Five days till opening night Nov. 13
Finally! This Friday independent cinema enthusiasts will convene at the much anticipated 18th Annual Arpa International Film Festival. For three days (November 13-15), an impressive community of independent film lovers will fill the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood and bask in the cinematic glory of 46 inspiring, thought-provoking, dark, humorous, and downright quirky film screenings from 22 counties.
So if you love international, independent cinema and crave a fresh perspective, then ready yourself for a plethora of brave, innovative, and daring stories that Arpa International Film Festival 2015 promises will nourish your creative spirit.
2015 Nominees
Best Feature Film
Lost Birds
Off
Three Windows and a Hanging
Best Documentary Film
Aliyah Dada
Armenia Sings on in Our Hearts
Daylight After a Century
Lee Scratch Perry’s Vision of Paradise
My Life in China
Tell Spring Not to Come This Year
Best Short Film
Caregivers
Hazel & Louis: Animal Agents
The Jungle
The Loyalist
Straw Dolls
The Story of Snow
The Sandwich Island Man
While They Were Flying To the Moon
Best Director
Lost Birds
Off
Three Windows and a Hanging
Best Screenplay
Lost Birds
Off
Three Windows and a Hanging
Awards Ceremony highlights
SPECIAL AWARDS
Lifetime Achievement — Esai Morales
Armin T. Wegner Humanitarian — Lost Birds, Ela Alyamac and Aren Perdeci (writers-directors-producers)
Rising Star — David Dastmalchian
MASTER OF CEREMONIES
Charles Davis — is the Producer and Director of Development with Absolute Certainty, Inc. He is an award winning producer, director and actor whose career has spanned over 40 years in film, television and theater.
PRESENTERS
Michael Arabian — is a producer, director, writer, and teacher who has won over 50 awards. Arabian founded Theatre InSite at CBS Studios Radford. He has taught at USC Film School, USC School of Dramatic Arts, Howard Fine Studio, and LA Film School.
Harsh Titian —was nominated for a Screen Actor’s Guild award for his work on Showtime’s Emmy Award winning hit, “Homeland.” He hasbeen in numerous shows and films. Look out for him in Amazon’s critically acclaimed series, “Bosch.”
Rick Rosenthal — is an award-winning veteran producer-director with a dynamic career spanning 25 years, amassing such recognition as two Indie Spirit Awards, two Crystal Bears, a Humanitas Prize, and a Best Director Award at Sundance.
Janet Roth — is a Ukraine-born, American theatre and film actor, known for My Name is Viola and Beyond the Trophy. Roth earned her diploma from DePaul University in Chicago and speaks German, Ukrainian and Russian fluently.
Bertila Damas — an actress, Cuban-born and raised in New York and Miami, has worked on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and in the regional theater scene. Damas received critical acclaim for her roles in the film Mi Vida Loca and play ELECTRICIDAD.
Anne Bedian — was born in Montreal, served three years in the Canadian Armed Forces, and soon after got a role on the TV show, The Hunger. Bedian has also appeared in Law & Order, Lost, CSI, The Unit, NCIS, Closer, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and more.
Karina Weeks — was born in 1990 in Armenia. Weeks moved to the U.S. with only one hundred dollars. She won a Las Vegas Choice Award for Best Supporting Actress in the play TATOO, and was in the film Until Luck Do Us Part 2, The Crescent, and more.
LIVE PERFORMANCE
Shahera White — a soulful singer with sweet and romantic sounds that have seduced the ears of many throughout her hometown, Los Angeles. Music is in her DNA. Her legendary father, Barry White, was loved for his irresistible baritone voice and writing, producing, and arranging talents. Her mother, Glodean, is known for her sexy and alluring vocals. Currently, White enjoys singing in intimate settings where she is able to share her interpretation of all of her musical inspirations.
