2010 promises to be the year of rebirth of Armenian cinematography

PanARMENIAN.Net - Golden Apricot festival signals start of a new epoch in Armenian cinematography, promoting young filmmakers. 3 projects formed within the festival framework, festival film school, Filmmakers without Borders and Armenia-Turkey Cinema Platform, allowed for creation of 12 movies to be featured at 2011 Golden Apricot.

As a part of Armenia-Turkey Cinema Platform, 5 young Armenian filmmakers - Diana Kardumyan, Mariam Ohanyan, Gor Baghdasaryan, Artur Sukiasyan and Artsvi Bakhchinyan -participated in Istanbul International Film Festival held April 8-10.

2 of the films featured, Diana Kardumyan's Galata and Gor Baghdasaryan's Neighbors got full financing; Artur Sukiasyan's film was provided partial financing.

15 Armenian and 40 Turkish filmmakers applied for Armenia-Turkey Cinema Platform participation, which suggests both countries' interest in the project.

Turkey presented 2 movies, with full and partial financing provided for Don't Loose Your Children and Regards from Hakob to Sukru movies respectively.

While modern Armenian cinematographers are looking for ways to develop Armenian cinematography, the pioneer Armenian films keep attracting cinema fans. Thus, the National Gallery of Armenia hosted Silent Film Festival featuring all three versions of the first Armenian full-length film - Namus: Namus by filmmaker Hamo Beknazarov shot in 1926, second version restored by the ARTE French TV company (2005) and lastly, the third version dubbed in 1960.

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Film “You Don't Know Jack” about Jack Kevorkian known as Dr. Death was shown to Americans with Al Pacino acting as Jack Kevorkian.

At the premiere of HBO's "You Don't Know Jack", the actor said that Kevorkian invited him to Detroit to play poker. “For Jack, I think I'll go do it," the actor said.

In the television original movie, Al Pacino transforms uncannily into the doctor, without having ever even having met the real-life Jack. The pair finally came face to face on Tuesday, just before the premiere.

"I spent time just absorbing him," Al said of his preparation for the role, which illuminates the private life of the physician once dubbed "Dr. Death" for his role in a number of physician-assisted suicides. "It just shows you sometimes how … some people don't understand how to be in the public eye, how to deal with media and cameras, but [in this film], with a guy like Jack, you know him longer, you get a sense of who he is. He's totally funny and self-deprecating. Big-time smart."

And a big-time poker player, as the doc himself told Access.

"Anybody who plays poker can't be all bad," Dr. Kevorkian said of Al, noting that they'd be playing soon. "We will, in the future!"

As for Al's performance, Jack Kevorkian was impressed. "It's unbelievable, I was shocked," he said.

"You Don't Know Jack" premieres on HBO on April 24, which is announced Genocide victims commemoration day in Armenia.

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Many events in Armenia and abroad were dated to the 95th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

The National Gallery of Armenia hosted an exhibition on Genocide theme of Armenian painters of four generations. Exhibition's exposition was presented in a book as well as photo materials on Armenian Genocide were demonstrated. Catalogue of works by Armenian painters on the Genocide theme, “Color of the Pain” made up by art critic Shahen Khachatryan was also published.

A series of documentaries about Arshile Gorky, a great Armenian painter who emigrated to America after the Genocide, was demonstrated at the Cafesjian Center for the Arts.

U.S. public figure and musician of Armenian descent Eva Medzorian gave a charity concert in the village of Karakert, Armavir region. Concert program featured Armenian and American compositions.

Another charity program was launched by world-famous musicians: Deep Purple Ian lead singer Ian Gillan announced his plans for formation of Who Cares band to raise funds for the reconstruction of a music school in Armenia, with Tony Iommi as another band member.

“After twenty years we are still working towards rebuilding the school and concert hall in Gyumri, which - like Spitak - suffered devastation with at least 25,000 killed and god knows how many injured and left homeless. Things are moving on quite well with a lot of support from politicians and businesses. I was able to raise a decent amount for the cause with two benefit shows in Yerevan recently”, Gillan said.

“Also, I'm working on an idea with Tony Iommi. On the flight home from Armenia we decided to write a song or two and form an ad hoc band - specifically for use on fund raising occasions - called 'Who Cares'. Any live performances would be with a nebulous line-up and those plans are still on the drawing board, but we have made a move in the right direction by getting started with the writing. I visited Tony recently and we came up with a couple of songs that aren't too horrible. Hopefully we can knock them into shape in the near future and raise even more money to help the program [on reestablishing the school in Gyumri]. The idea to help Haitians is admirable and of course we are all shocked by the tragic aftermath of their cataclysm. However I think it's best to direct all my efforts where they are most effective. I see plenty of fantastic energy and awareness being put into Haiti, but after twenty years there is still work to be done in Armenia”, Ian Gillan stated.

Ian Gillan's charity concerts with the State Philharmonic Orchestra of Armenia were organized by Mediamax on March 26-27 in Yerevan. Concert proceeds (AMD 18 mln 327 thousand) will be allocated to reconstruction of No 6 music school in Gyumri.

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Library Week in Armenia was held by the National Library of Armenia and the Library Association of Armenia to reveal problems of community libraries and to enrich regional libraries by donations of books.