ArmenPress
Feb 2 2005

ANOTHER US ARMENIAN BIDS FOR HAYFILM STUDIO

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 2, ARMENPRESS: Gevork Gevorkian, the director of
Hayfilm (ArmenFilm) studio told Armenpress a US-based businessman of
Armenian origin has offered to pay $1.5 million for the studio and
pledged to invest another $100 million to make it a contemporary
laboratory for production of films.
Gevorkian said none of his employees is against privatization, as
“it is very difficult to shoot films in conditions which the studio
offers.” He said out of 15 cameras only one works and that one was
presented to it by Charles Aznavour 15 years ago.
Gevorkian has been director of the studio since 1992. He said the
program presented by Khachikian meets their expectations, both in
what regards its modernization, wages, improvement of the studio’s
territory, training of the personnel and so. The restoration project,
designed by another US-based Armenian, envisages that in five years
the studio would develop into a modern movie-city.
Two other businessmen of Armenian origin, Gerard Cafesjian from
the USA and Ara Abrahamian from Russia have submitted their bids. The
first proposed $600,000 for the studio and $5 million in investments
and the second $1 million and $ 6 million in investments.
Hayfilm movie studio is located on 33.4 hectares just outside
Yerevan.