10 July 2025
"In the Land of Arto" feature film will have its world premiere at the 78th Locarno Film Festival. The film was produced with state financial support from the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of the Republic of Armenia and the Cinema Foundation of Armenia.
Director Tamara Stepanyan’s "In the Land of Arto" has been selected as the opening film of the festival and will be screened at one of the world’s most prestigious cinematic venues — the open-air Piazza Grande — in the presence of 8,000 spectators.
This is not only a recognition at the international level, but also a confident step toward a new standard in Armenian filmmaking and its global visibility. The presentation of an Armenian film at the opening of such a major event is undoubtedly an exceptional moment in the international history of our cinema, reinforcing Armenia’s presence on renowned global film platforms.
Cinema Foundation of Armenia warmly congratulates the entire creative team on this outstanding success.
Film Synopsis
Céline arrives in Armenia for the first time to legalize the death of Arto, her husband. She discovers that he has lied to her, that he fought in the war, usurped his identity, and that his former friends consider him a deserter. A new journey begins for her, as she encounters Arto's past: invalids from the battles of 2020, veterans of the victorious battles of the 90s, hauntings from a war that never ends. A woman chases a ghost, but how do you bury it? Can the dead be saved?
