SaSSoun
02-16-2003, 11:25 PM
-- Egoyan's Treatment of the Armenian Genocide is Named Best Film;
Khanjian and Koteas are Honored for their Roles
TORONTO, CANADA - Renowned Director Atom Egoyan's "Ararat," which
explores the ongoing impact of the Turkish government's denial of
the Armenian Genocide, was honored as the best Canadian feature
film of 2002 at the "Genie" awards ceremony held last night.
In addition to best film, "Ararat" won awards in four additional
categories, best actress, Arsinee Khanjian; best supporting actor
Elias Koteas; best original score, Mychael Danna, and; best costume
design, Beth Pasternak.
In a statement issued earlier today, the Armenian National
Committee of Canada extended its "profound congratulations to the
five winners of last night's Genie Awards. . . The importance of
this long overdue film, critical as it is of Turkey's longstanding
denial of its own history, cannot be overstated. Director Atom
Egoyan has directed not only a remarkably intricate character
study, but has managed to do so by exposing the inherent problems
and consequences of genocide denial, which are still very relevant
today."
Accepting the best picture award in Egoyan's absence, "Ararat"
producer Robert Lantos explained that, "Four years ago, I
challenged Atom to make a film about the tragic story of his
people, the Armenians. And I said if he did, I would stand by
him." Egoyan was unable to be present at the award ceremony
because he is serving on the jury at the Berlin Film Festival.
Best actress winner Arsinee Khanjian, who hosted the "Genie"
Awards, commented on her victory, noting, "With my work on
'Ararat,' I wanted to honor the spirit of my ancestors." She then
thanked her husband, Egoyan, - "without whom I might have become a
politician," she laughed - before finishing her speech in Armenian.
Having made its world-premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May
of 2002, "Ararat" is described as Egoyan's most powerful film to
date, weaving the tale of the estranged members of a contemporary
Armenian family faced both with Turkey's denial of the Armenian
Genocide and with their own complicated lives. The film initially
opened in Los Angeles and New York theaters on November 15th and
continues to be seen in cities across North America.
As part of their efforts to generate nation-wide awareness of the
film, the ANCA's regional offices and local chapters organized a
grassroots campaign to encourage Armenian Americans to "Take a
Friend to Ararat." In a recent interview with Canada's "Horizon
Weekly" correspondent Aris Babikian, Director Atom Egoyan stressed
the importance of these grassroots efforts to the success of the
film, noting "I can't underestimate the crucial role that the
Armenian community played at that point through the "Take a Friend
to Ararat" program and through the Action Alert notices... That
opening weekend [in Los Angeles and New York] was historic. We had
a higher per-screen-average than 'Harry Potter.' That is
remarkable. I think the campaign was able to facilitate wider
distribution and continued to manifest the passion [Miramax Co-
Chairman] Harvey [Weinstein] felt."
In October of last year, the ANCA cosponsored, along with the
Armenian Assembly, a Congressional Armenian Caucus screening of the
film at the Library of Congress for U.S. Representatives and
Senators.
Khanjian and Koteas are Honored for their Roles
TORONTO, CANADA - Renowned Director Atom Egoyan's "Ararat," which
explores the ongoing impact of the Turkish government's denial of
the Armenian Genocide, was honored as the best Canadian feature
film of 2002 at the "Genie" awards ceremony held last night.
In addition to best film, "Ararat" won awards in four additional
categories, best actress, Arsinee Khanjian; best supporting actor
Elias Koteas; best original score, Mychael Danna, and; best costume
design, Beth Pasternak.
In a statement issued earlier today, the Armenian National
Committee of Canada extended its "profound congratulations to the
five winners of last night's Genie Awards. . . The importance of
this long overdue film, critical as it is of Turkey's longstanding
denial of its own history, cannot be overstated. Director Atom
Egoyan has directed not only a remarkably intricate character
study, but has managed to do so by exposing the inherent problems
and consequences of genocide denial, which are still very relevant
today."
Accepting the best picture award in Egoyan's absence, "Ararat"
producer Robert Lantos explained that, "Four years ago, I
challenged Atom to make a film about the tragic story of his
people, the Armenians. And I said if he did, I would stand by
him." Egoyan was unable to be present at the award ceremony
because he is serving on the jury at the Berlin Film Festival.
Best actress winner Arsinee Khanjian, who hosted the "Genie"
Awards, commented on her victory, noting, "With my work on
'Ararat,' I wanted to honor the spirit of my ancestors." She then
thanked her husband, Egoyan, - "without whom I might have become a
politician," she laughed - before finishing her speech in Armenian.
Having made its world-premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May
of 2002, "Ararat" is described as Egoyan's most powerful film to
date, weaving the tale of the estranged members of a contemporary
Armenian family faced both with Turkey's denial of the Armenian
Genocide and with their own complicated lives. The film initially
opened in Los Angeles and New York theaters on November 15th and
continues to be seen in cities across North America.
As part of their efforts to generate nation-wide awareness of the
film, the ANCA's regional offices and local chapters organized a
grassroots campaign to encourage Armenian Americans to "Take a
Friend to Ararat." In a recent interview with Canada's "Horizon
Weekly" correspondent Aris Babikian, Director Atom Egoyan stressed
the importance of these grassroots efforts to the success of the
film, noting "I can't underestimate the crucial role that the
Armenian community played at that point through the "Take a Friend
to Ararat" program and through the Action Alert notices... That
opening weekend [in Los Angeles and New York] was historic. We had
a higher per-screen-average than 'Harry Potter.' That is
remarkable. I think the campaign was able to facilitate wider
distribution and continued to manifest the passion [Miramax Co-
Chairman] Harvey [Weinstein] felt."
In October of last year, the ANCA cosponsored, along with the
Armenian Assembly, a Congressional Armenian Caucus screening of the
film at the Library of Congress for U.S. Representatives and
Senators.