"Golden Apricot" is the only successful cultural project in Armenia, Levon Abramyan asserts

According to Levon Abramyan, the corresponding member of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, the film festival "Golden Apricot", which is held annually in Armenia, received international recognition and became one of the most prestigious film festivals.

"The explanation is simple: the film festival received international recognition. I do not know any other project which has got similar fame and recognition. Almost at once the festival came out of the provincial framework and received international recognition, becoming one of the most prestigious festivals. This is proved by participation of such international class celebrities as Wim Wenders, Artavazd Pelishyan, Abbas Kiarostami, Claudia Cardinale, Fanny Ardant, Bela Tarr, and other professionals," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by Levon Abramyan.

Let us remind that the VIII International Film Festival "Golden Apricot", which would present 150 films from more than 40 countries, started in Yerevan on July 10. The festival schedules four competitive programmes: the international feature and documentary films, the "Armenian Panorama" and the programme of short feature films.

Susanna Arutyunyan, the festival's art director, stated that, in addition to deepening and expanding the existing relationships and developing the new programmes, the festival's organizers place emphasis to such factor as acquaintance of the "Golden Apricot" festival's guests with Armenian history and culture.

"Visitors from abroad open Armenia for themselves through the festival. In this sense, we try to do everything in order the coming actors and directors adhere to our country," says Susanna Arutyunyan.