Tweet
ARMENIA PUTS THE KIBOSH ON AZERBAIJANI FILM FESTIVAL
by Giorgi Lomsadze
EurasiaNet.org
April 17 2012
NY
Its films did not feature the graphic violence of Pazolini's "Salo"
or the merciless satire of Sasha Baron Cohen's "Borat." The single
criticism of Armenia's "Stop" film festival was that its films were
made in the enemy state, Azerbaijan. And, now, faced with a campaign
of threats and abuse, the organizers have called the festival off.
After being drubbed out of the northern city of Gyumri, the organizers
tried to show their collection of short, human-interest films in the
nearby city of Vanadzor, but called it a day after the intimidation
and threats of violence continued.
Political forces across party lines, several NGOs and media companies
issued a letter that warned organizers that there would be consequences
in Vanadzor, too, and that the festival organizers would bear the
responsibility.
A previous attempt to screen Azerbaijani films in Armenia also fell
through in 2010. The organizers said they will keep trying to promote
free thinking and help audiences on both sides of the 24-year-long
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan see through
the veil of propaganda.
by Giorgi Lomsadze
EurasiaNet.org
April 17 2012
NY
Its films did not feature the graphic violence of Pazolini's "Salo"
or the merciless satire of Sasha Baron Cohen's "Borat." The single
criticism of Armenia's "Stop" film festival was that its films were
made in the enemy state, Azerbaijan. And, now, faced with a campaign
of threats and abuse, the organizers have called the festival off.
After being drubbed out of the northern city of Gyumri, the organizers
tried to show their collection of short, human-interest films in the
nearby city of Vanadzor, but called it a day after the intimidation
and threats of violence continued.
Political forces across party lines, several NGOs and media companies
issued a letter that warned organizers that there would be consequences
in Vanadzor, too, and that the festival organizers would bear the
responsibility.
A previous attempt to screen Azerbaijani films in Armenia also fell
through in 2010. The organizers said they will keep trying to promote
free thinking and help audiences on both sides of the 24-year-long
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan see through
the veil of propaganda.