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Panorama.am has talked to famous Armenian animator, filmmaker, Honored Artist of Armenia David Sahakyants about the Istanbul Convention, Golden Apricot Film Festival, Armenia’s cultural policy and upcoming projects.

Panorama.am: You have joined the petition against the Istanbul Convention, why? What threats, do you think, it poses?

D. Sahakyants: We should oppose to any document the content and subtexts of which can put our traditional, national cornerstones at risk. The emergence of the third sex is dangerous. Apparently, the new authorities are demanded to ratify that convention, they indent to do so. I believe it’s a result of both the weakness of the new government and, maybe, its strong desire to implement it.

Panorama.am: After the 16th Golden Apricot International Film Festival, you submitted an application for withdrawal from the Union of Cinematographers of Armenia. Was it conditioned with awarding a ‘non-traditional’ film at Golden Apricot? Has anyone, including Golden Apricot Director General Harutyun Khachatryan who is also the union’s president, contacted you after it?

D. Sahakyants: They have my membership card. I guess a meeting is to be convened, I am not sure. No one has tried to contact me since I submitted the application.

Panorama.am: Mr. Sahakyants, how would you assess this year's festival films, taking into account the change in the festival committee, when the organization of the festival was entrusted to younger people?

D. Sahakyants: It’s difficult to give an assessment. Perhaps the festival's vision has changed, and I think the screening of some films and the choice of the film to win the Silver Apricot in the Regional Short Film Competition is conditioned with it.

Panorama.am: How do you evaluate the cultural policy run in Armenia after the power change?

D. Sahakyants: I believe it’s on a very low level. I know that there are cultural centers which are dissolved or deprived of funding. There are lots of problems, the situation is much worse now than it has ever been.

Panorama.am: Robert Sahakyants Production animation studio started the shootings of the full-length movie, ‘Olympicos’, four years ago. At what production stage is the film now and when is it set to premiere?

D. Sahakyants: The movie premiere was scheduled for this year, but it’s not clear when we can complete it. We haven’t received funding this year and are trying to move it forward with our efforts. There was no clear explanation whether it was the lack of funds or the financial regulations have changed. We have filmed all the scenes committed to the Ministry of Culture. We have still work to do regarding both the shootings and the post-production. Even if the funds are available now, it will be hard to complete the film this year. Four months are left till the end of the year. We are implementing other projects to make the studio survive. We keep all our employees through our efforts and haven’t fired anyone.

Panorama.am: Thank you.

Interview by Tatev Manukyan