Schiff to Host Capitol Hill Premiere of Acclaimed Armenian Genocide Documentary 'Aghet'

Ground-Breaking Film Spotlights the International Impact of Turkey’s Genocide Denial

WASHINGTON– U.S. House Armenian Genocide Resolution author Adam Schiff (D-CA) will be hosting the Capitol Hill premiere of “AGHET: A GENOCIDE” – a powerful documentary by German filmmaker Eric Friedler, documenting the annihilation of 1.5 million Armenians from 1915 to 1923 and calling attention to the current day Turkish Government’s international campaign of Genocide denial, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

The 90-minute documentary, dubbed in English, will be shown on Wednesday, July 21st from 6:00pm to 9:00pm in Room 2325 of the Rayburn House Office Building Room, adjacent to the U.S. Capitol.

“I am honored to host the screening of ‘AGHET’ in order to help educate my colleagues and their staffs about the first genocide of the twentieth century,” explained Rep. Schiff.  “In the fight for recognition, we are armed only with the truth; but in the end, the truth will be victorious.”

A pre-screening reception and the actual screening will be followed by a panel discussion, sponsored by the Armenian National Committee of America, featuring AGHET Director Eric Friedler, former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, SCREAMERS Director Carla Garapedian, and Vartkes Yeghiayan, Director of the Center for Armenian Remembrance.  The discussion will be moderated by ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.

“The Capitol Hill premiere of ‘AGHET’ and the panel discussion on this powerful film will provide an opportunity to explore the contemporary consequences of both Turkey’s campaign to cover up the Armenian Genocide, and also the complicity of other nations – the United States, sadly, included – in the denial of this crime,” said Hamparian.  “Evans, Friedler, Garapedian and Yeghiayan, each in their own compelling way, are at the cutting edge of the fight against denial and are leaders in the struggle to end the cycle of genocide. We are tremendously pleased that they will join with Congressman Schiff at this first-time Washington, DC screening and eagerly look forward to the information, insights and inspiration they will offer.”

AGHET: A GENOCIDE is a powerful documentary which debuted on German public television (NDR) in April, 2010, depicting the annihilation of 1.5 million Armenians from 1915-1923 and the effects of the Turkish Government’s international campaign of genocide denial on international policy. Award-winning director Eric Friedler assembles an impeccable cast, who bring to life the original texts of German and U.S. diplomatic dispatches and eyewitness accounts, interspersed with never-before-seen footage of the Genocide and its political aftermath.  The film, applauded by Nobel Prize laureate Gunter Grass, has sparked debate throughout Europe.  It is now being showcased around the world on television, and in major film festivals.

For more information about the film, read an extensive review by Der Spiegel Magazine at:  http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,687449,00.html

To RSVP for the July 21st screening and panel discussion, please contact Elizabeth Chouldjian at (202) 775-1918 or email: Elizabeth@anca.org.