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About Us

Armenian Association of Film Critics and Cinema Journalists is a public, non-government organization, established in May 1996 and legally registered on the 1st of November 1996. Among its members are the outstanding film critics and cinema journalists of Armenia, working in different fields of mass media (see the List of the members).
In 1997 Association became the national section of Armenian of International Cinema-press Federation - FIPRESCI. The members of the Association regularly took part in international seminars and film-festivals.
The new conditions for film-criticism and film-journalists, resulting from the collapse of the Soviet Union, enhanced the signification of establishing such a Association.

The major objectives of the Association are:
- Promotion of professional cinema journalism and the promotion of cinema periodicals;
- Establishment of freedom of film-criticism;
- Creation of a database on independent Armenian studios and audiovisual production;
- Promotion of the achievements of world cinema in Armenia as well as Armenian cinema abroad;
- Protection of the national interests in audio-visual sphere under the new conditions of market competition;
- Development of contacts with colleagues and professional organizations abroad, the integration of Armenian film journalism into the world cinema process;
- Protection of professional rights of cinema-journalists and copyrights of Armenian cinema production.
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Association has successfully realized a range of projects:
- The retrospective film festival "Ruben Mamulian-100" dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the outstanding American-Armenian filmmaker Ruben Mamoulian, held under the aegis of AUA-American University of Armenia and Los-Angeles Film-Archive, October, 1997;
- Annual Film Festival of German Films, Yerevan, Cinema House, 1997-2000 conducted with the assistant of German Embassy in Yerevan;
- International seminar for independent film-producers, Yerevan, May, 1998;
- The retrospective program "German Expressionism of the 20-30-s" conducted with the assistant of the Caucasus office of Goethe Institute;
- Screening of films by Canadian-Armenian film-maker Garine Torossian, July, 1998;
- International Seminar on perspectives of development of film-market in Armenia, May, 1999;
- Project "Center of Audio-Visual Information" sponsored by Eurasia Foundation, 1999;
- Publication of "Audio-Visual-Courier" bulletin, 8 issues, 1999-2000;
- Publication of the book "Cinema, video, TV and Low";
- Three-week training program on management and marketing in the filmmaking and film distributing industry, conducted by an IESC expert (April-May, 2000);
- The publication of the Catalogue "Armenian Cinema: 1923-1999" (granted by OSI);
- The creation of database on Armenian independent film producers, distributors and Armenian audio-visual production in the period between 1990-2000;
- The project "Marketing research on local film and video market" (granted by Eurasia Fund, 2000-2001). The project encompasses creation of information net for independent film and video producers and distributors on the basis of the database, which is being constantly renewed.
- The publication of Armenian "Location and Production Guide - Armenia".

THE LIST OF THE MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION OF FILM- CRITICS AND CINEMA-JOURNALISTS




SUSANNA HARUTIUNYAN - Was born in January 1,1961 in Yeysk, Russia. In 1987 graduated from VGIK (State Cinematographic Institute, Moscow), the Department of Film Critics. Since 1980 has been constantly publishing articles in Armenian and Moscow public-political and professional newspapers and magazines ("Sovetskaya Kultura", "Arvest", "Film", "Ekran", "Kino", "Respublika Armenia", "Avantgard", and etc.) author of more than 500 articles published in Armenia and abroad as well and translated on Russian, English, German, Ukrainian, Estonian, etc. Contributes for annual Variety International Film Guide (VIFG -1998,1999, 2000, 2001). Since 1991 up to the present has been the film-expert of the daily "Respublika Armenia" ("Republic of Armenia"). 1996 up to date is the president of the Armenian Association of Film Critics and Cinema Journalists. 1996 - till now – participated at many International Film Festivals as a accredited film critic and member of International (FIPRESCI)jury (Cottbus IFF, 1998, ARSENAL IFF, Riga, 2000, BERLINALE IFF, 2001, VIENNALE IFF, 2001, and etc.). She is a member of the Union of Journalists of Armenia (since 1986).

MIKAYEL STAMBOLTSYAN - Was born on February 18, 1938 in Yerevan. In 1968 graduated from VGIK (State Cinematographic Institute, Moscow), the Department of Film Critics. He is the author of more than 200 articles on cinema in various Armenian and foreign newspapers and magazines: "Ekran", "Arvest", "Film", "Kino", "Aravot” and etc. He is the author of articles in the books: "20 biographies of film directors" (Moscow), "Problems of Cinema and Television" (Yerevan, the 1st and the 2nd editions), "Kinopanorama" (Moscow), "Le Cinema Armenien" (Paris), etc. At the present is a film-expert of daily "Aravot" ("The Morning"). He is a member of Cinematographers’ Union of Armenia. 1996 up to date is the vice-president of the Armenian Association of Film Critics and Cinema Journalists.

DAVID MOURADYAN - Was born in 1951. Graduated from Yerevan State University, the Department of Philology. He has published articles since 1969. He has written a lot of articles about the current problems of Armenian Cinema. Wrote articles for "Cinema" section of National Encyclopedia. Since 1987 up to present works in Armenian Television as a film-critic and as the author of the programs: "The 10th Muse", "Meeting before the film", "Armenian Screen". He was the first editor-in-chief of the weekly "Kino" founded in 1991. He is a member of Writers Union of Armenia and Cinematographers’ Union of Armenia. 1996 –2000 was the vice-president of the Armenian Association of Film-Critics and Cinema-Journalists. He is the author of 3 books of stories.

ARTSVI BAKHCHINYAN - Was born on January 21, 1971 in Yerevan. Graduated from Yerevan State University, the Department of Armenian Philology. Continued his post-graduate studies at National Academy of Science of Armenia, Institute of Literature. He is a Doctor of Philology since 1996. Has published more than 300 articles in Armenian, Russian and English periodicals in Armenia and abroad about cinema, art, literature, Armenian Diaspora, as well as short stories, poems and translations (“Film”, “Gegharvest”, “Hayreniki Dzayn”, “Garoun”, ”Yeter”, ”AV-Courier”, “Azdak”, Beirut-Lebanon, and etc.). He is the author of “Biographical Dictionary of Armenian Diaspora”, included cinematographers (Yerevan, 1993, in Armenian). As a FIPRESCI jury member participated at various film festivals.

SVETLANA GULYAN (GULYANOVA) - Was born on April 3, 1938. In 1971 graduated from VGIK (State Cinematographic Institute, Moscow), the Department of Film Critics. In 1972-1975 continued her postgraduate studies in VGIK. She has published articles on cinematography and TV since 1965 in various newspapers and magazines in Armenia, former USSR and other countries. Since 1975 she has appeared as the author of series of TV programs: "The Masters of the Russian and World Cinematography" (in Armenian TV). From 1976 till now she works as a researcher at the Institute of Fine Arts of the National Academy of Sciences, the Department of Cinema and Television. At the present is a film-expert of weekly "Urartou". She is a member of Journalists Union of Armenia (since 1971) as well as Cinematographers’ Union of Armenia (since1976).

SOUREN HASMIKYAN - Was born on March 19, 1935, in Yerevan. Graduated from Yerevan State University, the Department of Philology. In 1958-1961 continued his post-graduate studies in the Moscow Institute of the History of Arts. He has published more than 200 articles about cinematography in newspapers and magazines such as "Arvest", "Garoun", "Literaturnaya Armenia", "Iskusstvo Kino", "Film", "Kino", "Vremya", "Respublika Armenia", \'\'Azg", "Urartu". He is also the author of number of TV programs. He published two books: "Cramped screen" (Yerevan, 1992) and "Cinema of Armenia" (Moscow, 1981), as well as articles in the books: "Problems of Cinema and Television", "20 Biographies of Film Directors", "Problems of Movie-drama: Character in Cinema", "Le Cinema Armenien" (Paris, 1993), etc. At the present he is a professor and the head of the Department of Theatre and Cinema History and Criticism at Yerevan State Institute of Theatre and Cinema. He is a member of Cinematographers’ Union of Armenia.

GAREGIN ZAKOYAN - Was born on April 5, 1947, in Yerevan. Graduated from Yerevan State University, the Department of Russian Philology. In 1972-1992 has worked at Institute of Fine Arts of National Academy of Sciences, the Department of Cinema and Television. In 1992 has founded the National Cinematheque (Film Archive), the deputy director of which he is now. Has been publishing articles since 1972. He is the author of more than 1000 articles in periodicals, catalogues as well as author and editor of 15 books such as “Armenian Silent Cinema”, “Language and Cinema”, “Armenians in the World Cinema”, etc. He is a member of Cinematographers’ Union of Armenia.

ANETA YERZNKYAN - Was born on October 23, 1949, in Yerevan. Graduated from Yerevan State University, the Department of Philology. In 1982 - 1984 continued her postgraduate studies in Art Institute in Moscow. She has published articles on the problems of Armenian and Russian cinema and TV in Armenian and Moscow professional periodicals. She worked for Armenian TV and Radio as an author of the programs: “Famous Russian Directors”, “Portraits of Armenian Film-Makers”, etc. Since 1978 teaches History of Armenian and Russian Cinema as well as Theory of TV in Armenian State Pedagogical Institute, the Department of Cinema and TV. She is a member of Cinematographers’ Union of Armenia.

