Leading lady Karen Kondazian - Armenian Reporter

The first affma
organization
photo.
but with the support of an art
organization and film festival
like AFFMA, young artists feels
like they can show and share their
talent. The Arpa Film Festival gives
filmmakers not only of Armenian
heritage, but from all cultures,
the chance to show, share, and
exchange stories through film.
History of the festival
On April 27, 1997, the first annual
film festival was held in the Alfred
Hitchcock Theatre at Universal
Studios in Universal City. Only
twelve films were submitted, all
made by Armenian filmmakers
and mostly about Armenian subjects.
Although two films were entered
from Armenia and another
two from Canada, the festival
wasn’t considered international
yet.
The maiden voyage wasn’t a
competition film festival; it was
just the opportunity to showcase
work by Armenian talent. A very
determined group of AFFMA volunteers
searched long and hard
for Armenian themed films and
also gave grants to emerging filmmakers.
For the first time, the Armenian
community in Los Angeles had a
platform to honor members of the
film community who have used
their success to raise the collective
consciousness of film viewers.
Honorary guests included producers
Hank Moonjean (The Great
Gatsby, Dangerous Liaisons) and
Howard Kazanjian (Raiders of the
Lost Ark, The Rookie) and screenwriter
Paul Peterson. Among the
enthusiastic participants were
Harut Sassounian, the executive
director of the United Armenian
Fund; producer, artist and writer
Vahé Berberian; filmmakers Vahe
Babaian, Ruben Kochar, Ara Madzounian,
Shahan Minassian, and
Narbeh Nazarian; actor and producer
Vache Mangassarian; and
actor Shant Bejanian, among others.
Over the years honorees have
included producer Arthur Sarkissian
(Rush Hour), Atom Egoyan,
Arsinée Khanjian, producer Robert
Papazian (Coffy), Jim Hirsch,
and Dr. Michael Hagopian.
What started as a small festival
has evolved into a flourishing
mainstay. The number of Armenian
filmmakers has grown. “It’s
a major shift from ten years ago
when few Armenian filmmakers
were active. Also, Armenians are
working more closely together to
support each other as opposed
to working in a bubble,” says festival
director Alex Kalognomos.
“Now, Armenian filmmakers from
all over the world send us films
and we encourage Armenian students
at local Los Angeles film
schools – USC, UCLA, Art Center,
AFI, Cal Arts and the Cal States
– to submit.”
Continued support from the
community and passionate efforts
by the organizing committee
has made Arpa the success it is today.
The festival has progressively
gained a larger audience. They
went from Raleigh Studios (60-
seat theaters) to Arclight Cinemas
(200–300-seat theaters), and finally
to the Egyptian Theater (600
seats) where they are now. This
year Arpa will be screening an unprecedented
102 films.
Selection process
“The contribution of Armenians in
shaping this country is now being
embraced and recognized by filmmakers,”
says Kalognomos. “Arpa
gets to bring these films together
and screen them under one roof.
It’s also very exciting because over
the years the films get stronger
and stronger and the filmmakers
get younger and younger with
16-year-old award-winning filmmakers
sending us their work. Every
year, there are more women
directors, too.”
Armenian Reporter Arts & Culture 10/20/2007
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