Arpa International Film Festival

NAME OF FESTIVAL: Arpa International Film Festival

SINCE: 1997

WHERE: Hollywood, California, USA

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

Arpa International Film Festival (Arpa IFF) is dedicated to cultivating cultural understanding and global empathy by creating a dynamic forum for international cinema. Over the past 23 years, the festival has bridged cultural divides by fostering dialogue among people of diverse backgrounds. By showcasing local and international films that explore critical issues such as war, genocide, diaspora, dual identities, exile and multiculturalism, Arpa IFF has solidified its role in safeguarding films that continue to make a social impact.

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Arpa International Film Festival

Omar and Us | Omar Ve Biza directed by Maryna Er Gorbach & Mehmet Bahadir Er

2020 Arpa International Film Festival Goes Online with Lineup of 65 Films

The 23rd Arpa International Film Festival which will take place online this year announced its lineup of 65 films from 19 countries.

Turkish Film LOST BIRDS is Big Winner of 2015 Arpa International Film Festival

The Turkish film LOST BIRDS directed by Ela Alyamac and Aren Perdeci is the big winner of the 2015 Arpa International Film Festival, taking the awards for Best Feature Film, Best Director for Ela Alyamac and Aren Perdeci, and Armin T. Wegner Humanitarian Awards. MY LIFE IN CHINA directed by Kenneth Eng is the winner of the Best Documentary Award. Lost Birds is set in 1915 in an Armenian village in Anatolia. Bedo and Maryam return […]

World Premiere of Turkish Film LOST BIRDS to Kick Off 18th Arpa International Film Festival

The World Premier of LOST BIRDS, a heartwarming film from Turkey, will open the 18th Arpa International Film Festival taking place November 13 to 15, 2015 at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. This year’s Arpa International Film Festival focuses strongly on humanitarian issues internationally such as genocide, holocaust, human freedom, women’s rights, homelessness and many others. LOST BIRDS, the Opening night’s World Premier Film is from Turkey in Armenian and Turkish language filmed in Capadoccia, Turkey, by Aren Perdeci and […]

“37: A Final Promise” by Randall Batinkoff Wins Best Film at 2014 Arpa International Film Festival

“37: A Final Promise” 17th Annual Arpa International Film Festival Winner

The 17th Annual Arpa International Film Festival wrapped with the annual Awards Ceremony, and “37: A Final Promise” by Randall Batinkoff was the big winner, taking home the Best Feature Film Award, along with the Best Director Award for Randall Batinkoff. In the film, haunted rock star, Adam Webb, plans to fulfill a vow to kill himself on his 37th birthday to atone for a horrible crime he committed as a child. With only 12 weeks to go before his expiration date (and release of his final album) he meets and falls in love with Jemma Johnstone, who has a dark secret of her own.

Arpa International Film Festival Announces 2014 Film Lineup

I Believe in Unicorns

The 17th annual Arpa International Film Festival will be held November 14-16th, 2014 at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. For the 17th year, the lineup includes award winning films including: As it Used to Be and Sombras de Azul, along with SXSW nominated, I Believe in Unicorns.

“We’re thrilled about this years festival line-up, which includes both domestic and international films and filmmakers, ready to showcase their work,” said Festival Director, Michael Ashjian. “It’s our goal to stay true to our mission in cultivating awareness of important topics that affect our society through the medium of film. We can’t wait to share these films with everyone!”

French Film Azad Wins 15th Arpa International Film Festival

BEST DOCUMENTARY Feature Award for THE SUFFERING GRASSES WHEN ELEPHANTS FIGHT, IT IS THE GRASS THAT SUFFERS

The 15th Arpa International Film Festival (AFFMA.org) ran from Thursday, November 29 to Sunday, December 2, 2012, at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, and showcased over 60 films from around the globe.

The festival culminated with a Gala event and awards ceremony at which filmmakers, sponsors, and honored guests were celebrated.

BEST PICTURE was awarded to Nicolas Tackian for his French drama AZAD

BEST DIRECTOR kudos was delivered to Caner Alper and Mehmet Binay for the Turkish film ZENNE DANCER.

BEST SCREENPLAY Award was given to Arshaluys Harutyunyan for the Armenian drama WANDERING

The BEST DOCUMENTARY Feature Award for THE SUFFERING GRASSES: WHEN ELEPHANTS FIGHT, IT IS THE GRASS THAT SUFFERS was presented to Yara Lee.

Eddie Deleon Melikyan accepted the award for BEST SHORT FILM for directing JUST LIKE HER.

2012 Arpa International Film Festival Showcasing Armenian Films Opens in LA November 29 with Comedian Jamie Kennedy’s LOST & FOUND IN ARMENIA

The 15th annual Arpa International Film Festival opens on Thursday November 29 and runs through December 2, 2012 at The Egyptian Theatre in Los Angeles, California showcasing over 60 feature films, documentaries and short films from 17 countries.

This year’s N. American bows include Tobias Tobbell’s (The Drummond Will) British thriller CONFINE starring Alfie Allen (Game of Thrones) and supermodel Daisy Lowe in her feature debut . Also showing for the first time in N.America is Aram Sukiasyan’s rock opera WANDERING. ‘Wandering’ is the first such film made in Armenia.

West Coast feature premieres include Nicolas Tackian’s French drama AZAD and Ajay Singh’s endearing family film UPSIDE DOWN (Khalti Doka Varti Paay). The latter film from India was an official selection of the 2012 Cannes Film Festival’s World Cinema section.

These films join the North American premiers of the opening night film Gor Kirakosian’s comedy LOST & FOUND IN ARMENIA (USA), Centerpiece Program Sebastian Siegel’s documentary AWAKENING WORLD (USA), the taboo breaking ZENNE DANCER (TURKEY) and Closing Night Film Armenia’s Official Submission to the Foreign Language Category at the 85th Academy Awards® Natalya Belyauskene’s powerful drama IF ONLY EVERYONE (Armenia) . The Festival will also host acclaimed filmmaker Tsvetana Paskaleva’s revival screening of WOUNDS OF KARABAKH (1994) and Hrach Keshishyan’s special sneak peak of his forthcoming 2013 historical epic feature film, NJDEH. Both filmmakers will be in attendance at Arpa International Film Festival.

15th Annual Arpa International Film Festival Program

14th Arpa International Film Festival Award Winners

The 14th Arpa International Film Festival wrapped on Saturday with a screening of FIVE MINARETS IN NEW YORK followed by a the awards ceremony. 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.{jathumbnail off}

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