IFFK 2024: ARMENIAN CINEMA SPREADS ITS WINGS

Filmmakers Mikael Dovlatyan, Serge Avedikian, producer Karina Simonyan share their thoughts on history, struggles, Indian connection, and future of Armenian cinema

- PARVANA K B @T'Puram

This year's International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) is celebrating Armenian cinema in its 'Country Focus' section, giving audiences a chance to discover the rich stories of this small yet resilient northwestern Asian nation. Filmmakers Mikael Dovlatyan, Serge Avedikian, and producer Karina Simonyan shared their thoughts on the history, struggles, Indian connection, and future of Armenian cinema.

Armenia has many important stories to share, remarked Avedikian. "During the Soviet era, Armenia's film industry thrived despite political and economic pressures. Yerevan, the capital, once had over 50 theatres, showing how deeply cinema was loved. But after the Soviet Union collapsed, Armenia faced tough times as it built its independence, leaving little money for cultural activities like filmmaking. Today, only a few theatres remain. Yet, Armenian filmmakers have been telling stories for over 100 years," says Avedikian, a recipient of the Short Film Palme d'Or - the highest prize given to a short film at the Cannes film festival.

He added that while filmmakers such as Sergei Parajanov are famous worldwide, many others from Armenia's Soviet period remain largely unknown.