Tweet
Top Honors Awarded At The 15th Arpa International Film Festival
http://asbarez.com/107450/top-honors-awarded-at-the-15th-arpa-international-film-festival/
Friday, January 4th, 2013
AFFMA
HOLLYWOOD - Cinema patrons, industry veterans and emerging filmmakers
came out to the Egyptian Theatre to see the most highly anticipated
films of the year and to celebrate the best of the 15th Arpa
International Film Festival (AFFMA.org) at a star-studded gala Awards
Ceremony at the Sheraton Universal Hotel.
Over four rainy days from Thursday, November 29 to Sunday, December
2, 2012, Arpa International Film Festival showcased over 60 films from
around the globe, Q&A's, receptions as well as a first ever GEMAI
industry panel discussion highlighting new technologies for the Deaf
and Blind.
2012 marked a high point for Arpa Foundation for Film, Music and Art.
`Not only did we celebrate 15 years of staging the film festival in
Los Angeles,' said the organization's founder, Sylvia Minassian, `but
AFFMA was itself recognized for its continued efforts to support
artists and filmmakers.' In 2012, AFFMA was the recipient of an
Armenian Heritage Award by Los Angeles City Council and the office of
Eric Garcetti, and a Roll Global Grant for its humanitarian efforts.
It is the major highlight of a year of accomplishments for the
organization which includes founder Minassian as a recipient of the
Golden Medal of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Armenia,
one of the highest Armenian cultural awards.
Arpa International Film Festival director Alex Kalognomos said, `This
year we added even more internationally themed films to the film
program. We also had sold-out screenings throughout the festival,
beginning with the 800-person opening night sell-out for LOST & FOUND
IN ARMENIA. We continued to break attendance records as the Los
Angeles audiences came out to take part in the all the festival has to
offer.'
The festival culminated with a Gala event and awards ceremony at which
filmmakers, sponsors, and honored guests were celebrated for making
this year's festival a milestone event. The evening's mistress of
ceremonies, Marla Maples, invited the filmmakers who were presented
their awards after each of their screenings to join her on stage and
take a bow for their achievements.
BEST PICTURE was awarded to Nicolas Tackian for his French drama AZAD
BEST DIRECTOR kudos was delivered to Caner Alper and Mehmet Binay for
the Turkish film ZENNE DANCER.
BEST SCREENPLAY Award was given to Arshaluys Harutyunyan for the
Armenian drama WANDERING
The BEST DOCUMENTARY Feature Award for THE SUFFERING GRASSES: WHEN
ELEPHANTS FIGHT, IT IS THE GRASS THAT SUFFERS was presented to Yara
Lee.
Eddie Deleon Melikyan accepted the award for BEST SHORT FILM for
directing JUST LIKE HER.
Also present were the 2012 special award honorees. Presenters such as
filmmaker Haik Gazarian and actress Valentina Rendon presented Hrach
Titizian with the Breakthrough Actor of the Year Award; actress
Heather McComb presented Michael Poghosian the Artist of the Year
Award; actor/filmmaker Sebastian Siegel awarded Frances Fisher the
Career Achievement Award; AFFMA Founder Sylvia Minassian presented
Lusine Sahakyan, director of `Hamshen at Crossroads of Past and
Present' (Armenia,Turkey) with the prestigious Armin T. Wegner
Humanitarian Award; Actress Anoush NeVart presented the Arpa
Foundation Award to recipient USC Shoah Foundation, The Institute For
Visual History And Education. The award was accepted by Dr. Stephen D.
Smith, MBE, PhD who spoke about the merits of supporting independent
cinema and archiving efforts such as those by the Shoah Foundation.
And Achievement in International Cinema Award was accepted by `Lost &
Found in Armenia' (Armenia, USA) director, Gor Kirakosian.
The awards were determined by a panel of industry experts which
included Filmmaker Debra Attoinese (`Zoe'), Actor and filmmaker
Charles Davis, consulting Executive Producer Max Howard (SPIRIT:
STALLION OF THE CIMARRON, SAVING SANTA), Inferno Entertainment EVP of
Production and Development Ara Keshishian, entertainment lawyer JD
Larson, Motion Picture Literary Agent at Creative Artists Agency (CAA)
Stuart Manashil and Award-winning Executive Producer and Motion
Picture Executive Howard Rosenman (COMMON THREADS: STORIES FROM THE
QUILT, SPARKLE, FATHER OF THE BRIDE, THE FAMILY MAN).
