titled “The Stone””, presented the nomination Harutyun Khachatryan, the director of the festival. He also added that this year “Golden Apricot” has film school program as well where will be screened films made by students”.

Taking into consideration professionals and audiences’ interest towards CIS produced films, in 2011 the “Golden Apricot” will present innovative out-of-competition program dedicated to the 20th anniversary of CIS countries titled “The Cinema of CIS Countries”.

This year is the 150th anniversary of the Italian Unification, respect of which a huge program of Italian classic and contemporary films will be screened during the festival.

The other jubilee project of Golden Apricot is dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the Independence of Armenia. Films about Armenia and Armenians, filmed by foreign filmmakers, will be included. Also there will be screenings of Armenian documentaries shot during the years of independence. The jubilees of Armenian prominent filmmakers Roman Balayan, Edmond Qyosyan and Dmitri Kesayants will be celebrated.

“I’d like to thank the Ministry of Culture and Mrs. Hasmik Poghosyan, and our culture fan friend, the director of VivaCell-MTS, Mr. Ralph Yirikian. I think the current liveliness of cultural life is due to those both fundamental pillars”, says the director of festival giving the “Alexander Mantashyants” book by Khachatur Dadayan to Hasmik Poghosyan and Ralph Yirikian. The official presentation of the book will take place during the festival.

Harutyun Khachatryan also mentioned that during the festival the statue of Mantashyants will be erected on Abovyan St. sculptured by Tigran Arzoumanyan.

The main sponsor of the festival, Ralph Yirikian pointed out that the significance of the festival as it represents Armenia abroad.

“We believe that year by year the festival becomes more renowned thanks to the organizers, not the VivaCell-MTS. You raise our country’s name and honor”, says Mr. Yirikian. The interviewees also referred to the problem of lacking cinema halls. On this occasion the Minister of Culture mentioned that though some steps are made in that direction but they cannot offer new cinema halls till the festival.