Four Armenian Films to Be Featured at ‘Socially Relevant’ Film Festival

NEW YORK—Four Armenian films will be screened as part of this year’s SR Socially Relevant Film Festival, a new non-profit film festival that showcases socially relevant films with human interest stories as a response to the proliferation of violence and violent forms of storytelling.

Four Armenian films will be screened as part of this year’s SR Socially Relevant Film Festival.Four Armenian films will be screened as part of this year’s SR Socially Relevant Film Festival.

The film “Born in Adana,” directed by David Hovan, will make its East Coast premiere at the festival. The 15-minute film focuses on the surrender of Adana to Turkey by the French, causing upheaval and the further deportation of Armenians from that city.

“My Mother’s Voice,” directed by Kay Mouradian, is a 25-minute film revolving around the true story of a 14-year-old girl orphaned during the Armenian Genocide, who finds her way to America to marry a man she only knows from a photograph.

“24/I Confess with Faith,” directed by Shahen Nazarenko, is a 15-minute film that combines two worlds, a monastery and a city bustle. The film, marking its U.S. premiere, was created on a basis of the prayer, “I confess with Faith,” by St. Nerses the Graceful.

“Cyprus Summer,” directed by Edith Weil, makes its world premiere at the festival. The 24-minute film opens with Cyprus waking up to the sound of gunfire and war on a beautiful summer morning in July 1974. A 13-year-old girl writes a diary of the unfolding events.

The second edition of the Rated SR Film Festival showcases a broader slate of timely, issue-oriented films that will run from March 16-22 at Tribeca Cinemas, Maysles Cinema and School of Visual Arts. The festival’s timely and socially engaging selection offers world and U.S. premieres, in addition to a slate of tributes and industry panels. Films from more than 30 countries, including Armenia, Australia, Canada, China, Colombia, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Haiti, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kurdistan, Lebanon, Liberia, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Palestine, Patagonia, Peru, Romania, Russia, South Korea, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Tibet, Tunisia, Turkey, UAE and the United States, will be screened in four venues.

All of the Armenian-themed films will be shown on Sat., March 21 at 4:30 p.m. at Tribeca Cinemas, 54 Varick St., in New York.

The festival was inaugurated in March 2014 with a program of 55 films from 18 countries at the Quad Cinema. Nora Armani, actor/filmmaker and founding artistic director of SR, created the festival in response to the proliferation of violence and violent forms of storytelling. “I strongly believe that the violence portrayed on our screens and in video games is responsible for the banalization of evil in our societies and the proliferation of violent forms of communication. Most films today encourage mis-representation, reinforce stereotypes, and create an escapist passive attitude in youth and adults towards major social issues. In reverse, simply by focusing more on socially relevant themes, positive social change can be promoted through the powerful medium of cinema.”

For the entire slate of movies, dates, and times, or to purchase tickets, visit www.ratedsrfilms.org.

Fuente: http://armenianweekly.com/2015/03/07/armenian-films-at-sr/