15 April 2023
Armenian Cinema celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2023. On this occasion, the RA governmental Jubilee Commission was formed to supervise more than a dozen events and programs implemented by the RA Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports.
Prior to the jubilee event, a press conference was called at the RA Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports with Deputy Minister Ara Khzmalyan, director of the National Cinema Center of Armenia Shushanik Mirzakhanyan and President of the Union of Cinematographers of Armenia Harutyun Khachatryan.
The cross-region jubilee events incorporate all regions of the Republic of Armenia. Deputy Minister Arayik Khzmalyan congratulated the film industry professionals and cinema lovers on this significant occasion, noting that the 85th anniversary of Armenian animation is also celebrated in the context of the 100th anniversary of Armenian cinema.
"Cinema is not only about art, it is a powerful tool in terms of internationalization and soft power of the country. From this perception the jubilee year is a brilliant opportunity to reconsider the past, tackle the problems of the present and predict the future”, - said the Deputy Minister of the MօESCS.
According to the Deputy Minister, in the context of the 100th anniversary of Armenian cinema, the state budget for film production and preservation of film heritage has been significantly increased. "In 2023, the film production budget increased by 70 % up to 478 million drams, and the allocations for the preservation of film heritage increased by 90 % up to 93 million drams. In total, about 1 billion drams have been allocated to the jubilee programs''.
The approved program envisages film festivals and educational events, which, as mentioned by Ara Khzmalyan, are not concentrated only in the capital, but incorporate communities.
The 100th anniversary of Armenian cinema has been included in UNESCO’s 2022-2023 calendar commemorating anniversaries and, in this framework, an international scientific conference is planned to be organized in Armenia.
On April 16, the opening of the Jubilee Celebration Evening dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Armenian cinema will kick off in the Armenian National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet named after Alexander Spendiaryan.
Ara Khzmalyan also referred to the ongoing publishing programs, considering them as an important direction of internationalization and popularization of national values. He also highlighted the value of the trilingual illustrated book "Hamo Beknazaryan", published by the order of the RA Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports.