`Fifteen years makes Arpa International Film Festival one of the
longest standing film festivals in Los Angeles,' said Minassian. `We
are very committed to supporting independent filmmakers and depend on
community support to make events such as the festival possible.' This
year's key sponsors were Tacori, Horizon TV, Yerevan Magazine, and
Siera Jewelers. `Without the support of sponsors,' said Kalognomos
during his opening remarks at the Gala, `...it would be impossible to
stage such an event where everyone's influence and creativity build
unity and success.' AFFMA, a non-profit organization, annually stages
entertainment industry networking mixers, art exhibits, and fashion
shows in an effort to fundraise for its signature event, the film
festival.
For the first time in its history, AFFMA awarded the winners of Best
Feature, Best Short, and Best Documentary a cash award. `Such
recognitions help us fulfill our commitment as an art organization to
give grants and support the efforts of such fine filmmakers,' added
Minassian.
AFFMA, a non-profit organization, was founded for the purpose of
enhancing Los Angeles's creative environment and supporting those
artists who bridge the cultural divide. Each year, AFFMA stages
networking events, concerts, art exhibits, fashion shows, book
signings, and various benefits to promote emerging talents. Most
significantly, AFFMA produces Arpa International Film Festival to
unify diverse people and cultures through film. Since 1997, the
Festival has honored over 100 artists and filmmakers with grants and
awards. Visit www.affma.org for more information.
ARMIN T. WEGNER HUMANITARIAN AWARD marks its 10th year as one of Arpa
International Film Festival's top honors awarded during the festival.
First presented by Arpa International Film Festival in 2002, this
Award is named after German author and human rights activist Armin
Theophil Wegner (October 16, 1886 - May 17, 1978).
LUSINE SAHAKYAN, HAMSHEN AT THE CROSSROADS OF PAST AND PRESENT (ARMIN
T. WEGNER HUMANITARIAN AWARD) Dedicated to the current state of the
descendants of the Armenians of Hamshen (Hamshentsis), the film
explores a people who were Islamicized by the Ottoman Empire in the
18th century. Today, they live primarily in the provinces of Rizeh and
Artvin, as well as in Istanbul and other cities of Turkey. The film
presents unique episodes from the history and culture of the Armenian
Principality of Hamshen, and the practice of Islamization, a form of
ethnic cleansing. Based on material shot on location, the present-day
culture of the Hamshentsis is chronicled: their songs and dances,
customs, linguistic situation, as well as their everyday life and
occupations, conceptions of their own identity, and the demographic
picture.
FRANCES FISHER (ARPA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2012 CAREER
ACHIEVEMENT AWARD), whose unforgettable roles in such iconic films as
TITANIC, UNFORGIVEN and HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG, began her illustrious
theatrical, film and television career.
MICHAEL POGHOSIAN (ARTIST OF THE YEAR AWARD) whose films, LOST AND
FOUND IN ARMENIA and IF ONLY EVERYONE, the official entry from Armenia
to the Academy Awards Foreign Language category, mark this year's
opening and closing night films. Poghosian, a celebrated actor in
Russia and Armenia, was recognized for his decades-long career as an
actor, producer and screenwriter.
USC SHOAH FOUNDATION - The Institute for Visual History and Education
(ARPA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL FOUNDATION AWARD) Inspired by his
experience making SCHINDLER'S LIST, Steven Spielberg established the
Shoah Foundation in 1994 to gather video testimonies from survivors
and other witnesses of the Holocaust. Currently, the Institute's
Visual History Archive (VHA) holds nearly 52,000 video testimonies
that were recorded in 56 countries and in 32 languages. The VHA is the
largest digital collection of its kind in the world and is accessible
worldwide for research and education.
