YEREVAN (ArmRadio)— “The Last Inhabitant,” a film directed by Jivan Avetisyan, premiered within the framework of the 13th Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival (GAIFF) on Wednesday.
The film tracks the events of 1988-1989 and shows how the Sumgait massacre affected human lives.
“The Last Inhabitant” is about an Armenian village that was forcibly emptied of its residents. Abgar, the film’s main character, stays behind all alone in a gradually shrinking enemy ring. He is waiting for his daughter, who became a witness to her husband’s murder by an angry mob and was hospitalized with a mental disorder.
The film’s stars include world-renowned Iranian actors Homayoun Ershadi and Sandra Daukšaitė, and Armenian actors Sos Janibekyan, Aleksander Khachatryan, Naira Muradyan, Anne Bedian, and Babken Chobanyan.
The music scored by System of a Down’s Serj Tankian is performed by the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra and the Hover State Chamber Choir.
Honorable guest of the film festival, Jacqueline Bisset, arrived in Yerevan on Wednesday. The opening of the retrospective show of her films took place at the “Moscow” Cinema.
The actress said she lives in Los Angeles and speaks to local Armenians quite often, but she did not think of coming to Armenia up till now.
“I am very happy to be here. I am already convinced that you are very hospitable people. Now I am going to taste your cuisine. If I have enough time, I will also watch your films,” Armenpress reported Bisset saying.
Director of GAIFF Harutyun Khachatryan told that Jacqueline Bisset was awarded with the top prize of the festival, which is given only to the greatest stars.
The Film Festival’s blessing ceremony took place on Monday, June 11, at St. Zoravar church on the opening day. The honorary stars of cinematographer Albert Yavuryan, directors Edmond Keosayan and Dmitry Kesayants were unveiled at Charles Aznavour square among other prolific masters of the Armenian Cinema.
Welcoming speeches were offered by Khachatryan, GAIFF General Director, and Ralph Yirikian, General Director of VivaCell- MTS, General Sponsor of GAIFF for ten years.
During the opening ceremony it was announced that the European Film Academy is honoring Yerevan’s Parajanov Museum by awarding it “Treasure of European Film Culture.”
Earlier, the Academy had decided to establish a list of Treasures of European Film Culture, much like the UNESCO World Heritage list, summing up places of historical cinematic value that need to be maintained and preserved not just for now but for generations to come.
At the end of the ceremony the opening film by celebrated Armenian filmmaker Hamo Beknazaryan “Zareh” was screened.
