ERIC NAZARIAN WINS ADAA’S LILLIAN & VARNUM PAUL 2009 SCREENWRITING AWARD
Asbarez
ric-nazarian-wins-adaa%e2%80%99s-lillian-varnum-pa ul-2009-screenwriting-award/
Oct 12th, 2009
LOS ANGELES-Screenwriter Eric Nazarian has won the 2009 $10,000
Lillian & Varnum Paul Screenwriting Award for his screenplay,
"Music for Strangers." The award was given at the Armenian Dramatic
Arts Alliance (ADAA) 2nd Biennial Paul Awards Celebration, Saturday,
September 12 at Sunset Gower Studios in Hollywood.
The celebration, hosted by famed London actor/comedian Kev Orkian,
kicked off with a presentation of the Armenian Star Award to
Producer and former CEO of Sunset Gower Studios, Robert Papazian,
for his contributions to Armenians in the industry. The Emmy-Award
winning producer’s credits include the HBO Series Rome, the NBC film
Inherit the Wind, and more than 80 other television movies, series and
miniseries. The Star Award was presented to Papazian by Sunset Gower
Studios Vice President Terri Melkonian, who was mentored by Papazian.
Guests at the ADAA event included many high-level professionals from
the industry and renowned actors of Armenian decent, including Ken
Davitian (Get Smart, Borat), Marty Papazian (Jarhead) and Angela
Sarafyan (A Beautiful Life).
The Lillian & Varnum Paul Screenwriting Award was established in
2007 by the late Mr. Varnum Paul and his wife, Lillian, through
their fund at the Western Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church,
facilitated by His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian. The Award,
administered by ADAA, recognizes outstanding screenplays based on
Armenian themes and is given biennially.
The other finalists of the Paul Screenwriting Award were Levon Minasian
with Ester Mann, for the screenplay, "Moskvitch, My Love"; and David
Deranian and Anthony Zanontian for their screenplay, "The Bedouin,"
based on the book of the same title by Araxy Tatoulian.
Contest Administrator and ADAA Board of Trustees member Kristen
Lazarian thanked this year’s Honorary Jury: Oscar-nominated filmmaker
Atom Egoyan, theater director/former literary agent Michael Peretzian,
and Alcon Entertainment Vice President Steven P. Wegner. She also
shared the synopses of the top three scripts and acknowledged the
finalists, all of whom were present.
Actress, ADAA founding board member and daughter of Lillian and Varnum
Paul, Karen Kondazian, shared vivid memories of her parents and invited
His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian to announce the winner.
"Music for Strangers" is a poignant and haunting depiction of
modern-day Armenia that tells the story of a lonely painter, Zhora,
who has a chance encounter with Anna, a woman who has been ostracized
by society after being forced into trafficking. When Anna disappears,
Zhora embarks on an odyssey through the streets of Yerevan to find
her. Born in Armenia, Eric Nazarian immigrated to the United States
with his family in 1981 and studied at the USC’s School of Cinematic
Arts.
The Armenian Dramatic Arts Alliance’s mission is to make the Armenian
voice heard on the world stage through the dramatic arts of theatre
and film. The organization accomplishes this mission by supporting
playwrights and screenwriters with production opportunities, annual
industry events, networking resources, film festivals and writing
awards.
ADAA, now in its fifth year of operation, recently opened its new west
coast office at Sunset Gower Studios, the original home of Columbia
Pictures and many of its Oscar-winning films. The Oscar winning film,
>From Here to Eternity, was written in the new ADAA office. The historic
studio courtyard was the venue for the Paul Awards celebration.
"ADAA has come a long way and looks forward to developing even more
resources for the encouragement and assistance of Armenian artists,"
said ADAA founder and President, playwright Bianca Bagatourian,
during her event remarks.
In addition to the $10,000 Lillian and Varnum Paul Screenwriting Award,
ADAA administers the William Saroyan Prize for Playwriting on Armenian
themes – the deadline for which is February 15, 2010.
Donations to ADAA can be made at by mail to
ADAA, Sunset Gower Studios, 1438 N. Gower St., Box 24, Courtyard Suite
43, Hollywood, CA 90028. For questions, contact [email protected]
or 323 315 9415.