Armenians and Turkey: A Night of Documentary and Short Films

On the occasion of the 100 year anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the USC Institute of Armenian Studies will present a night of short films produced by filmmakers from Armenia and Turkey on Thursday, April 23, 2015, 4-9 p.m. at USC School of Cinematic Arts, The Ray Stark Family Theatre (SCA 108, George Lucas Building Lobby, 900 W. 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007)

USC INSTITUTE OF ARMENIAN STUDIES

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California, USA

Contact: Salpi Ghazarian, Director

Armenian@usc.edu

213.821.3943                                             

Armenians and Turkey: A Night of Documentary and Short Films

On the occasion of the 100 year anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the USC Institute of Armenian Studies will present a night of short films produced by filmmakers from Armenia and Turkey on Thursday, April 23, 2015, 4-9 p.m. at USC School of Cinematic Arts, The Ray Stark Family Theatre (SCA 108, George Lucas Building Lobby, 900 W. 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007)

Many of the films are award-winning and in addition to being provocative, thoughtful and intriguing, they all focus on the complex relations between Armenians and the Turks in the century after the Genocide.  All films are subtitled in English.

Refreshments will be available during the breaks.

Schedule:

4:00 PM         SaroyanLand by Lusin Dink                                 72’

Saroyanland is a docu-drama focusing on the journey of famous writer William Saroyan to the birthplace of his Armenian family Bitlis, in Turkey in 1964

5:15 PM         Barking Island by Serge Avedikian                     15’

Winner of Palme d’Or Cannes 2010, Barking Island, an animated film, is set in Constantinople in 1910 and follows 30,000 dogs forced into exile, abandonment and death.

5:30 PM         Break                                                            15’

5:45 PM         Neighbors by Gor Baghdasaryan             52’

The Armenian village Bagaran and the Turkish village Khalikislak, on opposite sides of the Armenian-Turkish border, within eyesight and earshot of each other, are in fact neighbors.

6:40 PM         Bolis by Eric Nazarian                               20’

Bolis, as Armenians call Istanbul, tells the story of an Armenian oud musician from the diaspora who travels to Istanbul to find his grandfather’s oud shop and other memories and heirlooms lost during the Armenian Genocide.

7:00 PM         A Rainy Day in April by Ümit Kıvanç    10’

An Armenian folk song arranged and performed by Turkish musicians, in memoriam of the Armenian Genocide on April 24.

7:10 PM         Break                                                            15’

7:25 PM         The Son of the Olive Merchant by Mathieu Zeitindjioglou    77’

Anna married Mathieu and they traveled to Turkey to find and understand the roots of his family and his long last name.

8:45 PM         My Bolis: Yasar Kurt by CivilNet                       9’       

One in a series of views of today’s Istanbul, the old Bolis, through the eyes of artist Yasar Kurt.

Directions and parking information:

We advise guests to park in Parking Structure D, located at the intersection of W. Jefferson Blvd. & Royal Street. (across from the Shrine). See attached map for the location of the event (School of Cinematic Arts)

Please call 213.821.3943 with questions regarding the event, including parking and directions.

About the Institute

Established in 2005, the USC Institute of Armenian Studies supports multidisciplinary scholarship to re-define, explore and study the complex issues that make up the contemporary Armenian experience — from post-Genocide to the developing Republic of Armenia to the evolving Diaspora. The institute encourages research, publications and public service, and benefits from communication technologies that link together the global academic and Armenian communities.

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