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The festive opening of Golden Apricot jubilee edition was celebrated by the opening of Charles Aznavour’s Star at Aznavour Square in Yerevan followed by the official ceremony and the screening of “Shoot the Piano Player”, a film by Francois Truffaut starring Aznavour at the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet in Yerevan. The events were honored by the presence of the legendary chansonnier himself who was granted with a “Parajanov Thaler” for the contribution in the world cinema. 

In the days to follow “Parajanov Thaler” awards will be granted to Margarette von Trotta, Istvn Szabo, Nerses Hovhannissyan and Jos Stelling at special events of Jubilees and Yerevan Premieres. Ulrich Seidl, a Cannes award winning Austrian director, whose “Paradise” trilogy will be screened in the Festival programme will be granted with “Master” Award. “Yeghici Luys” (Let there be Light) award of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians is designed to be granted to the distinguished Armenian director Artavazd Peleshian in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin this year.

The festival is organized with support of the Ministry of Culture of Armenia. In line with its long-term mission to support the country with achieving quality changes in different spheres of society, including culture, VivaCell-MTS considers the Festival as an effective means to enhance the country’s positive image internationally, to promote the Nation’s cultural heritage and mission, conveyed through the richness and expressiveness of the cinematographic language, and presented in an prestigious international cinematographic event.

Internally, the mission of the Golden Apricot is to give a fresh breath to the national cinematography, to help it develop freely and independently, as a unique part of world cinematography. Golden Apricot is a means to establish and sustain dialogue with the world, in line with new trends and developments, reflect and unfold the internal world of modern individual. VivaCell-MTS believes that Armenia needs cinematography for strengthening its footprint on the cultural map of the world, and also for becoming more immune to global cultural challenges. New and competitive Armenian cinematography is an important medium to enlarge the influence of Armenian cultural identity.

“Each project passes certain steps on its way from an idea to realization. That’s how it is with the “Golden Apricot”. If we try to describe it we can find a parallel between the life of the festival and processes of film-making. Ten years ago emotionality ruled the “Golden Apricot”. There was a goal to realize the dream. The second phase was full of challenges. The story developed fast, like an action movie. There was a goal to present in the international arena our country which occupies a small territory on the map but has a glorious history. This is the third phase of the program realized together, which resembles a documentary film. Film lovers built this ten-year-old road. Wish everyone an enjoyable watching”, commented VivaCell-MTS General Manager. Ralph Yirikian was awarded 10th Anniversary Gold Medal of the Golden Apricot Film Festival.

It has been the third year already that the “CIS Countries Films” program is designed to be presented in the framework of GOLDEN APRICOT supported by the Intergovernmental Foundation for Educational, Scientific and Cultural Cooperation. This year, the program will be held in Gyumri - a city announced as the cultural capital of the year 2013 together with two other cities of CIS. It will be launched on July 9 at the “October” cinema in Gyumri and will feature 19 films from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia and Armenia.

A Georgian film week is initiated within the framework of the out-of competition programme this year. More precisely, best of Rezo Chkheidze’s works will be screened in the Retrospective programme. Apart from that, the much beloved comedy “Mimino” by Georgi Danelia will start its screening journey by being screened in Yerevan and Gyumri and later in different cities of Georgia and Armenia during the year and thus celebrating the 35th Anniversary of its production. The Festival is also happy to be hosting Mrs. Galina Danelia - the wife of the director. The Georgian film week will also feature best of Georgian films of the latest years.

Russian Film Days special programme will be presented for the first time in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture of Russian Federation and “Kinofest” production company. The programme will feature films of Russian production including winning films from “Kinotavr” Festival of Sofia. The programme will be launched on July 9 with the screening of “Before the Night Separates Us” by Boris Khlebnikov.

It’s also essential to note that the British Council of Armenia will traditionally grant its special award for a short film.

The out-of-competition program will present a new “View from Inside and Outside” programme featuring films of Armenian production released last year and international films telling about Armenia. The programme will be held at Malian Theatre of Yerevan.

The Festival highly acknowledges that many of the honorable guests have kindly agreed to hold Master Classes in the frames of the Festival. Distinguished filmmakers Gofrey Reggio, Margarette von Trotta, Jos Stelling, Tue Steen Muller and Pavel Finn will share their knowledge and experience with everyone interested. Moreover, Godfrey Reggio will have an additional meeting with the young people at TUMO Centre.

The Festival will be closed with the screening of Parajanov, a film by Serge Avedikian and Olena Fetisova. Being a co-production of Ukraine-France-Armenia and Georgia, the film was initially developed by Ukrainian director, producer and script writer Olena Fetisova and was later co-directed together with renowned filmmaker and artist Serge Avedikian who also acts as the main protagonist of the movie. Presenting the key events and aspects of Parajanov’s life and art, the film is the vivid interpretation of the great director’s extraordinary worldview. The screening of the closing film will be followed by the official ceremony at the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet.