The Golden Apricot International Film Festival, held for the fifth consecutive year with the principal sponsorship of the Yerevan Municipality, will once again make the Armenian capital a major hub for international cinema from July 12 to 19, the municipality said.

World-renowned trumpeter, pianist and composer Ibrahim Maalouf will also travel to Yerevan during the festival. At the invitation of the Golden Apricot International Film Festival and the Armenian Jazz Association, he will give a special solo concert at the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concert Complex on July 15. He will also join the jury of the festival's Regional Competition.

This year, the festival received around 600 submissions from 90 countries, with 90 films from 40 countries selected for the program. The festival's honorary guest this year is renowned French-Armenian actor Simon Abkarian. The international and regional competition juries will be chaired by acclaimed contemporary cinema figures Jessica Hausner and Mahmoud Kalari.

The festival is being held with the support of Armenia's Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports.