Film project on tolerance wins prize awarded by OSCE Office in Yerevan

YEREVAN, 17 July 2008 - Plans for a film called "A Shepherd's Song" by Vahram Mkhitaryan won a tolerance film prize awarded by the OSCE Office in Yerevan and partners in a ceremony held at the Armenian Foreign Ministry today.

The prize of about 5,000 euros will sponsor the production of the film, which will tell the story of the challenges facing a blind shepherd and his family.

"Culture and cinema in particular are one of the most effective ways and means to raise tolerance awareness in society. This special award aims to attract attention to the significant role of tolerance," said Ambassador Sergey Kapinos, Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

The ceremony during which Mkhitaryan received the prize in the "Tolerance without Borders" competition, was part of the Golden Apricot International Film Festival, held in Yerevan from 13 to 20 July.

The prize was awarded for the second consecutive year. Last year's winner, "The Third Rider" by Gor Baghdasaryan, was to be screened today in a Yerevan cinema.

The Office, United Nations Development Programme Armenia and the Open Society Institute Assistance Foundation sponsored the prize, which was awarded in co-operation with the Golden Apricot Fund for Cinema Development.