Arpa Film Festival to Feature 60 Films From 30 Countries

LOS ANGELES — Arpa Foundation for Film, Music, & Art (AFFMA) is pleased to announce the 16th anniversary of its signature event, Arpa International Film Festival, which will be held from September 26 – 29 at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. This year’s program of 60 films draws from an all-time high of 30 countries, showcasing a truly global range of artistic vision and thematic concerns. Tickets will be available from September 5th through 29th at affma.org and itsmyseat.
Arpa International Film Festival is a unique forum for international cinema in Los Angeles. With a mission to cultivate cultural understanding and global empathy, the festival focuses on the work of filmmakers who explore current hot button issues, exile and multi-culturalism.
The 2013 line-up includes a documentary program of 11 feature-length films and six shorts; a narrative program of seven feature films, and 24 shorts; and12 music videos.
According to Alex Kalognomos, Arpa’s director and programmer, “Documentaries always play an important part in opening new vistas for our audience, but this year’s submissions offered such compelling breadth of perspectives we felt this section deserved special emphasis.”
Notable documentaries include “FrackNation” which follows journalist Phelim McAleer’s perilous quest to find the truth about fracking and Rupa Kanade’s “An Eternal Journey” based on Kumbhamela – a festival that started 4000 years ago and portrays the amalgamation of spiritually inclined people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Among the recognizable names at Arpa this year, Academy Award®-nominee Ethan Hawke narrates the documentary “Welcome Nowhere”; actress Camilla Belle (“From Prada to Nada”) stars in the narrative short “Zero Hour”; Grammy®-winner Desmond Child, who has written hit songs for a who’s who of acts from Kiss, Bon Jovi and Aerosmith to Michael Bolton, Kelly Clarkson and Joss Stone, is the subject of “TWO: The Story of Roman and Nyro”; and euthanasia activist Dr. Jack Kevorkian is featured in the documentary “Orphans of the Genocide.”
Screenings
The Opening Night Film, on Thursday, September 26 will be the North American premiere of “My Name is Viola” (Armenia, 2013). Featuring two luminous female leads, Lusine Alexanian in the title role and Janet Spitzer as her hero/nemesis, the film tells the story of the emotional journey of a young woman longing for freedom. Rich in visual imagery, the film is a unique, often dream-like take on sexuality, relationships and class. “My Name is Viola” is written and directed by Ruben Kochar, a risk-taking artist whose thirty-year career spanning the pre- and post-Soviet eras has brought him renown in his native Armenia and the Russian film industry, along with an impressive list of international awards.
The program includes two Centerpiece Films. On Friday September 27, the feature is “Abstraction,” (USA, 2013) by Los-Angeles indie-director Prince Bagdasarian, an established producer who here makes his feature directorial debut. The intense crime drama stars Korrina Rico (In Time), Ken Davitian (The Artist, Borat), Natalie Victoria (Deadheads), and Eric Roberts (The Dark Knight). On Saturday, September 28 it is the multiple-perspective urban crime drama“ The Power of Few”(USA, 2013) by writer/director Leone Marucci and starring Christopher Walken, Christian Slater, Anthony Anderson, Juvenile and executive produced by Roy Kurtluyan. Sunday’s Closing Night film will be “Masque,” directed by Robert Hatch and starring Lauren Holly and Wilford Brimley.
Arpa head and founder, Sylvia Minassian comments, “We have hosted many notable premiers of films that have gone on to enjoy commercial success. Currently the Jamie Kennedy comedy, “Lost and Found In Armenia,” which had its sold out US Premier at Arpa last year, is enjoying consecutive sold out screenings nationwide. “We are certain there are many success stories within this year’s program as well.”
This year’s online box office is at www.affma.org and www.itsmyseat.com/affma. The ALL-ACCESS Pass for all 4 days of screenings and special events, valued at over $250, is $95. Individual general screenings are $13 online and $15 at the door. Opening and Closing Night is $45. Centerpiece films are $25. The full schedule and general screening tickets will be available September 5. For ALL ACCESS Pass, on sale now, click here:www.itsmyseat.com/affma

16th Annual Arpa International Film Festival 2013 Official Selection