Hye Sharzhoom Armenian Action
By Hasmik Khalachyan-Cañas and Tamara Karakashian
Staff Writer
The Armenian Studies Program and the ASO sponsored the first ever “Armenian Film Festival” showcasing seven young and up and coming Armenian directors. The event took place on April 6th and 7th and was partially funded by the University Diversity Awareness Program.
Those who assumed that the films were going to be the traditional Armenian documentaries or films dealing strictly with Armenian themes were in for a surprise. The new generation of Armenian/American filmmakers presented powerful films dealing with universal and even sometimes controversial themes.
Gary Atashkarian, vice president of ASO, introduced each film and filmmaker. At the conclusion of each film, the audience had the opportunity to ask the directors questions. The directors traveled from various parts of California to participate in this unique festival.
Four films were presented on the first day of the festival. The first was a 16-minute, black and white film titled “The In-Between” by writer and director Ara Ebra of San Francisco. It was a post-modern coming of age story from a male’s perspective. It told of a friendship of two men and how they grew apart when a woman comes between them. They reunite after discovering the woman was secretly seeing both of them.
The second film was written and directed by Vem Yenovkian, an English major at UCLA. The 25 minute film titled Ruppy gave the audience an unusual opportunity to be in the mind of a crippled crack addict. The music and sounds, which were all added in at a later time, gave the film a very dramatic and emotional feel. Yenovkian has been working with Tony Petrossian and Mher Kouryan in making films. Yenovkian said, “We learn from each other.”
“Pinched Cheeks and Slurs In a Language That Avoids Her” was the title of the thirdfilm written and directed by Tina Bastajian. It was the only film that dealt with Armenian issues, but the general theme was universal and dealt with prejudice. The film presented an African woman who sat uncomfortably while Armenian voices spoke negatively of her. Little did the sources of the voices know, as well as the audience, that the woman spoke fluent Armenian and was in fact half Armenian. This film was a unique perspective of Armenian issues from the non-Armenian point of view, or as Bastajian put it “Outsiders are very important to me.”
“The Penitent Man” was the last film of the first evening. It was a 15 minute film written and directed by Sarkis Tarkhanian of Fresno. The film had many themes and was filled with religious symbolism. It depicted a young man who is supposed to be a good Christian but ends up trying to cover up the murder of his girlfriend.
The second evening began with a film titled “The Window,” which was produced and directed by Armen Titizian of Los Angeles. The simple 18-minute film depicting two people falling in love, but actually dealt with the complex issue of massacre. This was the third film that Titizian had made on his own after co-producing many others. When asked who were his major influences, he was quick to respond “Hitchcock of course”.
Andrew Simonian’s 20 minute color film titled “The Take Out Move” is a simple yet playful comedy that Simonian also acts in. There are some interesting comments made by the characters and a funny fight scene. “How much did it really cost?” was a question asked by an audience member who could not believe the whole film cost only $35.00 to make. Simonian was able to borrow his University’s video equipment. His friends and roommates were part of the cast and crew, which allowed him to keep the cost at only $35.00.
The last presentation was Jason Kartalian’s first feature film titled Pedestrian. Kartalian said, “Making the film was a life changing experience for me.” The 96 minute color comedy tells the story of a young man named Marty who is about to lose his mind. Kartalian’s idea for the film was, “In some ways it is autobiographical . . . however Marty is an everyday man,” said Kartalian. Kartalian is the son of the famous actor, Buck Kartalian, who also acts in his son’s film.
“My father plays the angry investor, maybe he really is an angry investor, he helped me out,” joked Kartalian. Jason Kartalian was very thankful for all the help that he had received and made a special note of how important it is for the community to support artists.
The reactions to the first Armenian Film Festival were extremely encouraging. Mariel Hovsepian, an Anthropology major, was glad the film festival was at Fresno State because of the lack of a film department on campus.
This new generation of filmmakers have begun with a great start because they have left a powerful impression on the audience. We wish them well and know that they will succeed in the future.