PRESS RELEASE
June 8, 2009
Contact: : 818-231-0937
adaa@armeniandrama.org

THE LILLIAN & VARNUM PAUL
2009 SCREENWRITING AWARD
FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

LOS ANGELES, California (June 8, 2009) – The Armenian Dramatic Arts
Alliance (ADAA) is pleased to announce the three finalists of the 2nd
Biennial Lillian & Varnum Paul 2009 Screenwriting Award: "Music for
Strangers" by Eric Nazarian (U.S), "Moskvitch, My Love" by Levon
Minassian (France), and "The Bedouin" by David Deranian and Anthony
Zanontian (U.S).

Screenplay submissions were received from across the United States,
Europe and Armenia.

Entries were required to be full-length, unproduced film scripts
written in English and based on Armenian themes. The screenplays
submitted this year were of high quality, which made the selections
difficult for the eight first round judges, all of whom are industry
professionals.

The three finalist plays will now be evaluated by an honorary jury
including award-winning filmmaker, Atom Egoyan; Producer and
Vice-President of Development at Alcon Entertainment, Steve Wegner;
and legendary literary agent (William Morris, CAA) turned director
Michael Peretzian.

The winner of the $10,000 award will be announced at a private
ceremony in Los Angeles the weekend of August 28-30. This year’s
ceremony will include a screening of an outstanding new film by an
Armenian filmmaker and will be followed by a cocktail reception.
Tickets will be available for this exclusive event by invitation only

The Armenian Dramatic Arts Alliance’s mission is to make the Armenian
voice heard on the world stage through the dramatic arts of theatre
and film. The organization accomplishes this mission by supporting
playwrights and screenwriters and providing production opportunities,
research tools, networking resources and writing awards.

In addition to the $10,000 Lillian and Varnum Paul Screenwriting
Award, ADAA administers the William Saroyan Prize for Playwriting, the
deadline for which is February 15, 2010.

For more information about ADAA, its activities and how to contribute
to its important mission, please visit the website at