Back to Gurun* Documentary

Back to Gürün is a story about two people thought to be adversaries, a Turk and an Armenian, discovering each other on a journey to discovering their common ancestral town, Gürün, in Anatolia. As they uncover the past through present day fear, can they move forward if they are afraid to look back? http://www.indiegogo.com/backtogurun

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ABOUT THE FILM

Back to Gürün is a story about two people thought to be adversaries, a Turk and an Armenian, discovering each other on a journey to discovering their common ancestral town, Gürün, in Anatolia. As they uncover the past through present day fear, can they move forward if they are afraid to look back?

As an Armenian, my identity has been shaped and influenced by my family’s survival of the Armenian Genocide by the Ottoman Turks. Back to Gürün tells the story of an unresolved Genocide, a politically relevant tragedy that continues to divide people today. It is a story I've wanted to share from the moment I met a Turkish young man by chance at a cafe just near Galata Tower in Istanbul in the summer of 2010. We immediately began the conversation with one question: "Where are you from?," and one common answer: "Gürün.” The documentary follows our journey as we meet again and travel to Gürün, in the Sivas Province, for the first time in our family’s history since 1915. The film explores the contrasting experiences both families endured in Gürün at the turn of the twentieth century. It is told through the point of view of two people whose current upbringing is drastically different, but whose roots are from the same place.

Film is developed under the framework of Directors Across Borders and will be screened at the Golden Apricot Armenian International Film Festival in July 2012 and the Istanbul International Film Festival in April 2013.

Back to Gürün was shot on HD by renowned cinematographer Vahagn Ter Hakobyan (A Story of People in War and Peace), and is directed by me, Adrineh Gregorian.

WHY IT’S IMPORTANT

As a documentary filmmaker, I am able to explore both the complexities of human life through personal narratives. My aim is to showcase how dialogue between two individuals is different from that of two countries, Armenia and Turkey, whose diplomatic ties are severed and whose borders are closed. In recent light of events and political climate, can honest discourse exist when there is so much fear to discuss the truth?

Through a conversation with journalist Hasan Cemal, the film explores on a deeper level the notion of Turkish-Armenian dialogue and the obstacles they face. Each human story, despite vastly contrasting experiences, has the ability to engage and educate people around the world.

WHAT WE NEED

Funding requested from Indiegogo totaling $24,000 is only one portion of the total budget and will be used to fund the part of the production and all of the post production of Back to Gürün, including the editing, sound design, translation and subtitles transfer to master, tape stock, office rental and administrative costs for five months. Original music from Armenian and Turkish performers will be used on the soundtrack. The end result will be a fully produced feature length documentary.

TIMELINE

I have spent 8 months conducting extensive research throughout Armenia and Turkey on the issue of Turkish-Armenian dialogue and rapprochement. Based on this research and my personal experience, we shot the road trip portion in October 2011 and made a second trip in February 2012. We have planned the post production phase to begin in March of 2012 and commence in July 2012. The final version is set to be completed in the Summer of 2012 to coincide with an education outreach campaign.

OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP

Back to Gürün needs all the support it can get! You can also help us out by sharing this page with everyone you know through social networks, tweeting, blogging, and e-mail.

THANK YOU!! Շնորհակալություն!! Teşekkür ederim!! спасибо!! Merci!! Gracias!! Dank u!! Danke!! شكرا!! Köszönöm!! σας ευχαριστώ!! დიდი მადლობა!! ขอบคุณ!! با تشکر از شما!! 감사합니다!! תודה!!