Art Director of Golden Apricot Film Festival Susanna Harutyunyan said that the opening and closing ceremonies of the festival will be conducted by Serge Avedikian, the director of Barking Island film and winner of the 2010 Cannes Festival.

Mayrig (Mother) film by Henri Verneuil will open the festival, Harutyunyan told a press conference on June 18.

13 films are included in the competition program of the festival this year. “Sergei Loznitsa’s My Joy film, which participated in the Cannes Festival and won the Best Director Award at Kinotavr (Russia) festival, was also included in the list of competition films, though the selection of films had finished by the time when Loznitsa expressed desire to participate in the festival,” said Director of Programs of the festival Michael Stamboltsyan.

As usual, special attention will be paid to Armenian Panorama program, under which Edgar Baghdasaryan’s From Ararat to Zion film will be screened.

The British Council-Armenia has set a special prize for this program – the best film will participate in Bristol Film Festival, and the British Council will cover the expenses related to it.

Serge Avedikian’s Barking Island film will close the festival.