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TURKISH-ARMENIAN SPRING TO BLOSSOM IN A JOINT DOCUMENTARY
armradio.am
24.10.2008 13:46
After September's football diplomacy between Ankara and Yerevan
marked the start of a new era, filmmakers from the two nations have
come together to produce a documentary film conveying their hope for
a continued thaw, the Turkish Daily News reported.
The group of Turkish and Armenian filmmakers came together to make
a documentary film based on the story of the Araks River, which runs
along the border between the two countries. The film depicts the end of
winter and blossoming of spring along the shared border, as a metaphor
for hope for a continued thaw in relations between the two countries.
Armenian film director Gevorg Nazarian and his Turkish counterpart,
Eray Mert, hope to be nominated for an Oscar in the documentary film
category, as well as attract international attention at international
festivals such as Cannes.
The documentary project, which is sponsored by the Turkish-Armenian
Business Development Council, or TABDC, and the Armenian Marketing
Association, takes its inspiration from real-life stories that have
been blossoming around the Araks River for decades.
Turkish and Armenian production teams came together for a kick-off
meeting last week in Ankara, where directors Nazarian and Eray
exchanged views together with their screenwriters. According to the
scenario, which is still being drafted, the transition from winter to
summer in the Araks River region and the melting of the frozen waters
will be the theme, symbolizing the ice-breaking efforts between the
two nations.
Shooting is expected to start as the first snow falls on the Aras
River. The acting will be done by ordinary Turkish and Armenian
villagers from both sides of the river. Values shared by both nations
will be detailed throughout the film with an effort to remind viewers
of the shared history and to try to break down prejudices.
The famous folksong "Yellow Bride," which is claimed by both Turks
and Armenians, is being considered as the soundtrack for the film.
"Yellow Bride" was also played at the dinner hosted by Armenian
President Serge Sargsyan during President Abdullah Gul's one-day trip
to Yerevan on Sept. 6.
The co-chairman of the TABDC, Kaan Soyak, told the TDN the documentary
would display that the sealed border between Armenia and Turkey had
not been sufficient to cut ties between people.
"On both sides we have similar stories, similar lives, similar
people. If they are given the chance to cross borders and meet each
other, they will find out that the border was just a symbolic one. Our
documentary project will show how meaningless it is to close down
borders," he added.
Soyak expressed his belief that the documentary would encourage
political leaders to rapidly proceed in opening borders and removing
barriers.
armradio.am
24.10.2008 13:46
After September's football diplomacy between Ankara and Yerevan
marked the start of a new era, filmmakers from the two nations have
come together to produce a documentary film conveying their hope for
a continued thaw, the Turkish Daily News reported.
The group of Turkish and Armenian filmmakers came together to make
a documentary film based on the story of the Araks River, which runs
along the border between the two countries. The film depicts the end of
winter and blossoming of spring along the shared border, as a metaphor
for hope for a continued thaw in relations between the two countries.
Armenian film director Gevorg Nazarian and his Turkish counterpart,
Eray Mert, hope to be nominated for an Oscar in the documentary film
category, as well as attract international attention at international
festivals such as Cannes.
The documentary project, which is sponsored by the Turkish-Armenian
Business Development Council, or TABDC, and the Armenian Marketing
Association, takes its inspiration from real-life stories that have
been blossoming around the Araks River for decades.
Turkish and Armenian production teams came together for a kick-off
meeting last week in Ankara, where directors Nazarian and Eray
exchanged views together with their screenwriters. According to the
scenario, which is still being drafted, the transition from winter to
summer in the Araks River region and the melting of the frozen waters
will be the theme, symbolizing the ice-breaking efforts between the
two nations.
Shooting is expected to start as the first snow falls on the Aras
River. The acting will be done by ordinary Turkish and Armenian
villagers from both sides of the river. Values shared by both nations
will be detailed throughout the film with an effort to remind viewers
of the shared history and to try to break down prejudices.
The famous folksong "Yellow Bride," which is claimed by both Turks
and Armenians, is being considered as the soundtrack for the film.
"Yellow Bride" was also played at the dinner hosted by Armenian
President Serge Sargsyan during President Abdullah Gul's one-day trip
to Yerevan on Sept. 6.
The co-chairman of the TABDC, Kaan Soyak, told the TDN the documentary
would display that the sealed border between Armenia and Turkey had
not been sufficient to cut ties between people.
"On both sides we have similar stories, similar lives, similar
people. If they are given the chance to cross borders and meet each
other, they will find out that the border was just a symbolic one. Our
documentary project will show how meaningless it is to close down
borders," he added.
Soyak expressed his belief that the documentary would encourage
political leaders to rapidly proceed in opening borders and removing
barriers.