OSCE Office brings European Film Festival to Armenia's Syunik province

KAPAN, Armenia, 23 November 2007 - People in Armenia's remote Syunik province will have the chance to see the latest European and domestic films at a festival organized with the help of the local OSCE presence in Kapan.

"The organization of the European Film Festival in Kapan is an ideal opportunity for remote Armenia to discover and rediscover the treasures of European cinema. It provides a space for dialogue and exposes people to intercultural exchange. I hope we will continue this inspiring tradition," said Ambassador Sergey Kapinos, Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, who visited Kapan for the festival.

The European Film Festival will screen nine films based on real-life stories related to migration, inter-ethnic tolerance, and other issues of interest for the Armenian public. Short Armenian documentaries to be screened prior to each European movie aim to introduce the latest achievements in domestic cinematography.

The Mission supports the festival and believes it encourages cultural exchange between Armenia and other members of the European family, and will fill the cultural gap between the capital and the regions.

The European Film Festival is co-organized by the OSCE for the second consecutive year with the delegation of the European Commission to Armenia, the Embassies of France, Germany, Italy, Romania, Netherlands, Great Britain and Poland, the British Council Armenia and the Golden Apricot Film Festival. The festival is also being held in Yerevan, Armenia's capital, from 21 to 27 November and in Gyumri, Shirak Province from 22 to 25 November.

The films being shown this year include: "Les Soeurs fachees", "Le Couperet", (both France), "Occident" (Romania), "One Day in Europe", "Der Neunte Tag" (Germany), "The Queen" (Great Britain), "Nuovomondo" (Italy), "Ober" (Netherlands), "Przedwiosnie" (Poland).