BOSTON, Mass.—The third annual Armenian Film Festival of Boston was held at the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) from Oct. 29-31. More than 700 film enthusiasts from the Greater Boston area filled the Lee Family Theater over the weekend to view a program of critically acclaimed and award-winning Armenian films, which were widely acknowledged as the festival’s strongest lineup yet.
The Armenian Film Festival of Boston was the result of collaboration between the ICA and the Armenian Dramatic Arts Alliance (ADAA). “At the ICA’s film department, we believe in understanding the world’s diverse cultures through the art of cinema,” said Branka Bogdanov, director of film and video at the ICA. “The fine balance of feature and documentary genre with compelling subject matters and the committed, appreciative audience made this festival a success. In addition, it was a great pleasure to see how much the audience enjoyed our galleries.”
“We were privileged to make our home at the ICA this year,” said Bianca Bagatourian, president of the ADAA and curator of the festival. “And we are pleased with the response to our annual program that so perfectly advances our mission of projecting the Armenian voice on the world stage through the performing arts of film and theater. The themes in this year’s features overcome cultural borders to communicate truly compelling human experiences.”
ADAA Board member Janice Keuhnelian said, “This festival gave us the all too rare opportunity to see Armenian films—compelling in their own right, yet essentially Armenian.”
“What was particularly gratifying about this year’s festival was the outpouring of support from leading Armenian social, cultural, and religious institutions and organizations,” said festival director Paul Boghosian. “Our community of supporters was so helpful in spreading the word through e-fliers, postcards, phone calls, and posters. We are particularly grateful to the Armenian Library and Museum of America (ALMA), the Armenian International Women’s Association (AIWA), and the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR).”
“Furthermore,” Boghosian said, “we could not have held the festival without the support of our sponsors. The Knights of Vartan and TechFusion.com have been our greatest supporters for the past three years, and they have continued that support. This year we had a thriving Producer’s and Director’s Circle of individuals and businesses, whose indispensable support fuelled the finest festival we have held.”
“The Knights of Vartan Boston Lodge is very proud of the fact that it has been involved with the Armenian Film Festival of Boston from the beginning,” said Nelson Stepanian, president of the Knights of Vartan Boston Lodge. “The objective of the Armenian Film Festival dovetails with those of the Knights; film is one of the ways we can preserve our identity, bring awareness to our concerns, and build a community around common goals.”
“As a sponsor, I am pleased to have seen the progress the festival has made in the past three years in the production and presentation of high-quality films and the increasing awareness of our Armenian audience to the importance of showcasing Armenian filmmakers,” said Alfred Demirjian, CEO of TechFusion.com and co-founder of ADAA. “Our enthusiasm for producing next year’s film festival was given further impetus by members of the audience who approached Paul, Bianca, or me with pledges and expressions of financial support, so critical for a community based festival.”
“NAASR is very glad to have been associated with the festival and to have done our part to promote it within the community,” said Marc Mamigonian of NAASR. “I really do believe that the Boston community is fortunate to have a festival of this caliber.”
Over 250 people attended opening night to view “Army of Crime,” Robert Guédiguian’s lush historical drama starring Simon Abkarian. Characterized as a “passionate act of remembrance” in the New York Times, “Army of Crime” recounts how Armenian poet Missak Manouchian led a band of youngsters and immigrants in a dramatic series of guerrilla attacks in a clandestine battle against the Nazi occupation in 1944.
“Barking Island,” winner of the Palme D’Or for Best Short Film at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival, preceded “Army of Crime” on opening night. This animated short film by Serge Avedikian illustrates an episode from Constantinople in 1910, when the newly established government found an unorthodox way of dealing with the city’s stray dogs.
Opening night screenings were followed by a reception in the ICA lobby, where Malcolm Barsamian provided musical entertainment playing his oud, and attendees enjoyed a spread of desserts courtesy of Wolfgang Puck’s ICA catering department. In his remarks at the dessert reception, the honorary chairman of the festival, Representative Peter Koutoujian, said, “Films by talented Armenian filmmakers provide a window into Armenian culture that erases borders and enhances communication between and among ethnic groups.” Koutoujian presented Bagatourian and Boghosian with a Proclamation from the Massachusetts House of Representatives offering its sincere congratulations to ADAA in recognition of its contribution to Armenian community life and the opportunity for Armenians to celebrate their culture and heritage through the unique and talented lens of its filmmakers.
