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Watch ARPA International Film Festival 20th Closing Night Special Awards Gala Banquet 2017 Video

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By Wally Sarkeesian

Special Awards Gala Banquet to mark Arpa International Film Festival’s 20th Anniversary, it was extraordinary evening in celebration of Arpa International Film Festival’s milestone 20th anniversary.

The Closing Night Awards Gala Banquet,  held at the Loews Hollywood Hotel on November 5, 2017,  weekend-long film festival with a bang!

The Awards Gala Banquet included a red carpet and cocktail reception starting at 6:00 PM. An exclusive silent auction also took place during the cocktail hour, just before the evening’s dinner and awards ceremony.

Closing Night Awards Gala Honorees

This year’s special honorees include Oscar-winning Irish screenwriter and director Terry George, music icon Chris Cornell (in memoriam), acclaimed actor Carl Weathers, and Oscar-winning screenwriter Alexander Dinelaris. Awards  also be presented to winning filmmakers for their films in the best feature, best documentary, and best short categories.

Carl Weathers, the beloved actor best known for his portrayal of Apollo Creed in the Rocky series, The recipient of Arpa’s Lifetime Achievement Award. He has also starred in films such as Predator, Action Jackson, Hurricane Smith, Happy Gilmore and Little Nicky. The former professional football player’s most recent project was directing John Patrick Stanley’s Danny and the Deep Blue Sea.

www.gagrule.net have posted the videos on both Facebook and YouTube However YouTube Has much better high quality. To watch videos on Facebook visit Facebook.com/gagrulepage

YouTube Video Unforgettable 20th Closing Night Special Awards Gala Arpa Film Festival INTRO 2017

YouTube Video Full Coverage Arpa International Film Festival 20th Special Awards Gala Banquet Part 1

YouTube Video Full Coverage Arpa International Film Festival 20th Special Awards Gala Banquet Part 2

Video Full Coverage Arpa International Film Festival 20th Special Awards Gala Banquet Part 3

The Armin T. Wegner Humanitarian Award, named after the German soldier/medic who was stationed in the Ottoman Empire during World War I, where he witnessed the onslaught of the Armenian Genocide. The photographs he took documenting the plight of the Armenians, today comprises the core of witness images of the Genocide. In the years following the end of World War I, Wegner also voiced his opposition against the anti-Semitic policies of the Nazis, who later persecuted him.

Arpa’s coveted Armin T. Wegner Humanitarian Award, presented each year to a filmmaker whose work contributes toward the struggle for social consciousness and human rights, Terry George this year recipient (In the name of the Father, Some Mother’s Son, Hotel Rwanda, The Shore, The Promise) in recognition of his extensive body of films that have shed light on the situation in his native Northern Ireland, the Rwandan Genocide, and the Armenian Genocide.

Arpa International Film Festival  presenting this year’s Lifetime Legacy Award to music icon Chris Cornell, whose life came to a tragic end early this year.
Chris Cornell, best known as the lead vocalist for the rock bands Soundgarden and Audioslave, as well as the founder and frontman of Temple of the Dog, was also a human rights activist committed to the world refugee crisis and the despair of vulnerable children. The Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter’s last solo release was the charity single “The Promise” written for the motion picture of the same name. Cornell Family, along with special friends, present to accept the Award.

Hollywood, the incredible woman,SYLVIA MINASSIAN founder, Arpa International Film Festival

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Sylvia Minassian,

Sylvia Minassian, founder Arpa International Film Festival

We salute the incredible woman behind the 20 years of successful Arpa International Film Festival, her deep passion for language and the arts. SYLVIA MINASSIAN the founder,

Arpa Foundation for Film, Music & Art (AFFMA) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1995 with the purpose of providing a platform for filmmakers, musicians and artists, whose works explore subjects of social and cultural importance. AFMMA’s biggest endeavor was launching its signature Arpa International Film Festival in 1997, which quickly came to be recognized as one of the leading indie film festivals in Southern California.

