Golden Apricot 12th International Film Festival Opens in Yerevan

YEREVAN — The opening ceremony of Golden Apricot 12th Yerevan International Film Festival took place at Spendiarian Opera and Ballet Theatre of Yerevan on July 12.

The week of the festival started with the traditional morning press conferences. During the press conference the Armenian Panorama National Competition participants Marine and Sona Kocharians (How to cross (from Jiliz to Jiliz)), Vahram Mkhitarian (The Shepherd’s song) and Alex Igitbashian and Emili Mkrtchian (Traversed) presented their films.

The second half of the day was the Golden Apricot’s non-official starting point with the traditional Apricot blessing ceremony, which was held in St. Anna church this year. During the first day of the festival famous Italian actress Ornella Muti had a meeting with the press and the fans.

The screening of the Golden Apricot ’s opening film Don’t Tell Me the Boy Was Mad by French- Armenian film director Robert Guediguian was held. The film, that had its international premiere during the 2015 Cannes Film festival’s out of competition program, partially talks about the Genocide and tells the story of the generation of 1970-1980, who carried out armed struggle for recognition.

In the evening the official opening was held at National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet . Honorary guests, the participants of the competition and non-competition programs walked through the red carpet ceremony. During the opening ceremony famous film stars Ornella Muti and Nastassja Kinski were given the ”Parajanov Thaler” Awards.

“2015 is a special year. Golden Apricot Festival organized screenings in various countries to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The festival carried out the program ‘Never Again’ dedicated to the Genocide’s centenary,” French Armenian film director Serge Avedikian said at the opening ceremony.