Hague to host selection of films from 2009 and 2010 editions of Golden Apricot

PanARMENIAN.Net - From May 6 to 15, 2011, Filmhuis Den Haag will host a selection of films from the 2009 and 2010 editions of Golden Apricot international film festival of Yerevan, Armenia. By presenting the best of Golden Apricot Film Festival, Filmhuis Den Haag is further enhancing The Hague’s international character, Filmhuis Den Haag said on its official website.

Films include the award-winning documentary “The Last Tightrope Dancer in Armenia” by Arman Yeritsyan and Inna Sahakyan, “The Border” by Harutyun Khachatryan and “A Room and a Half” by the Russian director Andrei Khrzhanovsky.

Numerous international guests will be attending the festival including directors, producers and festival representatives, who will introduce their films and answer audience questions afterwards.

The Golden Apricot Film Festival was established in 2004 and carries the theme "Crossroads of Cultures and Civilizations", as an impassioned mantra for building cultural bridges and fostering dialogue. It also reflects the history of Armenia itself, which for millennia has existed as a flash point for competing geopolitical forces.

This has resulted in a civilization replete with world influences and a dynamic arts heritage. In the seven years of its existence, the festival has become a premier destination for regional filmmakers. At the seven-day event in 2010, visitors were offered a choice of over 150 films.

A debate devoted to the richness of cinema in the Armenian region will be held on Sunday 8 May, as part of DAB (Directors Without Borders platform). Also, the photo exhibition Happy Day... by Zaven Khachikyan will be on display during the festival, which depicts both the struggles and the joys of a society in upheaval.

The program in The Hague has been compiled by curator, filmmaker and film critic Rada Sesic. She also selects films for the International Film Festival Rotterdam and for the IDFA.