RUZAN ZAKARIAN - Was born February 14, 1949 in Yerevan. Graduated from Yerevan State University, the Department of Philology. Has published articles on the problems of Armenian cinema and culture. Worked as a staff member in various periodicals such as “Arvest”, “Hayutyun”, etc. Nowadays works as a staff member at “Garoun” magazine, the head of culture section, including cinema. At the same time she is a chief editor of new established “AV- Courier” magazine. Her articles have been translated into English, Spanish, Russian. She has translated some books from Armenian into Russian and vice versa. She is a member of Journalists Union of Armenia. She has won the award of the Union of Journalists “The golden pen” in 2000.

NARINE DJRBASHYAN - Was born on May 9, 1965. Graduated from Yerevan State Institute of Fine Arts in 1993, the Department of Cinema and Theater History and Criticism. The topic of her diploma thesis was “Theater in Ingmar Bergman’s Films”. From 1993 to 1996 worked as a researcher and editor at the Armenian National Cinematheque. As an editor she took an active part in publishing the following books: ”Armenians in the World Cinema”, ”Atom Egoyan”, ”Serge Avedikian”. Since 1996 teaches History of Foreign Cinema in State Institute of Fine Arts. At the same time she collaborates with the following publications: ”Zerkalo”, ”Respublika Armenia”, ”Kino”, ”Novoye Vremya” , “Armenian Aktuell”, Germany, and “Ar ” and “Prometevs” independent TV Channels.

VLADIMIR BADASSIAN - Was born on January 22, 1957. In 1979 graduated from Yerevan State University, the Department of Russian Philology. From 1984-1987 continued his post-graduate studies at the national Academy of Sciences of Armenia, Institute of Fine Arts. Worked as a researcher in Armenian Kino-photo-phono-archive (1988-1990). Since 1987 has published articles in various newspapers and magazines such as ”Komsomolets”, ”Sovetskiy Ekran” (Moscow) “Ekran”, ”Novie Filmi” (Kazakhstan), ”Respublika Armenia”, “AV- Courier” magazine, etc. Since 1995 also teaches History of Armenian and Russian Cinema in the Cinema Department of Armenian State Pedagogical Institute.

ROBERT MATOSYAN - Was born in 1945. In 1969 graduated from Yerevan State University, the Department of Journalism. He has published articles since 1968 in various Armenian newspapers and magazines. In 1969 has founded weekly "Film”. In 1969-1993 he was the editor-in-chief of "Film" (re-called as "Gegharvest") newspaper. He is the author of the number of books: ”Dialogues About Cinema”, ”Henrik Malyan”, ”Azat Sherents”, etc. He is a member of Cinematographers’ Union of Armenia..

VALERY GASPARYAN - Was born on September 14, 1954 . In 1985 graduated from VGIK (State Cinematographic Institute in Moscow), the Department of Scriptwriters. Has published a range numbers of articles on cinema in various periodicals such as ”Golos Armenii”, ”Ekran”, “Film”, ”AV-Courier”. Worked as well for TV. He is an author of some screenplays. He is a member of Cinematographers’ Union of Armenia. Currently works as journalists and film-expert for “Novoye Vremya” daily.

SIRANUSH GALSTYAN - Was born on August 11, 1969. In 1999 graduated from Yerevan State Institute of Fine Arts and Theatre, the Department of Film-Critics. Worked as a researcher and editor at the Armenian National Cinematheque (Film Archive). Since 1992 regularly contributes for various periodicals such as “Garoun” magazine, ”Grakan Tert”, ”Azg”, ”Hayatsk Yerevanits”, ”AV-Courier”, etc. Also appeared as author of programs on cinema at “Prometeus” TV Channel. She teaches history and theory of cinema in the State Institute of Cinema and Theatre.

ARTUR BAKHTAMYAN - Was born on January 28, 1963, Yerevan. Graduated from Yerevan State Institute of Fine Arts and Theatre. Till nowadays works for Armenian TV (1st channel) and Radio as an author of the range numbers of programs on cinema. Currently he is the author and reporter of the popular daily TV program “Midnight Express”.

7. ZAVEN BOYADJYAN - Was born on March 23, 1956, in Dilijan. Graduated from Yerevan State University, the Department of Armenian Philology. Has published articles since 1971 in “Ekran”, “Andradardz”, “Yeter”, “TV-Alik”, and other periodicals. In 70-80s has worked for National radio as the author of programs about foreign cinema. Since 1993 he is the author of the weekly TV-program “8 1/2” (“The Pages of World Cinema”) on the Armenian TV. At the same time hi is contributing for a range number of Armenian newspapers and magazines such as “Azg”, “TV-alik”, “Anshlag”, and etc.

VADIM GHARIBYAN - Was born on June 10, 1952. In 1977 graduated from Yerevan State University, the Department of Russian Philology. Since 1978 has published a number of articles on cinema in various periodicals such as “Arvest”, ”Film”, ”Ekran”, ”Sovetskiy Film” (Moscow), ”Kino”, ”Komsomolets”, ”Avantgard”, etc. He is a member of Cinematographers’ Union of Armenia. Currently works for Armenian Public Television.