THE CRITICALLY-ACCLAIMED DOCUMENTARY AND WINNER OF THE AUDIENCE
Weber Shandwick Maral Kaloustian, mkaloustian@webershandwick.com
PR-Inside.com (Pressemitteilung)
Feb 12 2008
Austria
MG2 Productions in association with BBC Television and The
Raffy Manoukian Charity present SCREAMERS, taking center stage
on DVD February 19, 2008 from Sony BMG Entertainment. Directed
by award-winning journalist and filmmaker, Carla Garapedian, this
gripping documentary traces the history of modern-day genocide and
genocide denial — from the Ottoman Empire at the start of the 20th
century, to the current genocide in Darfur.
Follow the multi-platinum album selling and Grammy-Award(R)-winning(a)
band, System of a Down as they raise awareness for human rights
atrocities that continue to plague the world today.
"(An) invigorating and articulate film (that) unfolds at the
sensitive intersection of entertainment and politics," said Jeannette
Catsoulis, New York Times, during its theatrical release in the United
States. Also the winner of the Audience Award at the AFI Film Festival
and the Audience Award at the Montreal Human Rights Festival, SCREAMERS
is truly a must see. This shattering and powerful DVD includes seven
never-before-released concert and behind-the-scenes footage of the
band on tour. "A brilliant film," says Larry King of CNN, that asks
the audience, as well as all people, to be "screamers" and to speak
out against injustice.
"Genocides, we should feel, are all one," said Serj Tankian, lead
singer of System of a Down. "I think this is an important film. It’s
not just about System, it is about the denial of genocide, the common
denominator of all genocides, how they get away with it. It is about
the hypocrisy of denial."
A similar sentiment is shared by the film’s director:
"The band’s music is the perfect vehicle to make people wake up and
take action to end the cycle of genocide," said Carla Garapedian.
"SCREAMERS busts wide-open the hypocrisy of politicians and governments
who have misleadingly vowed ‘never again.’ This film reminds us that
we, as individuals, can make a difference. We can, as Serj says,
all be screamers."
A chilling segment in the film features an exclusive interview with one
such ‘screamer,’ journalist and activist, Hrant Dink. Brutally killed
shortly after the film’s premiere for speaking out for recognition
of the Armenian Genocide, Hrant Dink spent the majority of his life
fighting the government of Turkey’s ongoing denial of the Genocide.
Synopsis
Multi-platinum, Grammy-Award winning band, System Of A Down,
lend their music to this critically acclaimed political movie–
an impassioned synthesis of concert film and hard-hitting expose
about genocide in the last century– from the Armenian genocide,
the first genocide of the 20th century, to the genocide now in
Darfur. The film includes commentary and interviews with Pulitzer
prize-winning author Samantha Power ("A Problem from Hell: America
and the Age of Genocide"), survivors from Turkey, Rwanda and Darfur,
FBI whistleblowers, and the recently assassinated Hrant Dink, who all
shed light on why genocides occur and how they are permitted to repeat.
Screamers was conceived by Peter McAlevey and Carla Garapedian and
produced by Nick de Grunwald, Tim Swain, Carla Garapedian and Peter
McAlevey.
DVD Extras
The Screamers DVD will include the following, never-before seen
special features:
— "Going Backstage"- Fan meets the band backstage
— "Armenian School"- Teachers remember Serj, Daron and Shavo at school
— "Where Did We Come from?"- Serj and John pinpoint exactly where
their families came from
— "Grandfather’s Village"- Serj’s grandfather’s village in Turkey
today
— Bonus Song- "Question!"
— Never-before seen concert footage
— Hrant Dink in Memoriam- Exclusive interview with Hrant Dink
in Istanbul
— Press Conference – Serj and John at Screamers’s Premiere press
conference
— "Spiral into Flames"- Glass artist at work creating genocide
commemorative symbol
— Get Connected -Director tells you how to find out more
— Trailer – Screamers theatrical trailer
SCREAMERS -0- Street Date: February 19, 2008 Pricing: $19.99 SRP
Runtime: 91 minutes U.S. Rating: R for language, and disturbing images
of genocide
(a) Best Hard Rock Performance, 2005 for "B.Y.O.B"
Debuts on DVD February 19, 2008
Special Features Include Going Backstage, Bonus Song, and Press
Conference
"Surprising gravitas" — Entertainment Weekly
"Eye-Opening" — LA Times
"Genius" — Village Voice