Festival Mission

Arpa International Film Festival is dedicated to cultivating cultural understanding and global empathy by creating a dynamic forum for international cinema. Over the past 20 years, the festival has bridged cultural divides by fostering dialogue among people of diverse backgrounds. By showcasing local and international films that explore critical issues such as war, genocide, diaspora, dual identities, exile and multi-culturism, Arpa International Film Festival has solidified its role in safeguarding films that continue to make a social impact.

GagruleLive will bring you full coverage of 3 days Arpa international Film Festival, coming soon 

Burbank Film Festival to feature Armenian Genocide documentary

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“Crow’s of the Desert: A Hero’s Journey Through the Armenian Genocide,” a 2016 film by director Marta Houske telling the story of the destruction of 1,5 million Armenians in the Ottoman Empire will screen as part of the Burbank International Film Festival.

The festival on Monday, August 28 announced official program selections for the 9th Annual edition of the festival set for September 6 through September 10.

The documentary is based on the “Memoirs of Levon Yotnakhparian”, a true story of one man’s brave adventures to stay alive, and help save his people from near extinction.

More than 180 feature and short films representing 60 countries will be presented during the five-day event, along with artist tributes, panels, and festivities.

Hollywood preparing for the opening of Charles Aznavour’s star

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AFP agency presented a video of preparations for the opening of Charles Aznavour star on Walk of Fame in Hollywood.

Ana Martinez, Producer of the Walk of Fame ceremonies, said Aznavour performed hundreds of songs and got numerous awards and is still performing at his age “which is wonderful”.

The local Armenians are incredibly proud to share Aznavour with the world, said Baydsar Thomasian.

Legendary singer-songwriter Charles Aznavour, 93, has already left for Los Angeles where he will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Thursday, August 24, 2017.

 

“The Promise” Sets Hollywood Technique Against the Armenian Genocide’s Horrors

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By Alan Scherstuhl,
Terry George’s The Promise has the rare good fortune of turning up in theaters just weeks after another film showed how necessary a movie like this is. The second star-driven war-adventure film of 2017 to set a cross-cultural love triangle against the horror of the Armenian Genocide, The Promise would outclass its forerunner, The Ottoman Lieutenant, even if it weren’t manifestly better in its story and acting and more arresting in its sweep.

The Ottoman Lieutenant, more a romance than a reckoning with history, never quite brings itself to admit that the Armenian Genocide actually happened — instead, it presents the Ottoman Empire in the era of the First World War as a land torn generically by war, one whose people at least had the good fortune to be tended to by Hera Hilmar’s plucky American nurse, who will treat anyone, regardless of which god they serve. Much of that film concerns her dueling suitors, and the final shot is a howler: In the highlands near Mt. Ararat, a parade line of wounded and dying Turks and Armenians lie on their gurneys as the camera cranes out and Hilmar dashes purposefully from one to the next. Civilization has crumbled, faiths are clashing and the Turks have set in motion the extermination of some 1.5 million Armenians, but the movie urges us not to worry — she’s got this.

Nobody’s got the situation under control in The Promise, a handsome but lumpish film whose creators are too honest to lie to us about individual heroism. George and Robin Swicord have also built their screenplay around three conflicted lovers, but here the history overwhelms the romance. Nobody in The Promise has to point out that their love problems don’t amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world, because that crazy world is forever trying to kill them and everyone they care about. Rather than sweat over who’s crushing on whom, the protagonists endeavor to survive, offer aid to refugees and let the world know the truth about a campaign of mass murder that, to this day, the Turkish government still won’t officially acknowledge.

Oscar Isaac stars as Michael, an Armenian man who in 1914 leaves his village in the mountains to study medicine in Constantinople. When the killing starts, and Turks are attacking Armenians in the streets (a scene reminiscent of George’s Hotel Rwanda), it takes him agonizing minutes to bring down an assailant. He’s assisted in this by Ana (Charlotte Le Bon), an Armenian ballerina, who chucks cabbages at the killers’ heads. The movie’s an epic, but the characters are human-scaled; their desperate actions are refreshingly un-aestheticized.

