FIFTH GOLDEN APRICOT FILM FESTIVAL STARTS

YEREVAN, JULY 14, ARMENPRESS:The fifth international film festival-Golden Apricot- was launched Sunday, July 13, at Armenia’s biggest Moskva cinema. Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, Culture Minister Hasmik Poghosian, as well as other officials and prominent representatives of the art community were present. Unlike the previous years, this time the opening ceremony was simple without pompous events and fireworks. The first film screened was ‘Birds of Paradise’ by a Ukrainian-Armenian director Roman Balayan. President Serzh Sargsyan sent a welcoming message to its participants, which was read out by his aide. The president described the festival as a big event in Armenia’s cultural life, saying also that it will give its participants a fresh and unique opportunity to discover Armenia. Festival director Harutyun Khachatrian commended the government for its constant support to the festival. He also thanked VivaCell mobile phone operator for being one of the biggest sponsors of the festival. One of the first prizes, called Parajanov Thaler was awarded to late Italian director Michelangelo Antonioni. It was handed to his widow by a prominent German director Vim Wenders. This prize was awarded also to prominent Iranian film director Daryush Mehrjun. The festival will end on July 20.