LOS ANGELES—In honor of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, Bloodvine Media, in conjunction with Strongman and mTuckman Media, plan to release the film “1915” in theaters on April 17 and “On Demand” on April 22.
The psychological thriller is directed by Garin Hovannisian (author of the book Family of Shadows) and Alec Mouhibian, and features a who’s who of Armenian cast and crew, including Armenia’s first Foreign Minister Raffi K. Hovannisian as executive producer; Grammy Award-winning composer Serj Tankian (from the band System of a Down, soon to go on a tour dedicated to the genocide); and actors Simon Abkarian (“Casino Royale”) and Angela Sarafyan (“Twilight”).
The filmmakers will join tens of thousands of Armenians on a march for justice on April 24 in Los Angeles to bring attention to the genocide, which has been denied by the government of Turkey for nearly a century. In Yerevan, a historic premiere is being planned at the Moscow Theatre for April 25.
“2015 marks not only the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, but also the close of an entire century of forgotten genocides,” said Garin Hovannisian. “‘1915’ is about denial—how we try to escape history, how history continues to haunt us. It is also about the need to face the ghosts of our own pasts.”
Synopsis: Exactly 100 years after the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey, a mysterious director (Simon Abkarian) is staging a play at the Los Angeles Theatre to honor the victims of that tragedy—a horrifying crime forgotten and denied for an entire century. But as protesters surround his theatre, and a series of strange accidents spread panic among his producer (Jim Piddock) and actors (Angela Sarafyan, Sam Page, Nikolai Kinski), it appears that the director’s mission is profoundly dangerous, and the ghosts of the past are everywhere.
“1915” is directed and written by Garin Hovannisian and Alec Mouhibian, produced by Terry Leonard, Garin Hovannisian, and Alec Mouhibian, executive produced by Raffi K. Hovannisian, with original music by Serj Tankian, cinematography by Leigh Lisbão Underwood, production design by Michael Fitzgerald, costume design by Lauren Oppelt, and editing by Dan Dobi and Paul Forte. The film stars Simon Abkarian, Angela Sarafyan, Sam Page, Nikolai Kinski, Debra Christofferson, and Jim Piddock.
For more information, join the “1915” Facebook page at www.facebook.com/1915themovie. Pre-order the movie at www.1915themovie.com and receive the haunting musical composition “1915–The End Begins” from the original score by Tankian.
The movie has been produced in partnership with the Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS) and the RVVZ/IDeA Foundation.
“1915” will open in select theaters across Southern California on April 17, in New York City on April 22, and in Yerevan, Armenia, on April 25. The film will also be available on demand on April 22 across all platforms. For a full list of theaters showing “1915,” see below or visit www.1915themovie.com.
In addition to its traditional release, “1915” has partnered with the innovative distribution company Tugg to bring screenings “On Demand” in cities and towns all over America. To see if “1915” is screening in your area, or to host a screening at a theater, community center, or campus near you, visit www.tugg.com/titles/1915.
A European Preview of “1915” will take place at the Maxim Gorki Theatre in Berlin, Germany, on April 5, headlining the prestigious theater’s groundbreaking six-week artistic commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. “1915” will then have its United States premiere at the historic Egyptian Theatre on April 13, in an event co-presented by the American Cinematheque and the Arpa Foundation for Film, Music and Art (AFFMA).
Traditional Release Theaters
Opening April 17
Laemmle’s Music Hall, Beverly Hills, Calif.
Laemmle’s Town Center, Encino, Calif.
Laemmle’s Playhouse, Pasadena, Calif.
MGN Five Star Cinema, Glendale, Calif.
Regency South Coast Village, Santa Ana, Calif.
Opening April 22
Quad Cinema, New York
Opening April/May
United Artists Sierra Vista 6, Clovis / Fresno, Calif.
Opening April 25
Moscow Cinema, Yerevan, Armenia
Cinema Star, Yerevan, Armenia
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Too bad they are not showing the movie at the Laemmle in NoHo as there are a lot of Armenians there and nearby communities of Burbank and Glendale.
Sounds fine, but what’s up with the erotic poster? I hope we won’t see Raffi Hovhannisyan in any such “scene” (even after all his weight loss. No thanks).
Vahagn, didn’t you know you can’t make a Armenian Genocide movie without eroticism? I am still trying to understand what the step-sister sexual relationship has to do with the Armenian Genocide in the 2002 Ararat movie. Like Ararat, this new movie seems to focus on the art of production (film-making in Ararat, theater in this new movie).
Reading the synopsis, I think the “ghosts” are upset with the fact that they could have spent the money to produce a decent and educational Armenian Genocide movie instead of a “psychological thriller” rubbish. I would haunt them too.
100 years and we could not produce a Schindler’s List level movie to be shown in theaters nationwide? What a shame. :(
I agree, brother. Yet another Genocide movie that is not about the Genocide.
BTW, your last name is not, by any chance, Nalbandian, is it?
I agree that the still frame used for this poster is absolutely irrelevant to the genocide theme and the title of the film, even if it shows a husband and wife in 2015. To express concern and to request changing the poster, please write to Mr. Sevan Hovannisian at Bloodvine Media at bloodvinemedia@gmail.com with cc: info@mtuckmanmedia.com
Did some people just criticize the film without having seen it? What the heck? I applaud this effort. I am excited about this film. And, I hope my high expectations are met.
If my expectations are met, great. If not, I look forward to all of the critics of this movie and Ararat to go out and make their own movie…and win an Oscar. Because your expertise is beyond reproach.
I’ve never understood this line of thinking. A person who puts a creative work out into the public is exposing it to praise or criticism from everyone–not just from people who make their own movies. Free speech is not limited to people who make movies.
Not to say, Peter, that you completely miss the point. The criticism here is not about the film which is yet to come out, but about the irrelevance of the heroine’s drawn down shoulder-straps with the title “1915”, the catchword “Remember”, and the official description of the film: “In 2015, exactly 100 years after the Armenian Genocide, a mysterious director (Simon) is staging a play at the Los Angeles Theatre to honor the victims of that tragedy — a horrifying crime forgotten and denied for an entire century.”
This poster looks more like a 2015 version of “Gone With the Wind” than with anything related to AG.
Did someone just defend the ridiculous and shameful movie ‘Ararat’?
Sorry Peter, an Armenian shouldn’t be making a movie if they don’t have the talent to make one, and ‘Ararat’ is a prime example. And if none of us have the talent, none of us should be making movies for the sake of making one. My opinion, ‘Ararat’ caused more damage than good.
‘Ararat’ the movie should be shown to all cinematography students… as an example of how NOT to make a movie for the sake of egoistic self-gratification using the plight of an entire group of people to dupe them into watching the movie.
As for this film, besides that ridiculous poster, already the choice of ‘actress’ to me is questionable, considering the kind of movies she has engaged in. Might as well bring the Kardashians into the mix, it would have a better impact while we are bottom fishing for “talent”.
That being said, it would be premature to claim the new movie is another bad movie, it may end up being a good movie in fact, but I would say, it certainly is not off to a good start from what we have to see already.
I hope to hell it is a worthy movie I really do. This is the 100th anniversary and all the genious and talent out there should have prepared in every venue the best of their creative efforts
I just paid, downloaded but i dont see full download of movie its only the thriller.. Do i have to wait for April 17Th?