16 APRIL 12 NOON

Curzon Soho
99 Shaftesbury Avenue
London, W1D 5DY

TWO OUTSTANDING CANADIAN FILMS ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
(DOUBLE BILL)

ARARAT
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THE GENOCIDE IN ME
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Q&A WITH DIRECTOR ARAZ ARTINIAN

Tickets £6.50 / £5.50 concessions

91 years ago, on April 24 1915 the Ottoman Empire’s Turks began a massacre that turned into the genocide of the Armenian People, killing over 1.5million. Armenian leaders sent letters to European governments pleading to save their people, but their cry was in vein. Although today many countries officially recognize the Armenian Genocide, Turkey is still in denial.

This screening is presented as part of the Gomidas Institute’s outreach programme and young Armenian-Canadian director Araz Artinian will present her new documentary THE GENOCIDE IN ME and take questions from the audience. Artinian also worked as a main collaborator on Atom Egoyan’s acclaimed film ARARAT, screened here.

ARARAT (15)

Director: Atom Egoyan. Starring: Christopher Plummer, Eric Bogosian. Canada / France 2002. 115mins.

Specifically an exploration of the genocide of the Armenian people during 1915-18 and the shadows that it casts to this day, this is also a look at how personal and political history can leave a legacy of uncertainty and insecurity.

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THE GENOCIDE IN ME (15)

Director: Araz Artinian. Quebec-Canada 2005. 53mins.

An angry, tender and funny film, THE GENOCIDE IN ME deals with the impact of the 1915 Armenian Genocide on the life of young filmmaker Araz Artinian, who has had to carry this legacy since her childhood. In this personal journey, Artinian, torn between her father’s passionate commitment to the Armenians of the Diaspora and her own personal needs, confronts the reality of living in a multicultural melting pot, and asks herself the universal question “where do I belong?”.

“THE GENOCIDE IN ME is a stunning, truly beautiful and deeply affecting film. I can’t believe the places Araz went, both physically and in her heart. Only she could have taken, and have had, this journey, and she has served her ancestors and family with honesty, generosity and intelligence” Atom Egoyan.

Followed by a Q&A with Araz Artinian.

The Gomidas Institute is an academc organisation dedicated to Armenian and Studies and Research. It is based in west London. For more information please contact info@gomidas.org