Another center for Armenian culture studies to be opened in Europe

PanARMENIAN.Net - * On Thursday, March 11, ALMA and the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research presented a video screening of Destination Watertown: The Armenians of Hood Rubber by Roger Hagopian. The video screening took place at NAASR.

The documentary is about the Hood Rubber Company of Watertown, Mass., which employed many immigrants, including many Armenians, whose community evolved in the shadow of the factory's giant smokestack. Indeed, the plant provided the impetus for the formation of the Armenian community of Watertown.

The plant opened in 1896, attracting Armenian immigrants newly-arrived from the Ottoman Empire, including refugees from the Hamidean Massacres of the mid-1890s.

Hood Rubber became a subsidiary of B. F. Goodrich in 1929, and the factory survived the great Depression and thrived during World War II. It closed in 1969.

Director Roger Hagopian has conducted extensive research and carried out numerous interviews with former factory employees of Armenian descent as well as other East Watertown residents and descendants of the Hood family. The documentary combines interview footage with historic photographs, maps, documents, artifacts and images of the remnants of the old factory, once one of the largest of its kind in the world.

Workers recount life on the conveyor belt and other harsh working conditions, yet many remember their time at the plant with gratitude, affections and humor. Others fondly remember the famous "sneaker" test whereby the durability of the product was demonstrated through daily activities of local kids.

Roger Hagopian was on hand to discuss the creation of this unique document of an important slice of Armenian-American history.

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Berlin hosted screening of “Ashes and Phoenix” documentary on Armenian Genocide, created with the assistance of Federal Cultural Foundation of Germany.

The documentary, dedicated to the memory of publicist Johannes Lepsius, was filmed in Armenia, Turkey and Syria.

Following the documentary screening, Armenian Ambassador to Germany and film director delivered speeches.

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The master of contemporary art French Armenian painter Hovhannes Semerjian Jean Jansem was awarded the Medal of Honor for his great contribution to Armenian-French cultural relations, as well as in connection with his 90-year jubilee, press office of the Armenian President reported. The decree was signed by the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan.

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World-renowned cinematographer Tonino Guerra was awarded the Medal of Honor for his contribution to the development and strengthening of Armenian-Italian cross-cultural ties, for his great achievements in the world of cinema, and in connection with his 90th anniversary, press office of the Armenian President reported. The decree was signed by the president of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan.

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Armenia was among honorable guests of the Argentine Film Festival Screen Pinamara: 2010 held in Buenos Aires between March 6 and 13. "Border", a documentary by Harutyun Khachatryan and “Bonded Parallels", a feature film by Hovhannes Galstyan was be presented at the festival on March 11 and 12, press office of the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported. * Friday, March 12, Yerevan hosted British cyclist Tom Allen’s solo photography exhibition titled 'Cycling The Middle East And North Africa'. The exhibition featured photographic works of his 10,000km bicycle journey through 11 countries in the Middle East and North Africa during 2009.

According to Tom Allen, sums raised through the sale of exhibits will be donated to Armenian and international charities.

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Antonia Arslan, famous Italian novelist of Armenian descent, Armenologist and professor of Modern and Contemporary Italian Literature at Padua University was awarded Gold Medal of the Armenian Ministry of Culture. The medal was handed by the Armenian Ambassador to Italy Rouben Karapetyan at ceremony held at the Armenian Embassy in Rome. This was the first award of the Armenian government to the famous novelist. The event was attended by Paolo Taviani, director of the feature film "The Lark Farm" based on Antonia Arslan’ novel, as well as representatives of the Armenian community of Italy, press office of RA Foreign Ministry reported.

The feature film "The Lark Farm" dedicated to the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Empire in 1915 was produced by renowned Italian directors Paolo and Vittorio Taviani. The film featured some episodes of Antonia Arslan’ autobiography.