
ArmInfo. The Yerevan Golden Apricot International Film Festival has joined the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF). It's worth noting that of the more than 5,000 film festivals held worldwide, only about 50 are recognized by this organization.
Founded in 1933, FIAPF accreditation is awarded to festivals that meet high international standards in programming, collaboration with the film industry, organizational transparency, and international partnerships.
The inclusion of the Golden Apricot in this network confirms the festival's growing role as an important platform for regional dialogue on auteur cinema between Europe and Western Asia. "The Golden Apricot Film Festival will continue its mission to support auteur cinema, discover new creative voices, and develop cultural dialogue through cinema," the festival's press service said in a statement.
The Golden Apricot Film Festival has been held in Yerevan since 2004 and is considered one of the most prestigious in the region. Its founders are Harutyun Khachatryan, Mikael Stamboltsyan, and Susanna Harutyunyan. Karen Avetisyan serves as the festival's Director and Artistic Director.
Over the years, the festival has hosted many prominent figures in world cinema-directors, actors, and producers-in Yerevan. Among the most famous guests were such recognized masters of cinema as Wim Wenders, Darren Aronofsky, Alexander Sokurov, Nikita Mikhalkov, Agnieszka Holland, Istvan Szabo, Jafar Panahi, Amir Naderi, Atom Egoyan, Sean Baker, Alexander Payne, Takeshi Kitano, and others. The festival was also attended by famous actors and actresses of world cinema, including Kevin Spacey, Claudia Cardinale, Ornella Muti, Nastassja Kinski, Jacqueline Bisset, and others.