HRACH TITIZIAN (ARPA INTERNATIONAL BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMER OF THE YEAR
AWARD) Filmmaker and acting school founder, Hrach Titizian recently
appeared on Broadway in the award- winning Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad
Zoo, on television in numerous shows including `Homeland', `24' and
`Common Law', and in indie favorites such as FLOAT, featuring Gregory
Itzen.
http://asbarez.com/107450/top-honors-awarded-at-the-15th-arpa-international-film-festival/
Friday, January 4th, 2013
AFFMA
HOLLYWOOD - Cinema patrons, industry veterans and emerging filmmakers
came out to the Egyptian Theatre to see the most highly anticipated
films of the year and to celebrate the best of the 15th Arpa
International Film Festival (AFFMA.org) at a star-studded gala Awards
Ceremony at the Sheraton Universal Hotel.
Over four rainy days from Thursday, November 29 to Sunday, December
2, 2012, Arpa International Film Festival showcased over 60 films from
around the globe, Q&A's, receptions as well as a first ever GEMAI
industry panel discussion highlighting new technologies for the Deaf
and Blind.
2012 marked a high point for Arpa Foundation for Film, Music and Art.
`Not only did we celebrate 15 years of staging the film festival in
Los Angeles,' said the organization's founder, Sylvia Minassian, `but
AFFMA was itself recognized for its continued efforts to support
artists and filmmakers.' In 2012, AFFMA was the recipient of an
Armenian Heritage Award by Los Angeles City Council and the office of
Eric Garcetti, and a Roll Global Grant for its humanitarian efforts.
It is the major highlight of a year of accomplishments for the
organization which includes founder Minassian as a recipient of the
Golden Medal of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Armenia,
one of the highest Armenian cultural awards.
Arpa International Film Festival director Alex Kalognomos said, `This
year we added even more internationally themed films to the film
program. We also had sold-out screenings throughout the festival,
beginning with the 800-person opening night sell-out for LOST & FOUND
IN ARMENIA. We continued to break attendance records as the Los
Angeles audiences came out to take part in the all the festival has to
offer.'
The festival culminated with a Gala event and awards ceremony at which
filmmakers, sponsors, and honored guests were celebrated for making
this year's festival a milestone event. The evening's mistress of
ceremonies, Marla Maples, invited the filmmakers who were presented
their awards after each of their screenings to join her on stage and
take a bow for their achievements.
BEST PICTURE was awarded to Nicolas Tackian for his French drama AZAD
BEST DIRECTOR kudos was delivered to Caner Alper and Mehmet Binay for
the Turkish film ZENNE DANCER.
BEST SCREENPLAY Award was given to Arshaluys Harutyunyan for the
Armenian drama WANDERING
The BEST DOCUMENTARY Feature Award for THE SUFFERING GRASSES: WHEN
ELEPHANTS FIGHT, IT IS THE GRASS THAT SUFFERS was presented to Yara
Lee.
Eddie Deleon Melikyan accepted the award for BEST SHORT FILM for
directing JUST LIKE HER.
Also present were the 2012 special award honorees. Presenters such as
filmmaker Haik Gazarian and actress Valentina Rendon presented Hrach
Titizian with the Breakthrough Actor of the Year Award; actress
Heather McComb presented Michael Poghosian the Artist of the Year
Award; actor/filmmaker Sebastian Siegel awarded Frances Fisher the
Career Achievement Award; AFFMA Founder Sylvia Minassian presented
Lusine Sahakyan, director of `Hamshen at Crossroads of Past and
Present' (Armenia,Turkey) with the prestigious Armin T. Wegner
Humanitarian Award; Actress Anoush NeVart presented the Arpa
Foundation Award to recipient USC Shoah Foundation, The Institute For
Visual History And Education. The award was accepted by Dr. Stephen D.
Smith, MBE, PhD who spoke about the merits of supporting independent
cinema and archiving efforts such as those by the Shoah Foundation.
And Achievement in International Cinema Award was accepted by `Lost &
Found in Armenia' (Armenia, USA) director, Gor Kirakosian.
The awards were determined by a panel of industry experts which
included Filmmaker Debra Attoinese (`Zoe'), Actor and filmmaker
Charles Davis, consulting Executive Producer Max Howard (SPIRIT:
STALLION OF THE CIMARRON, SAVING SANTA), Inferno Entertainment EVP of
Production and Development Ara Keshishian, entertainment lawyer JD
Larson, Motion Picture Literary Agent at Creative Artists Agency (CAA)
Stuart Manashil and Award-winning Executive Producer and Motion
Picture Executive Howard Rosenman (COMMON THREADS: STORIES FROM THE
QUILT, SPARKLE, FATHER OF THE BRIDE, THE FAMILY MAN).
