AWARDS AND WINNERS

AFFMA GRANT PROGRAM

Arpa foundation for film, music and art is known for its continuous efforts to help promote the arts in the Armenian community.  Through its annual grant program, affma gives out grants to filmmakers, writers, artists, photographers, singers, musicians, and composers.  Most grant winners received $1,000, some were awarded as high as $2,000, and ranging to $500.  On one special occasion even $5,000 was awarded to a recipient.  As of 2009, over $100,000 in grants have been awarded.

ARMIN T. WEGNER HUMANITARIAN AWARD

This award was created be affma, following a proposal by the Armin T. Wegner society of USA.  The award is presented each year to a filmmaker whose film deals with subjugated peoples, ethnic cleansing, forced deportations, massacres, and genocides.  The motion picture must contribute to the fight for social conscience and human rights, a struggle to which Armin T. Wegner devoted his entire life.

AT&T/ARPA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL AWARD FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION AND STEWARDSHIP

Films addressing green initiatives and environmental awareness can be submitted for competition in this new and exclusive Arpa International Film Festival category, sponsored by AT&T

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2011

BEST SHORT FILM

Bolis (Turkey, USA)

BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM

The Last Tightrope Dancer in Armenia (Armenia)

BEST FEATURE FILM

Three Veils (USA), producer: Ahmad Zahra

BEST SCREENPLAY

My Uncle Rafael (USA), writers: Scott Yagemann, Vahik Pirhamzei

BEST DIRECTOR

My Uncle Rafael (USA), director: Marc Fusco

ARMIN T. WEGNER HUMANITARIAN AWARD

Bryan Single for Children of War (Uganda, USA)

AT&T AWARD FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION & STEWARDSHIP

Susan Edwards for Marion Stoddart: The Work of 1000 (USA)

BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE AWARD

Vahik Pirhamzei for My Uncle Rafael

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2010

FRANCOPHONE AWARD

LES BARONS - (France,Belgium)

Nabil Ben Yadir (D/W), Laurent Brandenbourger (W),Sebastien Delloye, Diane Elbaum (P)

BEST DIRECTOR

Ralph Kinnard “A ME MI GUSTA” (Venezuela)

BEST FEATURE FILM

LES OUBLIES DE L’HISTOIRE (Morocco,Belgium)

Hassan Benjelloun (P) directed and co-wrote with Toufik Taha

ARMIN.T.WEGNER HUMANITARIAN AWARD

Eric Friedler

ARPA CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Serge Avedikian

ARPAFOUNDATION AWARD

Armenian Missionary Association of American

ARPA/AT&T AWARD FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION AND STEWARDSHIP

“Scientist Under Attack:  Genetic Engineering in the Magnetic Field of Money” (Germany)

Bertram Verhaag (D/W), Claus Strigler (P)

BEST SHORT FILM

NUIT BLANCHE (Canada)

Arev Manoukian (D/W/P), Stephanie Swedlove (P)

BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM

FROM ARARAT TO ZION (Armenia, Egypt, Israel, Turkey)

Edgar Baghdasaryan(D) Fr. Mesrop Aramian (W/P), Aidan Quinn (Narrator)

BEST SCREENPLAY

“BONDED PARALLELS” (Norway,France,Armenia)

Hovhannes Galstyan, Marine Zakaryan,Thomas Schlesinger

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2009

BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM
Return to Mexico City

BEST SHORT FILM
The Tangent (La Tangente)

BEST FEATURE FILM
Venezzia

BEST SCREENPLAY
Venezzia

BEST DIRECTOR
Autumn (Sonbahar)

BEST ANIMATION FILM
Dress Story

BREAKTHROUGH AWARD
To Greg Lalazarian for
Chasing Tchaikovsky

ARMIN T. WEGNER AWARD
To Lucy Martens and  Marjorie Wright for
Voices From Inside – Israelis speak

ARPA FOUNDATION AWARD
To Sevag Vrej for Armenian Educational Foundation for the film Because Education Matters
AT&T AWARD FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION AND STEWARDSHIP 2009
Battle for the Xingu