Called to arms in the late reels, Michael can’t bring himself to shoot the Turks advancing on an encampment of Armenian refugees. Instead, he dedicates himself to treating the wounded. Principled pacifism here is as noble and moving as it is in Mel Gibson’s Hacksaw Ridge, but George handles it in just heartbeats — and without the sense that he’s aroused by the violence the pacifist rejects.

Read more: http://www.villagevoice.com/film/the-promise-sets-hollywood-technique-against-the-terror-of-the-armenian-genocide-9887292

Hollywood stars promoting #ArmenianGenocide film “The Promise”

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After surviving a targeted effort by Turkish lobbies to derail its success, the Armenian Genocide film The Promise will open in American theaters next week. And Hollywood celebs are getting the word out, a feature published by NewsBuster MRC said.

“Because the Turkish government still denies waging genocide against Armenians a century later, films about the conflict have encountered resistance. The most recent movie to tackle the topic – The Promise – stars A-lister Christian Bale, yet even that did not preclude pushback.

However, two months after the film’s Toronto Film Festival debut, Open Road Films obtained distribution rights, celebrities joined in promotional efforts and the producers announced that all of the film’s proceeds would go toward charities. After screenings in London and the Vatican last month, The Promise will open April 21 in theaters across America,” the feature said.

Here are the big name stars who have joined in the effort to #keepthepromise.

Cher

Cher, born Cherilyn Sarkisian, is part Armenian herself. After screening The Promise, the “goddess of pop” tweeted: “This film broke my heart, & NOT JUST 4 ARMENIANS, BUT 4 ALL PPL WHO’VE SUFFERED & LOST LOVED ONES. We’re all beautiful flowers We look best in a bouquet.”

George & Amal Clooney

Hollywood actor George Clooney and his wife, human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, attended the London screening of the film. Mrs. Clooney represented the country before the European Court of Human Rights in a 2015 case against a denialist Turkish politician.

Leonardo DiCaprio

“Oscar Isaac, Christian Bale and Charlotte Le Bon, under the direction of Terry George, provide extraordinary performances in the upcoming film The Promise,” actor DiCaprio wrote on his Facebook page. “I applaud the entire team, together with my good friend the legendary producer Mike Medavoy, whose enduring talent, dedication and commitment brought this important project and subject to life.”

Dean Cain

In March, actor/director Dean Cain traveled to Yerevan, Armenia to speak with the Syrian refugees of Armenian heritage who are currently living there. “Armenians have been persecuted for centuries, they were the first bastion of Christianity,” he told Fox & Friends on March 21. “And they are the only bastion of Christianity in the Middle East, in that area.”

Naturally, Cain has also supported The Promise. “In college I studied history, I learned about genocides, like the Armenian Genocide, and the Holocaust,” the actor commented in a video posted on Twitter. “There’s genocides going on right now, here, today. I’m talking about Syria, Iraq, Sudan. I vow to keep the promise to relegate Genocide to the history books.”

Barbra Streisand

“I am joining @esrailian & @thepromisefilm to #KeepThePromise to never forget,” the singing star posted to her Instagram account.

Elton John

“I am thrilled to announce @thepromisefilm’s release, a story about the Armenian Genocide, on Apr. 21. In the spirit of this film, I join the movement to #KeepThePromise to champion human rights, dignity & equality & an end to #AIDS through @ejafdn,” the self-titled “flamboyant superstar” wrote on Instagram. “In a wonderful display of the human spirit, all of the film’s proceeds will be donated to charity because, in a belief that I share, no one should be left behind. Thank you to @esrailian & everyone for your support throughout the years!”