46 Films from 22 countries
Afghanistan
Tell Spring Not to Come This Year (co-production: UK)
Argentina
In the Clouds
Armenia
Caregivers
Our Village
Australia
Get Up
Brazil
Armenia Sings on in Our Hearts
Canada
Ablution (co-production: Iran, USA)
Shattered
Czech Republic
Goodbye Theresienstadt (co-production: Germany)
Denmark
Goodbye Theresienstadt (co-production: Czech Republic)
Ecuador
Welcome
France
The Sandwich Island Man
Germany
Lee Scratch Perry’s Vision of Paradise
Iran
Ablution (co-production: Canada, USA)
I Want to Be a King
Japan
N64Q: Born Free (co-production: USA)
Kosovo
Three Windows and a Hanging
Poland
Superunit
Romania
Aliyah Dada
Armenopolis, Armenian Soul
Tamara, Echelon
Serbia
While They Were Flying to the Moon
Off
South Korea
The Loyalist (co-production: USA)
The Story of Snow
Turkey
Hursit
Lost Birds
The Jungle
UK
Daylight After a Century
Seagulls
Tell Spring Not to Come This Year (co-production: Afghanistan)
USA
Ablution (co-production: Canada, Iran)
Bad Advice
Bed Bugs and Company
En Avant
Family Dance
Gear
Hazel & Louis: Animal Agents
My Life in China
N64Q: Born Free (co-production: Japan)
Night of the Slasher
Paul the Birman
Sabre Dance
Straw Dolls
Test
The Loyalist (co-production: South Korea)
Up the Valley and Beyond
Welcome
Tickets and Passes
If you want it all, then the All-Access Gold Pass is the crown jewel, the crème de la crème, or your new BF. Otherwise, if you can’t spend all day at the Festival, but can’t bear missing a day, then an evening program ticket is what you need. This ticket not only includes a screening, but also gives you an in-depth Q&A session with filmmakers, and a festive private reception with musical entertainment, delicious Mediterranean cuisine and libations.
Of course, after screening all of the films, it’s a must to attend the Awards Ceremony and see your favorite films and filmmakers get their just due. Plus, there’s nothing like witnessing a cast of who’s who grace the stage and later find yourself hobnobbing with them at the private Post-Awards reception.
All-Access Gold Pass $150 — Admission to all screenings, Q&As with filmmakers, the Awards Ceremony, and all private receptions throughout the entire weekend.
Saturday All-Access Pass $65 — Admission to all screenings on Saturday November 14, which includes 23 short film screenings, one documentary, three feature films, plus the Centerpiece feature film, and the post-screening private reception with food and wine.
Sunday All-Access Pass $65 — Admission to all screenings on Sunday, November 15, which includes 13 short film screenings, one documentary, one feature film, the prestigious Awards Ceremony, and a festive Post-Awards Reception.
Opening Night evening program $45 — includes the Welcome Reception, the screening of Lost Birds, Q&A with the filmmakers, and a Dessert Reception
Centerpiece evening program $45 — En Avant screening, Q&A with filmmakers, post-reception with the Arpa Film Festival Jazz Quartet (Bryan McKenzie, bass; Matt Politano, piano/keys; Josh Welchez, trumpet; Lance Beckford, drums)
Closing Night evening program: Screening & Awards Ceremony $45 — The Sandwich Island Man screening, Q&A with filmmakers, post-awards reception in the courtyard under the stars
FAQs
Where do I park?
We do not endorse any particular parking facility, however there are many parking lots within walking distance of the Egyptian Theatre. The Egyptian does not validate for any parking lot.
Is there public transportation to the Egyptian Theatre?
Yes, Metro provides bus and rail transportation. The Metro Red Line Hollywood/Highland Station is one block away. The Egyptian Theater is located at 6712 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, CA 90028.
Where at the Egyptian Theatre may I buy tickets and/or pick up passes/tickets that I purchased online?
At the box office.
Do I have to purchase passes or tickets online?
The following tickets may be purchased at the Egyptian Theatre’s box office: General Admission, Evening Program, Saturday All-Access, and Sunday All-Access. However, the All-Access Gold Passes may be purchased at the box office only on November 13.
Is there a service fee when purchasing tickets online?
There is a two dollar ($2) service fee for all Evening Program tickets and each General Admission ticket purchased online. There is no service fee when buying an All-Access Gold Pass, a Saturday All-Access ticket, and Sunday All-Access ticket online.
When purchasing tickets at the box office are additional fees tacked on?
No
What methods of payment are accepted at the box office?
Cash and major credit cards are excepted.
Will non-alcoholic beverages be served at the evening program ticketed receptions?
Yes
Is the Egyptian Theatre ADA accessible?
Yes
Written by Sharon Swainson
Communications & Content Development
2015 Arpa International Film Festival