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2008

BEST SHORT FILM:
Romans 12:20
Directed by Shammasian Brothers (United Kingdom)

BEST MUSIC VIDEO:
Visa – breakout the violins
directed by Tadeh Daschi  (Seda Melkoni: producer) (USA)

BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM:
Kungfu english
directed and produced by … Hyun Oh (USA / China)

BEST SCREENPLAY: TIE
Johnny Asuncion for Float (USA)
…And
Rocco DeVilliers, Jason DeVilliers and Richard Dutcher for The Flyboys, (USA)

BEST DIRECTOR:
Christopher Bessette  for Yai Wanonabalewa: The Enemy God (USA / Belize / Venezuela)

BEST FEATURE FILM:
Strength and Honour ….written, directed and produced by Mark Mahon (Ireland / UK)

ARMIN T. WEGNER HUMANITARIAN AWARD
To Theodore Braun for Darfur Now

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2007

BEST SHORT FILM:
Clear Cut, Simple directed by Vineet Dewan

BEST ANIMATED FILM:
The Naked Hitch-Hiker – directed by Eleanor Lanahan

BEST MUSIC VIDEO:
Moonbabies “War on Sound” – directed by Eric Althin  and Shannon

BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM:
The People’s Advocate: The Life & Times of Charles R. Garry – produced by Hrag Yedalian

BEST SCREENPLAY:
Gor Kirakosian and Nektar Martirosyan for Big Story in a Small City

BEST DIRECTOR:
Eric Nazarian for The Blue Hour (USA)

BEST FEATURE FILM:
Mahek  -  produced by Children’s Film Society in India

LIFETIME ACHEIVEMENT AWARD
Mardik Martin (USA) Screenwriter

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2006

BEST ANIMATION
The Little Matchgirl (USA), Director: Roger Allers; Writer: Hans Christian Andersen; Producers: Baker Bloodworth and Don Hahn

BEST DOCUMENTARY
White Shadows (USA), Directo/Writer/Producer: Mialyn Hanna

BEST SHORT FILM
Lucky (South Africa/UK), Director/Writer: Avie Luthra; Producer: Bex Hopkins

ARMIN T. WEGNER AWARD
German and the Secret Genocide (USA), Director/Producer: Michael J. Hagopian

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
J. Michael Hagopian (USA) Director/Writer/Producer

AFFMA AWARD
The Story of My Name (Netherlands/Lebanon/Turkey) Director/Writer: Dorothee Forma; Producer: Manja Wilkinson

ARPA FOUNDATION AWARD
You Can Handle Bullies (USA) Director/Producer: Paul Abajian; Producer: Michael Kezirian. American Medial Association Alliance (AMA)

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2005

BEST SHORT
Silent Warriors

BEST ANIMATION
What Are You Anyways?

BEST DOCUMENTARY
Armenians of Lebanon

BEST FEATURE
Unwanted Woman

BEST  DIRECTOR
Unwanted Woman – Tahmineh Milani

BEST SCREENPLAY
Call Waiting

AUDIENCE AWARD
Call Waiting

ARMIN T. WEGNER AWARD
American Holocaust: When It’s All Over I’ll Still Be Indian (USA) Director/Writer/Producer: Joanella Romero

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2004

BEST SHORT FILM
Maree (Tides) ITALY / USA
(James Pellerito)

BEST ANIMATION
Bid’em In USA
(Neal Sopata)

BEST FEATURE FILM
Baptists At Our Barbecue USA
(Christian Vuissa)

BEST SCREENPLAY
The Fifth Reaction IRAN
(Tahmineh Milani)

BEST DIRECTOR
Baptists At Our Barbecue USA
(Christian Vuissa)

BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM
Matta: The Eye of a Surrealist USA
(Jane Crawford)

SPECIAL HUMANITARIAN AWARD: ARMIN T. WEGNER AWARD
To two BBC video-journalists:
James Miller (was assassinated in 2003)
Fergal Keane
For the documentary film:
Armenia: The Betrayed