PanARMENIAN.Net – “I am not alone” — a full-access feature documentary about Armenia‘s miraculous 2018 velvet revolution — will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Directed by filmmaker Garin Hovannisian, the chronicle of the 2018 Armenian revolution combines front-line reportage with new interviews that describe incidents the cameras could not capture. ‘
“Hugely informative, briskly paced, and offering a laudable balance of perspectives, I Am Not Alone is a feat of nonfiction storytelling and a must-see for anyone eager to make sense of recent history,” the description posted on TIFF’s website reveals.
“I Am Not Alone extracts fascinating commentaries from an array of individuals on both sides, including Pashinyan and, most surprisingly, [former President and PM] Sargsyan. Defying one interview subject’s characterization of Armenians as a people “who had forgotten how to dream,” the film ably demonstrates that fundamental change brought about by the people can be made manifest.”
The Armenian Prime Minister and former opposition lawmaker Nikol Pashinyan led massive demonstrations in April-May 2018 to oust former authorities.
After a civil disobedience campaign that lasted several weeks, the then Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan resigned, which led to the dissolution of the parliament, snap elections and the subsequent election of Pashinyan as the country’s new Prime Minister.
“I am happy to live in the same country and in the same city where Tigran Mansuryan lives. I am happy to sit next to the maestro,” Yerevan Mayor Hayk Marutyan stated on Wednesday at a press conference on the launch of series of concerts dedicated to the 80th birthday anniversary of the leading Armenian composer of classical music and film scores Tigran Mansuryan.
His music appears from silence, from the struggle between silence and noise. The year of 2019 is full of jubilee cultural events particularly dedicated to Maestro Mansuryan. The RA People’s Artist, composer Tigran Mansuryan is 80. “When we were discussing the format of events Maestro didn’t want any films dedicated to him or other events in any format but concerts”, said Deputy Mayor Tigran Virabyan.
As the Yerevan Municipality reports, on the initiative of Yerevan Municipality and with the support of the Government Armenian audience will have an exclusive opportunity to participate in the series of concerts dedicated to the Maestro’s jubilee. “The city didn’t have such a budget and the Mayor applied to the Government. The program will become the cultural pulse of the year”, added Tigrn Virabyan.
The art director and conductor of the State Symphonic orchestra of Armenia Sergey Smbatyan stressed that they were greatly inspired with the support of Yerevan Municipality.
“Mansuryan-80” musical festival starts on September 1, at Revival square in Artsakh. The symphonic orchestra will perform Mansuryan’s soundtracks at the open-air concert. The famous compositions by Mansuryan will be performed in a new arrangement.
“ The notes of some my works are not kept even in my personal library. Once I hand them to the Union of Cinematographers of Moscow, and significant works has been done in this regard”, told Tigran Mansuryan.
On September 4, the music by Maestro will be performed at Chamber Music House after Komitas. The compositions will be performed by the State Symphonic Orchestra of Armenia. the String Quartet after Saryan, piano players Pavel Dombrovski, Isabella Melkonyan, alt player Sergey Poltavski and soprano Anna Avdalyan.
On September 5, the State Symphonic Orchestra will perform Tigran Mansuryans instrumental concerts at Aram Khachaturyan Concert Hall.
On September 6, the same orchestra will perform Maestro’s music at the National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet.The admission is by tickets.
“I have never felt so much care and I am really grateful for it”, said Maestro. The festival will be completed in Gyumri, on September 13 at “Sev Berd” (“Black Castle”) monument. Within the frames of the program dedicated to Maestro’s jubilee limited edition of exclusive silver souvenirs will be issued to remind the guests arrived in Yerevan to participate in the concert of the special music event.
Anush Grigoryan has lost the first bout of the Women’s European Boxing Championship underway in Madrid, the National Olympic Committee reported.
European U22 champion started the struggle from the 1/8 final where lost to a Serb opponent and left the competition.
Armenia’s another representative, European U22 silver medalist Ani Hovsepyan still continues the competition. On August 28 the 64 kg weight class boxer will fight for reaching the semifinal.
