Author: Emma Nadirian

Free documentary film premiere, Q&A with acclaimed Armenian director Tsvetana Paskaleva, Armenian artifact displays, and music revive Armenian history and culture during Genocide Awareness Month
Sunday, April 7, 2:30 to 6 p.m. at Forest Lawn—Hollywood Hills

LOS ANGELES—In a debut cultural event, Forest Lawn—Hollywood Hills’s Armenian Movie Night will celebrate and revive Armenian history and culture as well as pay tribute to Genocide Awareness Month.

The free, one-night-only event includes the exclusive premiere of the documentary April War Heroes, followed by a Q&A between the film’s director, Tsvetana Paskaleva, who is one of the most celebrated Armenian filmmakers, and Hovsep “Joe” Hajibekyan of Forest Lawn—Hollywood Hills. After the screening, Armenian community partners will present artifacts, art, and embroidery that represent historic Armenian regions and recover and reintroduce aspects of Armenian culture that were largely eradicated during the Armenian Genocide of 1915. The event also includes Armenian music performances by Ara Dabanjian from Element Band and Friends and traditional Armenian pastries from local Armenian bakeries.

The premiere screening of Tsvetana Paskaleva’s documentary April War Heroes commemorates the third anniversary of the April War or the Four-Day War, which took place over four days in April 2016 and resulted in the death of nearly 100 Armenian soldiers and civilians. The 30-minute film documents the heroic stories of Armenian soldiers who gave their lives during the intense fighting of this war, which began when Azerbaijan attacked the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh and ended when the outnumbered Armenian servicemen pushed back the unexpected and overwhelming enemy attack within days. The screening and conversation with Paskaleva, who has been writing, directing, and filming for over 25 years, celebrate the power of Armenian film as a tool for remembering history.

“So much of Armenia’s rich history and beautiful culture was lost during the Genocide,” says Joe Hajibekyan. “But with the depth of culture incorporated into Forest Lawn’s Armenian Movie Night, with film, food, artistry, music, and community, we continue to revive and celebrate this legacy.”

“At Forest Lawn, we know how meaningful it is to honor and remember the culture that was important to those who have passed,” says Rodolfo Saenz, Forest Lawn’s Senior Vice President, Marketing. “With this event, we keep traditions alive while also inviting the community to learn about important aspects of Armenian culture.”

Armenian Movie Night will take place on Sunday, April 7, from 2:30 to 6 p.m., inside the Hall of Liberty at Forest Lawn—Hollywood Hills, 6300 Forest Lawn Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90068. Doors open for a pre-show reception at 2 p.m. Seating is available on a first come, first served basis and will begin at 2:30 p.m. Admission and parking are free. Visit www.forestlawn.com for more information.

For more than a century, Forest Lawn has been an integral part of Southern California. Since its founding, Forest Lawn has committed itself to providing outstanding service and beautiful environments for family outings, remembering loved ones and commemorating holidays. Forest Lawn’s locations in the Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties serve all faiths and cultures, and offer a wide range of celebrations and special events with competitively priced cremation and traditional funeral services throughout Southern California. Glendale – FD 656

Tsvetana Paskaleva is a Bulgarian-Armenian director with degrees from the State Institute of Theater and the State Institute of Cinema in Moscow, Russia. She has worked as a freelance reporter in the United States and internationally and as a writer and presenter for Armenian National TV. She has written and directed numerous award-winning documentaries, and her awards include the Armenian Medal for Courage, the Movses Khorenatsi medal, and multiple Gratitude medals. In 1996, “Parmani” Student National Charity Fund founded a Tsvetana Paskaleva scholarship, which is given each year to the best woman student of the Philological Faculty of Yerevan State University.

The Federation of Hellenic American Societies of Southern California, supported by the Consulates General of Japan, Greece, and Armenia in Los Angeles, will hold an event highlighting the story of the Japanese ship that rescued hundreds of refugees in Smyrna almost 100 years ago.

The event is scheduled to take place Friday, February 15, at 7 p.m. at the Huffington Center of the St. Sophia Cathedral

The event will include remarks by the Consuls General of Japan, Greece, and Armenia and will feature a special presentation by Dr. Nanako Murata Sawayanagi of Toyo University, who has done extensive research on the topic.

Almost one hundred years have passed since a Japanese ship is said to have rescued scores of Greek and Armenian refugees in Asia Minor. Some have orally passed down the story of the rescue during the Smyrna disaster of September 1922, but due to limited historical records, much of the event has been lost to the mists of history.

Attendees will include leaders of the Greek, Armenian, and Japanese communities, and additional community representatives. The reception following the program will feature food and refreshments from Japan and Greece.