Saturday’s line-up offered three compelling documentaries that capture and illuminate Armenian influences in locations meaningful to the Armenian Diaspora: Beirut, Jerusalem, and Greece. “The Fifth Column” by Vatche Boulghourjian weaves allegorical narratives together to chronicle the desperation and mourning in the economically and culturally marginalized Armenian quarter of Beirut. It won the third prize CINEFOUNDATION at the 2010 Cannes International Film Festival.
Edgar Baghdasaryan followed the paths taken by Armenian pilgrims over the last 2,000 years in “From Ararat to Zion,” a tribute to those who have contributed to the preservation of spiritual traditions and a Christian legacy in the Holy Land. Striking scenes of the Church of Holy Sepulcher by night, the colorful spectacles of Easter in Jerusalem, the summit of Mount Ararat, and other breathtaking locations create exquisite visual tapestries.
Eddy Vicken, the director of “Mount Athos: The Monk’s Republic,” and his crew went where cameras have never been allowed before to film Saturday’s final documentary. For the first time since it was founded by a Byzantine Emperor in 963 in northern Greece, this forbidden territory opened up to outsiders—and cameras—to reveal the complexities and beauty of the hidden society.
Vicken attended the festival and answered audience members’ questions after the screening. “My crew and I worked for over six years to obtain the rights to make ‘Mount Athos: The Monk’s Republic,’” he said. “It was amazing to see the audience’s response and to discuss the filmmaking process, as well as hear their responses. That kind of interaction with audience is crucial in filmmaking.”
The festival drew to a close on Sunday with a poignant documentary and a lighthearted romantic comedy. The former, “Hrant Dink: Heart of Two Nations” by Nouritza Matossian is based on the director’s conversations with Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, who was assassinated in 2007. In the film, Dink speaks freely of his weekly paper Agos, the Armenian Genocide, his attempts to reconcile Armenians and Turks, and even his own death. The film was awarded the Audience’s First Choice at the Pomegranate Film Festival, Toronto. Matossian attended the festival and participated in a Q&A session, treating audience members to an inside look of the making of the film.
Writer and director Stéphane Kazandjian wrapped up the festival with “Modern Love,” a quintessentially French musical romantic comedy. The film, a “real crowd-pleaser,” provided an upbeat, spirited closing to the festival.
Members of the Boston community took home unique memories of the festival. “The Armenian Film Festival had three highlights for me,” said Ed Kazanjian. “‘Army of Crime,’ ‘Hrant Dink: Heart of Two Nations, and the venue. A riveting feature film, insight on the personal thoughts of Hrant Dink, and the ICA’s location and spectacular theater all contributed to making the third annual festival the best yet.”
Berge Ayvazian agreed. “The ICA provided a first class setting for the festival. The high point for me was meeting several of the filmmakers and having the opportunity to discuss their films right after viewing them.”
“I loved feeling connected to Armenian artists worldwide. It enlarged my sense of the Armenian community,” said Joyce Van Dyke. “I loved the range of material: feature films, documentaries, animation. It was wonderful to experience Armenians acting, directing, writing, and speaking to the world through these films about all kinds of subjects. There is nothing like contemporary film to make us feel our Armenian-ness in the present moment.”
Stepanian shared that sentiment. “I’m always astounded by how much Armenians have in common, no matter where they come from, their age, their education, or their title. The Armenian Film Festival is an event that has no boundaries within or outside the Armenian community,” he said. “Though the Armenian story is unique, many ethnic groups can identify with the experiences portrayed. The interviews and the ensuing stories highlight the raw feelings that we all have within us and want to express. The difference is that the artist has the exceptional ability to express in a way most other cannot.”
“The excellent selection of films for the festival was not only entertaining, but also provided important historical insights that were new to us all,” said Hapet Berberian. “From the meticulous organization of the three-day Armenian film festival to the inspiring and comfortable venue at the ICA, my family and I thoroughly enjoyed the weekend event and look forward to next year’s festival.”
That feeling is seconded by Bob Semonian. “The film festival is a great event for the Armenian community and I look forward to attending next year.”
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