Sylvester Stallone

“This extraordinary film is opening April 21,” Stallone wrote of The Promise. “It is a subject that I have been fascinated with for decades and it has taken many years for someone to finally have the guts to make it and finally bring it to the screen for all to see…” The actor continued, “It is true and incredibly important historical drama That has all the extraordinary ingredients that can make a movie Oscar quality. It’s amazing lead actors Christian Bale, and Oscar Isaac, Play their parts to perfection! And a special shout out to it’s a legendary producer, Mike Medavoy, Who finally brought this epic story to the screen.”

Don Cheadle

“Hi, I’m Don Cheadle and I’ve seen the effects of genocide up close and personal in Darfur,” the comedian announced in a Twitter video. “I vow to keep the promise, and raise awareness and fight genocide around the world wherever it may occur.”

Andre Agassi

Famed Armenian-American tennis champ Andre Agassi also publicized his support. “Hi, I’m Andre Agassi and I’m so proud to see that Kirk Kerkorian’s vision has become a reality,” the sports star commented over Twitter. “Help me keep Kirk’s promise.”

Tony Goldwyn

Scandal star Tony Goldwyn posted a video on Twitter with the comment: “@MPTF we #KeepThePromise every day to take care of our own. @thepromisefilm opening April 21 with ALL proceeds going to charities.”

Related links:

NewsBuster. These Ten Stars Are Promoting Armenian Genocide Film ‘The Promise’

Vandalized Hollywood sign briefly reads ‘HOLLYWeeD’

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — No, Los Angeles residents, it wasn’t your hangovers playing tricks on you. The Hollywood sign really did read “HOLLYWeeD” for a few hours on New Year’s Day.

Police were investigating Sunday after a prankster used giant tarps to turn the iconic sign’s two white Os into Es sometime overnight.

The vandal, dressed in all black, was recorded by security cameras and could face a misdemeanor trespassing charge, said Sgt. Robert Payan.

The person scaled a protective fence surrounding the sign above Griffith Park and then clambered up each giant letter to drape the coverings, Payan said.

The prank may be a nod to California voters’ approval in November of Proposition 64, which legalized the recreational use of marijuana, beginning in 2018.

Hikers and tourists in the hills spent the morning snapping photos of themselves in front of the altered sign before park rangers began removing the tarps.

“It’s kind of cool being here at the moment,” Bruce Quinn told KABC-TV. “I thought we came to see the Hollywood sign, not the’ Hollyweed’ sign. But hey it’s OK with me!”

While attention-grabbing, the prank was not exactly original. Forty-one years ago to the day — Jan. 1, 1976 — a college student similarly altered the sign, using curtains to make it read “HOLLYWEED.”

Hollywood: ARPA International Film Festival Closes with a Bang!

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arpa-festivalBY SHARON SWAINSON,

The 19th Arpa International Film Festival (AIFF) concluded with its prestigious awards ceremony on November 6, at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. Cheers to Michael Ashjian, festival director and the whole Arpa team, for making sure that the four day film screenings, Q&As, special premiers, and first time behind the scenes of the upcoming film “The Promise” ran smoothly.

The night opened with a screening of Emmanuelle Osei-Kuffour’s thought-provoking short film, Born With It. The master of ceremonies and actress-producer, Heather McComb was delightfully vibrant and engaging throughout the entire ceremony. Comedians, Mary Basmadjian and Arman Oganesyan, had the audience laughing with their creative quips and storytelling. International singer and actress, Maria Elena Infantino, raised the roof with a riveting rendition of Edith Piaf’s song, “No, I have no regrets.”

Throughout the night, ten presenters graced the stage and announced the six film award winners and four special award honorees: Danny Buday (writer-director), Dr. Eric Esrailian (co-manager and lead producer for Survival Pictures), Karen Kondazian (actress and award-winning novelist), Victor Loyola (director of development at University of Guadalajara), Jelena Mrdja (Serbian actress), Mariana Novak (actress and voice-over talent), John Stahl (screenwriter and chair of CSUN’s Department of Cinema and Television Arts), Angus Sutherland (Vice President of Production and Development at Lotus Entertainment), Katherine Vallin (film generalist), and Basil Wallace (actor-director-writer).