Ararat-Armenia FC faces Luxembourg’s Dudelange in the second leg of Europa League play-off round. The match will take place on August 29. As the press service at the club reports, the squad left for Luxemburg on Wednesday morning.
To remind, in the first leg, the Armenian champion won Luxembourg side Dudelange 2:1. The match took place at Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium in Yerevan.
Moody’s raises sovereign rating of Armenia
18:13,
YEREVAN, AUGUST 27, ARMENPRESS. Moody’s International Rating Organization has raised Armenia’s sovereign rating making it ”Ba3” from ”B1”, ARMENPRESS reports PM Pashinyan wrote on his Facebook page.
The PM noted that the decision of Moody’s is based on the factor that Armenia diversifies its economy, as well as on the macroeconomic stability that has been retained for a long period, which raises Armenia’s economic immunity. ”Moody’s noted in its report that real GDP growth in Armenia will remain high in the mid-term period”, Pashinyan wrote, adding that the development of IT sector is of particular importance, which is the main condition for a knowledge-based economy.
According to Nikol Pashinyan, this rating raises the international confidence towards the Armenian economy and significantly improves the investment attractiveness of the country.
Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan
Former Finance Minister of Armenia arrested
19:51,
YEREVAN, AUGUST 27, ARMENPRESS. In the sidelines of the criminal case initiated on February 2, 2019 in the investigative department of the National Security Service of Armenia searches were conducted in the houses of former Minister of Finance, former Chairman of the State Revenue Committee Gagik Khachatryan and people linked with him, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the NSS Armenia.
Gagik Khachatryan and Karen Khachatryan (former high ranking SRC official) were arrested for abuse of official position coupled with severe consequences and particularly large-scale misappropriation of property.
Preliminary investigation is underway.
Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan
Spokesman for the Ministry of Environment Armen Vardanyan said that the Ministry of Environment will make a decision on the need for a new environmental impact assessment of the Amulsar project by September 4.
Vahe Berberian. Photo credit: Armen Keleshian
LOS ANGELES—Tufenkian Fine Arts is honored to present “Vahe Berberian: A Kiss is not Lip Service,” a new exhibition featuring selected works by Vahe Berberian. The opening reception will be held on Friday, September 13, beginning at 7 p.m. The show will remain on view through October 25. The gallery is located at 216 S Louise St, Glendale, CA 91205.
This will be Berberian’s first solo exhibition at Tufenkian Fine Arts. The multifaceted artist, who has become a household name with his monologues, plays and novels, says he is his own ruthless critic, and it took him a while to finally feel satisfied with the work he is exhibiting. “Almost all of these pieces have more than a dozen layers to them. I paint over and over again until I give the piece enough texture to have its own history. I stop only when I realize that I can’t touch the piece any more.” “A Kiss is Not Lip Service,” will feature over 40 of Berberian’s recent and never before seen works on canvas, paper and assemblages. “I have been preparing for this exhibition for the past five years and, honestly, I haven’t been this excited for a long time,” said Vahe Berberian about his upcoming exhibition.
“Vahe and I have been talking about a new exhibition for a while, and we are thrilled to finally see this major exhibition come to fruition. About two years ago, together we decided that Tufenkian Fine Arts should be Vahe’s home, and we are honored to represent him,” noted Gallery Director Caroline Lais-Tufenkian. “Vahe has produced so much work over the past few years—it was a challenge selecting work for this exhibition. We selected a number of impressive works that we are certain you will appreciate,” she concluded. Visit us to see a wide range of whimsical, poetic, and charming work in various dimensions and colors suitable for all art lovers.
The exhibition will have a 62-page monograph, with an essay by Los Angeles based artist and writer Kireilyn Barber, a statement by Vahe Berberian, a foreword by Caroline Lais-Tufenkian, and over 60 color images. The monograph will be released and available for purchase at the opening.
Tufenkian and Berberian have collaborated on three exhibitions prior to “A Kiss is Not Lip Service,” and their friendship has deep roots. We look forward to welcoming you to experience Vahe Berberian’s powerful personal work.
Tufenkian Fine Arts, located in Glendale, California, is an art gallery dedicated to presenting exemplary modern and contemporary artists. The gallery’s TFA Project Space displays the work of emerging contemporary artists. We connect audiences to outstanding exhibitions and events fostering an appreciation for contemporary visual art.
