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TORONTO POMEGRANATE FILM FESTIVAL WRAPS UP 7TH SEASON WITH RECORD-BREAKING ATTENDANCE
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2012/10/29/toronto-pomegranate-film-festival-wraps-up-7th-season-with-record-breaking-attendance/
October 29, 2012
TORONTO, Canada-The 7th Annual Pomegranate Film Festival (POM), held
in Toronto, Canada, officially ended its seventh season on Sun., Oct.
21, with a sold-out world premiere. From Oct. 18-21, POM VII celebrated
an extremely successful four-day weekend that featured a variety of
34 films from 12 different countries, including 10 world premieres,
setting a new record for festival attendance.
(From Left) The director of 'Lost and Found in Armenia' Gor Kirakosian;
stars Angela Sarafyan and Jamie Kennedy; the executive producer of
the National Film Board of Canada, Silva Basmadjian; and POM chair
Sevag Yeghoyan (Photo by Chris Krikorian) "Once again POM completely
raised the bar this year," said Jacob Porpossian, the director
of communications and marketing for POM. "Our fantastic selection
of films was very well received and helped us set a new attendance
record for the festival since its inception seven years ago."
The festival concluded with the sold-out world premiere screening of
the comedy "Lost and found in Armenia," directed by Gor Kirakosian,
with stars Jamie Kennedy and Angela Sarafyan in attendance. The
2012 POM Awards Ceremony shortly followed with jury members Silva
Basmadjian, the executive producer of the National Film Board of
Canada; Roger Kupelian, a filmmaker and author of the graphic novel
"War Gods"; Hrant Alianak, a playwright and actor; and acclaimed
cinematographer Norayr Kaspar presenting the 2012 awards.
The film "Azad," directed by Nicolas Tackian, was awarded Best Feature
Film, with Honorable Mention awarded to "Where Do We Go Now?" by
producer Lara Chekerdjian. Best Short Film was awarded to director
Erik Dinkian for his film "Yukiko," while Honorable Mentions were
awarded to Oksana Mirzoyan for her film "140 Drams," as well as Luska
Khalapyan for her film "The Seventh." The Dr. Michael J. Hagopian
Award for Best Documentary was awarded to Gary and Cesar Gananian for
their film "Armenian Rhapsody," with Honorable Mention awarded to Dr.
Kay Mouradian for her film "My Mother's Voice." Along with winning
the Best Feature Film category, the coveted Audience Choice Awards
went to "Where Do We Go Now?" and Gor Kirakosian's "Lost and Found
in Armenia." Other featured films, such as Katherine Sarafian's
"Brave," Norayr Kaspar's "Zenne Dancer," Oscan Alper's "Future Lasts
Forever," screenwriter Stephane Kazandjian's "Monster In Paris," Vahakn
Grigoryan's "It's Me," and Robert Davidian's "Armenian Activists Now,"
generated much discussion among film attendees.
"Selecting the right mix of films for a four day festival is never
easy." said Porpossian. "Our board members spend a lot of time making
sure we have a diverse array of films that ensures the growth of the
festival, while appealing to viewers that are new to film festival
culture, as well as loyal yearly attendees."
The seventh season allowed POM to push the boundaries by introducing
subject matter that wasn't previously screened at the Toronto
festival. "Symphony of Sin," a collection of eight short rated-R
films, including "Yukiko," allowed POM attendees to explore the dark
side of the creative mind and experience a variety of thrillers and
horror films, while the screening of "Zenne Dancer" highlighted and
introduced LGBTQ and related honor killing issues in Turkey to the
Toronto-Armenian community.
"We love seeing how attendees react to different films when they
exit the theatre," said Porpossian. "You know you've succeeded when
your audience is engaged in discussions about the films after the
screening has concluded."
Due to the success and popularity of the Festival's finale film Lost
and Found in Armenia, a second Toronto screening has already been
scheduled for Nov. 18 at the Hamazkayin Theatre.
For more information regarding the Pomegranate Film Festival, visit
www.pomegranatefilmfestival.com or www.twitter.com/POMFILMFEST .
About Pomegranate Film Festival
Established in 2006, the Pomegranate Film Festival stems from the
Toronto "Klatsor" Chapter of the Hamazkayin Armenian Educational
and Cultural Society. A group of young Armenian professionals, bound
by a passion for film and culture, voluntarily come together every
year to put together a wonderful cultural event that they believe
is fundamental to Armenians living in the Canadian diaspora. Like
its fruity namesake, the pomegranate, this film festival is fresh,
dynamic, and prolific. Rich in variety, it depicts topics relevant
to Armenian culture through the medium of films submitted from around
the world. In doing so, it creates a platform for burgeoning Armenian
talent to showcase their work and grow as artists, while providing
the Armenian community and its supporters a unique film experience.
