IN ALL PROBABILITY, “YES EM” INTERNATIONAL FESTIVEL TO BE ORGANIZED WITH TWO YEARS PERIODICITY FROM NOW ON

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 02 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 2, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The quality of the
last year films presented to the “Yes Em” (I am) international youth
festival was higher than this year. Film director Ruben Gevorgiants,
the jury head, the Chairman of the Cinematographers’ Union of Armenia
stated about this at the April 28 press-conference. According to him,
111 films of 206 ones placed orders beforehand, will be shown during
days of the festival starting on May 3. He also mentioned that film
directors of 12 countries of the world, including Ukraine, France,
Russia, Canada, will participate in the festival. R.Gevorgiants
also mentioned that 20% of applicants are participants of the
previous year. And in general, 64% of participants of the festival
is Armenians. The jury head informed that, in all probability, the
festival will be organized from now on with 2 years periodicity
as valuable films containing interesting and new speech are not
created within a year. According to film critic Suren Hasmikian,
the last year festival, in essence, had two interesting disclosures:
“The first is that it finally succeeded to remind the spectators that
a film is watched in cinema halls, and the second is disclosure of
the new generation of woman directors and operators. This is almost a
new event for history of Armenian cinematography.” S.Hasmikian is sure
that the festival will not be able to solve all problems existing in
the sphere of cinematography: “They will not be solved by organizing
one or two festivals.” The film critic also mentioned that deficit of
thinking, new speech are noticed among today’s young creators: “They
know the language of cinematography well, but the lack of dramaturgy
and speech depreciates created films.” The organization committee of
the festival defined 9 prizes: the best feature film, best documentary
film, best student’s work, best operator’s work, best director’s work,
best music clip, best animation film, best advertising clip,
best video-art. All prize-winners will get a diploma and a
prize. R.Gevorgiants also informed that a new prize after Ara Vahuni,
in the memory of the prominent film director passed away recently is
defined in the nomination of documentary films.