Armenia-Turkey Cinema Platform

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ARMENIA-TURKEY CINEMA PLATFORM 2011

ATCP Documentary Workshop

Keeping up with the goal of building bridges between Armenia and Turkey on terms of cinema, this year, Armenia-Turkey Cinema Platform accepted applications for documentary film projects. ATCP Selection Committee selected 9 projects to participate in a three-day documentary workshop on July 11-13,2011 at Ani Plaza Hotel.

Herewith the projects:

1) Absence of Sound, dir. Suzan Meryem Rosita Kalayci, prod. Selin Murat.
2) ArtPolis, dir. Vardan Hakobyan, prod. Nesra Gürbüz.
3) Back to Gurun, dir. Adrineh Gregorian, prod. Vahe Ohanyan.
4) Entry-from the Inside, dir. Ara Shirinyan, prod. Tuba Gültekİn and Tigran Paskevichyan.
5) Fethiye Çetin, dir. Artur Sarkissyan, prod. Anahit Mkrtchyan.
6) Home Port, dir. Helen Walter-Kurkjian, prod. Norik Keshishian.
7) Kumpakı: Noah’s Ark, dir. and prod. Sayat Dağliyan and Burag Peksezer.
8) Lokman Hekim of Dersim, dir. Veli Kahraman, prod. Metin and Kemal Kahramans.
9) The Word, dir. and prod. Jeff Kalousdian,

The handpicked projects/participants attended trainings, presentations, guest lectures and one-to-one meetings. This year’s workshop hosted the proficient trainers Amanda Feldon, UK; Olena Fetisova, Boat Meeting Co-Production Market and Nurdan Arca Ajans 21. At the end of the workshop the participants pitched their projects in front of international jury namely Amanda Feldon Film Director from UK, Bianca Taal Binger Filmlab, Çigdem Mater Anadolu Kültür, Hussain Currimbhoy Sheffield Doc/Fest, Nurdan Arca Ajans 21, Olena Fetisova Boat Meeting Co-Production Market, Susanna Harutyunyun Artistic Director of GAIFF, Timothy D. Straight Royal Norwegian Honorary Consul in Armenia.

Special project book including all the above projects and related information was published and distributed during the workshop.

The Award Announcement took place on July 13 during the buffet-reception on the terrace of Moscafe. The film project “Back to Gurun” by Adrineh Gregorian and Vahe Ohanyan won the prize worth $6.000 USD bestowed by Eurasia Partnership Foundation.

A special program of Turkish film presentations was included in the festival.

Meanwhile, the ATCP five films “Films beyond Borders” which had their Istanbul premiere, on April 12th, at the Istanbul IFF, they also had their Yerevan premiere during the 8the edition of Golden Apricot International Film Festival.

Herewith the films:

1) Master of Doves, by Artur Sukiasyan
2) Puppet Theatre, by Çanay Özden and Altan Bal
3) Galata, by Diana Kardumyan
4) Don’t get Lost Children, by Gülengül Altinaş
5) Neighbors, by Gor Baghdasaryan

With steadiness and solidity, ATCP pursues its objectives. It keeps up with the goal of opening bridges with Turkey on terms of cinema.

Now ATCP is on the rise owing to our partners and our team’s determination.

ATCP-2011 Agenda

Armenia-Turkey Cinema Platform
Documentary Support Fund Workshop

ATCP’s subsequent workshop that is the ninth one –Documentary Support Meeting – took place within the frames of 30th Istanbul International Film Festival, April 11-13, Cezayir Meeting Halls, Istanbul. The platform launched call for applications from March 10 till 28. Meanwhile more than 30 film projects were submitted, 8 of which – 4 per country – were selected to have a pitch in front of the jury.
The selected projects were:
“New Year’s Eve Journey”, Arthur Bakhtamyan - Armenia
“Enter-from the Inside”, Tigran Paskevichyan - Armenia
“Rock Battles, Rock Peace”, Hasmik Hovhannisyan, Arka Manukyan and Aysegul Karakuyu – Armenia and Turkey
“A Tour in the Streets of Bolis”, Nigol Bezjian – Armenia/Lebanon
“Wonderful. Very Nice-from Bitlis to America”, Lusin Dink - Turkey
“Lokman Hekim of Dersim”, Veli Kahraman - Turkey
“After Hrant”, Ege Edener - Turkey
“Radio Erivan”, Eylem Kaftan – Turkey

The authors of Armenian projects were invited to Istanbul to participate at the workshop.
The jury members were:
Melek Ulagay, film director and producer, Turkey
Nurdan Arca, film director and producer, Turkey
Susanna Harutyunyan, Artistic Director of GAIFF and film critic, Armenia
Cigdem Mater, Anadolu Kultur coordinator, Turkey
Artsvi Bakchinian, film-historian and film-critic, Armenia
Sevil Demirci, producer, Turkey
Alin Tasciyan, film-critic, Turkey.

The ATCP Istanbul workshop program consisted of presentations, case studies, pitchings and film screenings.
The film project “Wonderful. Very Nice – from Bitlis to America” (producer Soner Alper, scriptwriter and director Lusin Dink) was awarded the prize worth up to 30 000 USD afforded by the European Cultural Foundation. The winner project was the best as it brought documentary, fiction and animation all together. It tells about William Saroyan’s trip to Bitlis in 1964.
Another film project which is “New Year’s Eve Journey” (director Arthur Bakhtamyan) was awarded 2000 USD and full technical support in addition, afforded by Anadolu Kultur. It tells about a Hamsheni driver who brings orange from Turkey to Armenia on New Year’s Eve.
Meanwhile five of ATCP films, which were in the spotlight, had their world premiere in the frames of the 30th Istanbul International Film Festival, April 12th, in Pera museum, at 19:00.
The premiered films were:
“The Master of Doves”, Arthur Sukiasyan
“Puppet Theatre”, Canay Ozden, Altan Bal
“Galata”, Diana Kardumyan
“Don’t get Lost Children”, Gulengul Altinash
“Neighbors”, director Gor Baghdasaryan

The interest towards the platform was great. It was highly evaluated by renowned directors, representatives of festivals and co-production forums. ATCP films will be screened during the 8th edition of Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival, to be held in July 10-17. Also, ATCP films program will be included in different regional and international events; it is invited to be screened in the Middle Eastern Studies Centre in New York University.

The new call for the tenth ATCP workshop is already launched. It will be held in Armenia, Yerevan, July 12-14.