The Armenian Film Festival Australia returns to Sydney and Melbourne!

The Armenian Film Festival Australia returns for its 7^th Edition, from 1-17 September 2023 to Melbourne and Sydney, with a slate of highly anticipated films, special events and international guests!

The festival line-up includes 15 films across drama, comedy, documentary and family friendly films, in addition to the highly anticipated and multi-award-winning titles Amerikatsi and Aurora’s Sunrise, plus international guests including world-renowned comedian Kev Orkian!

Opening the festival, is the highly anticipated Opening Night Gala featuring internationally acclaimed Amerikatsi, by Emmy Award winning actor and director Michael Goorjian. This spectacular red carpet night features celebrity guests and an Armenian themed cocktail party!

Bringing awareness to the challenges facing the Armenian people of Artsakh remains a focus. The 2023 festival presents the powerful and eye-opening documentary Motherland, delivering a critical perspective on this conflict. The curated short films session contains 3 true stories from Artsakh –Wounds of War, 250km and Rapping Under Fire.

A festival highlight, Aurora’s Sunrise presents a stunning retelling of the story of a true heroine Aurora Mardiganian, in a spectacular blend of mesmerising animation, recovered original Hollywood film footage and real life documentary of Aurora herself. This film was Armenia’s submission to the 95^th Academy Awards and has captivated audiences globally.

2023 marks a significant milestone as Armenia celebrates 100 years of cinema! In recognition, the festival premieres – a retrospective classic from 1966, Hello, It’s Me. This cinematic gem screened at the Cannes Film Festival in 1966 and again in 2023 in honour of this milestone.

A special feature documentary Blessing of the Mountain shines a spotlight on Anjar, the town in Lebanon where the proud descendants of the Musa Dagh resistance have lived for decades, a city that many current day Australian Armenians have close personal ties.

Ensuring the festival caters for all genres, Honest Thieves delivers on entertainment and laugh-out-loud comedy, while Polli presents exciting adventure and drama and is great viewing for families (aged 12+).

Closing Night sees the festival end on a high in both Melbourne and Sydney, with a Comedy Double with Kev Orkian! After his hugely successful film Armenia Uncovered, Kev is back with the hilarious sequel, Ararat Uncovered where he follows his dream to Mount Ararat. In a world first, the Armenian Film Festival presents Kev in a Comedy Double, the World Premiere of the film Ararat Uncovered, followed by Kev’s latest World Tour COVID MOVID! This event showcases everything from his repertoire as a concert pianist and one of the world’s greatest entertainers!

Finally, the festival is honoured to host a first of a kind event; In Conversation with Zareh Nalbandian, an up-close discussion with the Co-Founder of the ground-breaking Animation Studio, Animal Logic and the founder and CEO of production companies Animal Logic Entertainment and Truant Pictures. Zareh’s producing credits include Peter Rabbit and Peter Rabbit 2 and Executive Producer of Academy Award winning Happy Feet and The Lego Movie, along with his well-documented support for up and coming creatives.

The 7^th Edition of the Armenian Film Festival Australia promises powerful storytelling, engaging and insightful perspectives, much-needed humour to lift spirits and an immersion into the Armenian culture, history and resilience of the Armenian people.

The festival team welcomes you to immerse yourself in this cinematic experience!

Tickets are on sale now!

MELBOURNE: The festival opens on 1 September with the Opening Night Gala and runs through to 3 September at the Lido Cinemas. The Closing Night Comedy Double with Kev Orkian is on 15 September 2023 at the Rivoli Cinemas.  Early Bird Discounts are available until 18 August 2023.

SYDNEY: The festival opens on 8 September with the Opening Night Gala and runs through to 17 September. All sessions are at Event Cinemas Top Ryde, plus a special screening at Event Cinemas Liverpool. For the first time, the festival presents a matinee session on Wednesday 13 September at 11am.  Early Bird Discounts are available until 25 August 2023.

For tickets and more information go to www.armenianfilmfestival.com.au

The Armenian Film Festival Australia is an initiative of Hamazkaine Armenian Educational & Cultural Society (Shant Chapter). The festival’s patron is the former Premier of NSW Gladys Berejiklian.

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