Arpa International Film Festival winners announced

PanARMENIAN.Net - The 14th Arpa International Film Festival presented by AT&T YP concluded this year’s festival with a screening of Five Minarets In New York followed by a gala reception at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, Asbarez reports.

This year’s festival drew record attendance during its 3 days of screenings, Q&As, receptions and awards.

Taking top honors were Three Veils, My Uncle Rafael, The Last Tightrope Dancer In Armenia and Bolis.

The Best Picture honor this year went to Rolla Selbak’s drama, Three Veils.

Best Director and Best Screenplay kudos went to director Marc Fusco and writers Scott Yagemann and Vahik Pirhamzei for their comedy My Uncle Rafael.

Pirhamzei also received the festival’s 2011 Breakthrough Performance Award for his starring role in the film. Arman Yeritsyan and Inna Sahakyan’s The Last Tightrope Dancer In Armenia was given the award for Best Documentary with Eric Nazarian’s Bolis winning Best Short Film.

For the first time in its history, the festival handed out a cash award for Best Screenplay to My Uncle Rafael scribes Yagemann and Pirhamzei. The festival hopes to usher in cash award incentives to other winners beginning with its 15th annual celebration next year.