Armenian films were withdrawn from international film festivals under Azeri threats.
Writer and public speaker Hovhannes Ishkhanyan said during the press conference held in front of the "Moscow" cinema.
They are Katya Spivakova's film "All I Need", which was removed from the international festival "Issni Nurgh" in Morocco, and the other is Sarin Hayrapetyan's documentary film "My Home is Sweet", which Jordan presented after the "Oscar". to call back.
"On this occasion, together with the Diplomatic Foundation of Armenia, we sent a letter to the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the answer was that "the directors did not contact us, therefore we are not involved in this case".
Of course, their answer is strange. Let's suppose, if suddenly Azerbaijan decides to destroy Stepanakert's grandmother-grandfather statue, why should sculptor, luminary Sargis Baghdasaryan apply to the Foreign Ministry?
This answer is not enough," said Ishkhanyan, reminding that director Jivan Avetisyan's film "Gates of Heaven" was withdrawn from the Moscow International Film Festival in December 2020. He announced that they are announcing at their press conference that they are starting a process for the protection of Armenian films.
"We will send letters to the Foreign Ministry, so that the embassies keep the issue of Armenian films in the festivals in the center of attention, the festivals that there is such a problem, we are not alone, we can fight together," said Ishkhanyan. According to him, Armenia does not show sufficient protection to its filmmakers.
"During the festivals, the Armenian government should instruct the ambassadors to go and stand next to Armenian films, to make sure that they will not be removed from the program. The government of Armenia did not even make a statement that they stand by the directors and will follow up to prevent something like this from happening.
When there is no opposition, they will do as much as they want, when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not respond, and the festival is left alone, and so is the director and the government of the other country.
We must present justifications that they cannot censor the film," said Ishkhanyan.
Menua Soghomonyan, a member of the "Hayakve" initiative group, in turn said that they appealed to the relevant bodies, the RA Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, to intervene in the process.
According to him, the departments gave various reasons, stating that they cannot do anything.