`Fifteen years makes Arpa International Film Festival one of the
longest standing film festivals in Los Angeles,' said Minassian. `We
are very committed to supporting independent filmmakers and depend on
community support to make events such as the festival possible.' This
year's key sponsors were Tacori, Horizon TV, Yerevan Magazine, and
Siera Jewelers. `Without the support of sponsors,' said Kalognomos
during his opening remarks at the Gala, `...it would be impossible to
stage such an event where everyone's influence and creativity build
unity and success.' AFFMA, a non-profit organization, annually stages
entertainment industry networking mixers, art exhibits, and fashion
shows in an effort to fundraise for its signature event, the film
festival.
For the first time in its history, AFFMA awarded the winners of Best
Feature, Best Short, and Best Documentary a cash award. `Such
recognitions help us fulfill our commitment as an art organization to
give grants and support the efforts of such fine filmmakers,' added
Minassian.
AFFMA, a non-profit organization, was founded for the purpose of
enhancing Los Angeles's creative environment and supporting those
artists who bridge the cultural divide. Each year, AFFMA stages
networking events, concerts, art exhibits, fashion shows, book
signings, and various benefits to promote emerging talents. Most
significantly, AFFMA produces Arpa International Film Festival to
unify diverse people and cultures through film. Since 1997, the
Festival has honored over 100 artists and filmmakers with grants and
awards. Visit www.affma.org for more information.
ARMIN T. WEGNER HUMANITARIAN AWARD marks its 10th year as one of Arpa
International Film Festival's top honors awarded during the festival.
First presented by Arpa International Film Festival in 2002, this
Award is named after German author and human rights activist Armin
Theophil Wegner (October 16, 1886 - May 17, 1978).
LUSINE SAHAKYAN, HAMSHEN AT THE CROSSROADS OF PAST AND PRESENT (ARMIN
T. WEGNER HUMANITARIAN AWARD) Dedicated to the current state of the
descendants of the Armenians of Hamshen (Hamshentsis), the film
explores a people who were Islamicized by the Ottoman Empire in the
18th century. Today, they live primarily in the provinces of Rizeh and
Artvin, as well as in Istanbul and other cities of Turkey. The film
presents unique episodes from the history and culture of the Armenian
Principality of Hamshen, and the practice of Islamization, a form of
ethnic cleansing. Based on material shot on location, the present-day
culture of the Hamshentsis is chronicled: their songs and dances,
customs, linguistic situation, as well as their everyday life and
occupations, conceptions of their own identity, and the demographic
picture.
FRANCES FISHER (ARPA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2012 CAREER
ACHIEVEMENT AWARD), whose unforgettable roles in such iconic films as
TITANIC, UNFORGIVEN and HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG, began her illustrious
theatrical, film and television career.
MICHAEL POGHOSIAN (ARTIST OF THE YEAR AWARD) whose films, LOST AND
FOUND IN ARMENIA and IF ONLY EVERYONE, the official entry from Armenia
to the Academy Awards Foreign Language category, mark this year's
opening and closing night films. Poghosian, a celebrated actor in
Russia and Armenia, was recognized for his decades-long career as an
actor, producer and screenwriter.
USC SHOAH FOUNDATION - The Institute for Visual History and Education
(ARPA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL FOUNDATION AWARD) Inspired by his
experience making SCHINDLER'S LIST, Steven Spielberg established the
Shoah Foundation in 1994 to gather video testimonies from survivors
and other witnesses of the Holocaust. Currently, the Institute's
Visual History Archive (VHA) holds nearly 52,000 video testimonies
that were recorded in 56 countries and in 32 languages. The VHA is the
largest digital collection of its kind in the world and is accessible
worldwide for research and education.
HRACH TITIZIAN (ARPA INTERNATIONAL BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMER OF THE YEAR
AWARD) Filmmaker and acting school founder, Hrach Titizian recently
appeared on Broadway in the award- winning Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad
Zoo, on television in numerous shows including `Homeland', `24' and
`Common Law', and in indie favorites such as FLOAT, featuring Gregory
Itzen.