AIFF 2016 Special Award Recipients:

Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to world renowned French film and television actor Dominique Pinon, by Vice President of Lotus Entertainment, Angus Sutherland.

Career Achievement Award was presented to composer, activist, and lead singer of System of the Down Serj Tankian, by Dr. Eric Esrailian, the co-manager and lead producer for Survival Pictures, and the producer of “The Promise.”

Breakthrough Artist Award was presented to director and choreographer Albert Kodagolian, by the most influential Goth rock band Bauhaus’ world renowned drummer Kevin Haskins.

Armin T. Wegner Humanitarian Award was presented to Emmy award winning director-producer of “Women of 1915,” Bared Maronian by Sylvia Minassian, Founder of Arpa International Film Festival and Dr. Zaven Khatchaturian, creator of Armin T. Wegner award.

A special certificate in recognition, from the office of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, was presented to all four award recipients and the producer of the documentary “Crows of the Desert,” Paul Turpanjian.

Arpa International Film Festival would like to give a special shout out of appreciation to the amazing DJ Dechard (aka Riccardo Di Benedetto) who added a fabulous touch to the VIP celebrations. Further, ArmAs Estate Wine received rave reviews throughout the entire weekend. Deservingly so, this Armenian wine is wonderful! There was quite a bit of chatter too about the Giantto watch sets that were presented on stage to the Lifetime, Career, and Breakthrough honorees.

The Arpa team also thanks Tacori, Giantto, Polanti, Siera, Astrologie of California, and Gintani for their continuous support.

Arpa International Film Festival organizers are proud to mention that the festival was selected as one of the top three Indie Film Festivals in the September issue of the Westways Magazine. This year’s festival once again hit the media internationally. Kimberly Jesika of Huffington Post reported in live on the red carpet saying “legends to lifetime achievers and up and coming walked the fabulous red carpet. The food was amazing; the flow of everything was smooth and beautiful. The festivities were one of the best places to be in Hollywood!”

Our 19th annual festival was a resounding success and the 20th is sure to exceed it! Be sure to keep an eye out for 20th Arpa IFF 2017 updates.

2016 ARPA International Film Festival Winners:

Best Feature Film

Train Driver’s Diary (2016) | Serbia | Director: Milos Radovic

Best Documentary

The Other Side of Home (2016) | U.S.A. | Director: Naré Mkrtchyan

Best Animated Short Film

Anna (2015) | France | Director: Alexia Rubod, Antoine Poyard, Jordann Jacobé, Alexis Choquard, Sophie Bracmard, Yunhan Liu

Best Short Film

ZAAR (2016) | USA | Director: Ibrahim Nada

Best Director

David Safarian, Hot Country, Cold Winter

Best Screenplay

Train Driver’s Diary (2016) | Serbia | Milos Radovic

Interview: Killing Ed Filmmaker Mark Hall exposes a shocking truth “Turkish Imam Gulen” Takeover US Charter Schools

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killing-edBy Wally Sarkeesian

Hollywood, Arpa Film festival

Killing Ed is a 94 minutes feature film by award-winning director Mark S, Hall that exposes a shocking truth: that the largest network of taxpayer-funded charter schools in the U.S hide a worst-case-scenario….. that they are operated with questionable academic, labor, and H1-B visa standards by member of the “Gulen Movement” – a rapidly expanding, global  Islamic group whose leader, Fethullah Gulen, lives in self-imposed exile in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania  USA. Gulen has been accused of leading a violent coup in July, 2016 to overthrow the Turkish government. Killing ED provides its audiences with a shocking first-hand look inside the Gulen Movement and the schools- with never before seen interviews and hidden camera footage –while revealing the corruption of those attempting to privatize public schools in the USA.

Notable screenings, awards and mentions

Arpa Film Festival hollywood

Tallgrass Film Festival 2015

Julien Dubuque International Film Festival 2016

(Best Documentary Nominee)

Glendale International Film Festival 2016

Here are some links where people can purchase the DVD of the film:
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