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2012/10/29/toronto-pomegranate-film-festival-wraps-up-7th-season-with-record-breaking-attendance/
October 29, 2012
TORONTO, Canada-The 7th Annual Pomegranate Film Festival (POM), held
in Toronto, Canada, officially ended its seventh season on Sun., Oct.
21, with a sold-out world premiere. From Oct. 18-21, POM VII celebrated
an extremely successful four-day weekend that featured a variety of
34 films from 12 different countries, including 10 world premieres,
setting a new record for festival attendance.
(From Left) The director of 'Lost and Found in Armenia' Gor Kirakosian;
stars Angela Sarafyan and Jamie Kennedy; the executive producer of
the National Film Board of Canada, Silva Basmadjian; and POM chair
Sevag Yeghoyan (Photo by Chris Krikorian) "Once again POM completely
raised the bar this year," said Jacob Porpossian, the director
of communications and marketing for POM. "Our fantastic selection
of films was very well received and helped us set a new attendance
record for the festival since its inception seven years ago."
The festival concluded with the sold-out world premiere screening of
the comedy "Lost and found in Armenia," directed by Gor Kirakosian,
with stars Jamie Kennedy and Angela Sarafyan in attendance. The
2012 POM Awards Ceremony shortly followed with jury members Silva
Basmadjian, the executive producer of the National Film Board of
Canada; Roger Kupelian, a filmmaker and author of the graphic novel
"War Gods"; Hrant Alianak, a playwright and actor; and acclaimed
cinematographer Norayr Kaspar presenting the 2012 awards.
The film "Azad," directed by Nicolas Tackian, was awarded Best Feature
Film, with Honorable Mention awarded to "Where Do We Go Now?" by
producer Lara Chekerdjian. Best Short Film was awarded to director
Erik Dinkian for his film "Yukiko," while Honorable Mentions were
awarded to Oksana Mirzoyan for her film "140 Drams," as well as Luska
Khalapyan for her film "The Seventh." The Dr. Michael J. Hagopian
Award for Best Documentary was awarded to Gary and Cesar Gananian for
their film "Armenian Rhapsody," with Honorable Mention awarded to Dr.
Kay Mouradian for her film "My Mother's Voice." Along with winning
the Best Feature Film category, the coveted Audience Choice Awards
went to "Where Do We Go Now?" and Gor Kirakosian's "Lost and Found
in Armenia." Other featured films, such as Katherine Sarafian's
"Brave," Norayr Kaspar's "Zenne Dancer," Oscan Alper's "Future Lasts
Forever," screenwriter Stephane Kazandjian's "Monster In Paris," Vahakn
Grigoryan's "It's Me," and Robert Davidian's "Armenian Activists Now,"
generated much discussion among film attendees.
"Selecting the right mix of films for a four day festival is never
easy." said Porpossian. "Our board members spend a lot of time making
sure we have a diverse array of films that ensures the growth of the
festival, while appealing to viewers that are new to film festival
culture, as well as loyal yearly attendees."
The seventh season allowed POM to push the boundaries by introducing
subject matter that wasn't previously screened at the Toronto
festival. "Symphony of Sin," a collection of eight short rated-R
films, including "Yukiko," allowed POM attendees to explore the dark
side of the creative mind and experience a variety of thrillers and
horror films, while the screening of "Zenne Dancer" highlighted and
introduced LGBTQ and related honor killing issues in Turkey to the
Toronto-Armenian community.
"We love seeing how attendees react to different films when they
exit the theatre," said Porpossian. "You know you've succeeded when
your audience is engaged in discussions about the films after the
screening has concluded."
Due to the success and popularity of the Festival's finale film Lost
and Found in Armenia, a second Toronto screening has already been
scheduled for Nov. 18 at the Hamazkayin Theatre.
For more information regarding the Pomegranate Film Festival, visit
www.pomegranatefilmfestival.com or www.twitter.com/POMFILMFEST .
About Pomegranate Film Festival
Established in 2006, the Pomegranate Film Festival stems from the
Toronto "Klatsor" Chapter of the Hamazkayin Armenian Educational
and Cultural Society. A group of young Armenian professionals, bound
by a passion for film and culture, voluntarily come together every
year to put together a wonderful cultural event that they believe
is fundamental to Armenians living in the Canadian diaspora. Like
its fruity namesake, the pomegranate, this film festival is fresh,
dynamic, and prolific. Rich in variety, it depicts topics relevant
to Armenian culture through the medium of films submitted from around
the world. In doing so, it creates a platform for burgeoning Armenian
talent to showcase their work and grow as artists, while providing
the Armenian community and its supporters a unique film experience.