The Golden Apricot International Film Festival in Yerevan lasted for seven days. Initially, about 500 applications were submitted, but only 120 winning films were selected and screened for audiences. The films represented 45 different countries and 150 cinematography representatives visited Armenia during the festival. The festival also featured the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Canadian-Armenian filmmaker Atom Egoyan and 85th anniversary of prominent Armenian film director Henrik Malian. The Festival’s closing ceremony took place on July 16 at Moscow Cinema. All invitees, who were members of the five international juries, walked the red carpet path into the cinema. I was invited to the ceremony as an art critic, during which the winners’ names were announced. The Golden Apricot’s main prize for Best Feature Film was awarded to Cosmos by Turkish film director Reha Erdem. The prize for Best Armenian Panorama went to Arman Yeritsyan and Inna Sahakyan for The Last Tightrope Dancer in Armenia. Prizes were also awarded for Best Documentary Film, Ecumenical Jury Award, and the FPRESCI Jury Award, which went to Jasmila Zbanic for the film On the Path. Golden Apricot International Festival Founder and Director Harutyun Khachatryan expressed his sadness that the festival had drawn to a close. But Ralph Yirikian, executive director of the Film Festival’s General Sponsor Viva Cell, asked everyone to cheer up — the 8th International Festival Golden Apricot lies right ahead!
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