Gallery Hours:
Tuesday thru Friday: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday: By appointment
For more information, call 818.288.4635, or visit the gallery’s website. Follow Tufenkian Fine Art on Facebook and Instagram for updates about the gallery, new works, artist updates, and exhibition dates.
Dr. Anthony S. Davis
YEREVAN—Armenia Tree Project and the American University of Armenia Acopian Center for the Environment, co-organizers of an upcoming global forestry conference in Yerevan, Armenia, are proud to announce that the event’s keynote speaker will be Dr. Anthony S. Davis, Interim Dean and Professor at the College of Forestry at Oregon State University. The three-day conference will bring leading minds in forestry to Armenia’s capital for discussion, education, and networking.
Dr. Davis will deliver the keynote address at the inaugural Forest Summit: Global Action and Armenia on Tuesday, October 22, and will urge participants to consider the opportunities—in Armenia and around the world—to use science-based practices in advancing forest restoration, conservation, and management for multiple values. His background in working at the local level to develop the finest practices in seedling production, tree planting, and long-term management builds on a global suite of experiences that can inform management and policy decisions in Armenia’s forest sector.
“It’s with great enthusiasm that I prepare to share my learnings and experience with the attendees of the inaugural Forest Summit,” stated Davis, who has been working on forest restoration and tree planting with several organizations in Armenia, including ATP. “It’s an honor to be able to share my passion with so many like-minded professionals, and to do it in a country that has made a commitment to double its forest cover by 2050. This conference comes at a critical time for forest health worldwide. More than ever we are cognizant of the wide-ranging values forests provide—as a sink for carbon, a source of renewable materials, and habitat for critical wildlife including the Caucasian Leopard. I look forward to participating in this dialogue,” he concluded.
Dr. Davis serves as the Chief Executive of the College of Forestry at Oregon State University, which is broadly recognized as one of the world’s leading forestry research, teaching, and extension institutions. Under his leadership, the Corvallis, Oregon-based College of Forestry crafts research projects with various constituencies around the globe to expand forest-driven economies, steward forest resources, and to translate new discoveries into tools and techniques that can be used to advance livelihoods and sustain ecosystems.
With three days of discussion and collaborative dialogue on the conservation and reforestation efforts much needed in Armenia and countries across the world, Forest Summit: Global Action and Armenia will offer field visits to Dilijan National Park and ATP’s reforestation nursery and forest plantings in Margahovit Village, as well as social and networking opportunities.
In addition to hosting the conference in October, Armenia Tree Project will celebrate the planting of its six millionth tree in Armenia this fall. For more information about the conference, AUA Acopian Center for the Environment, or Armenia Tree Project, please visit the website.
The AUA Acopian Center for the Environment, a research center of the American University of Armenia, promotes the protection and restoration of the natural environment through research, education, and community outreach. The AUA Acopian Center’s focus areas include sustainable natural resource management, biodiversity and conservation, greening the built environment, clean energy, and energy efficiency, as well as information technology and the environment. Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, and affiliated with the University of California. AUA provides a global education in Armenia and the region, offering high-quality graduate and undergraduate studies, encouraging civic engagement, and promoting public service and democratic values. For more information, visit the website.
Armenia Tree Project, a non-profit program based in Massachusetts and Yerevan, conducts vitally important environmental projects in Armenia’s cities and villages. Since 1994, ATP has made enormous strides in combating desertification in the biologically diverse but threatened Caucasus region. More than 5,700,000 trees have been planted and restored, and hundreds of jobs have been created for Armenians in seasonal tree-related programs. ATP works to further Armenia’s economic and social development by mobilizing resources to fund reforestation. These vital new trees provide food, wood, environmental benefits, and opportunities for economic growth. ATP has a full time staff of over 80 in Armenia. The Yerevan office manages four state-of-the-art tree nurseries and two environmental education centers, partners with villagers to create tree-based micro-enterprise opportunities, creates urban green belts for public use, restores degraded forest lands, and employs hundreds of part-time workers to plant new forests. For more information, visit the website.