Distinguished Films and Winners 2011

The BEST PICTURE award for 2011 went to Rolla Selbak’s drama, Three Veils. BEST DIRECTOR and BEST SCREENPLAY awards went to director Marc Fusco and writers Scott Yagemann and Vahik Pirhamzei for their comedy My Uncle Rafael. Pirhamzei also received the festival’s 2011 Breakthrough Performance Award for his starring role in the film. Arman Yeritsyan and Inna Sahakyan’s The Last Tightrope Dancer In Armenia was given the award for BEST DOCUMENTARY with Eric Nazarian’s Bolis winning BEST SHORT FILM. Previously announced, the festival’s prestigious AT&T AWARD FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION AND STEWARDSHIP went to the compelling documentary Marion Stoddart: The work of 1000 by Susan Edwards. The film chronicles the advocate Marion Stoddart who lived next to one of America’s most polluted rivers and transformed herself from a 1960s housewife to a citizen leader and environmental hero honored by the United Nations. Accepting the ARMIN T. WEGNER HUMANITARIAN AWARD was documentary filmmaker and producer Bryan Single on behalf of his acclaimed Children of War. The documentary, set in Uganda, had its world premiere last fall at the United Nations in New York.

Festival Jury 2011

Ara Keshishian is a Motion Picture Talent agent at Creative Artists Agency (CAA), an entertainment and sports agency based in Los Angeles with offices in Nashville, New York City, London, and Beijing. Keshishian works in the Los Angeles office and represents such actors as Natalie Portman, Antonio Banderas, Édgar Ramírez, Eva Mendes, Jeffrey Wright, Jay Baruchel, Peter Krause, Kerry Washington, Ellen Barkin, and Billy Crudup, among others. Keshishian began his career as an intern in the CAA mailroom in 1997. Keshishian received his JD from Loyola Law School in 1999.

Jeff Speich is a Motion Picture Talent agent at Creative Artists Agency (CAA), an entertainment and sports agency based in Los Angeles with offices in Nashville, New York City, London, and Beijing. Speich works in the Los Angeles office and represents many actors, including Robin Wright, Glenn Close, Julianne Moore, Uma Thurman, Zach Quinto,among others. Jeff graduated from University of Southern California and began his career at CAA in 1999.

Owen Ward served as Vice President, Theatrical Marketing at Lionsgate and has overseen campaigns for films such as Academy Award® winner Precious, the Tyler Perry and SAW franchises, and The Expendables. He is also an avid producer with a love for independent film, most recently completing a short documentary on the city of West Hollywood.

Festival Winners 2011

Three Veils (USA) – Los Angeles Premiere
Director: Rolla Selbak Producer: Ahmad Zahra Writer: Rolla Selbek
BEST PICTURE 2011 – Three Veils is a film about three young Middle-Eastern women living in the U.S., each with her own personal story. Leila is engaged to be married, however as the wedding night approaches, she becomes less and less sure of how her life is playing out. Amira is a very devout Muslim, but is dealing with her deep repressions about her intimate feelings toward women. Nikki is acting out her promiscuity as she battles her own demons after a tragic death in the family. As the film progresses, all three stories unfold and blend into each other as connections are revealed between the three women.

My Uncle Rafael (USA) – North American Premiere
Director: Marc Fusco, Producers: Michael Garrity, Vahik Pirhamzei Writers: Scott Yagemann, Vahik Pirhamzei
BEST SCREENPLAY/BEST DIRECTOR 2011 – A desperate TV producer convinces an old Armenian Uncle to star in a new reality show. Cultures collide when Uncle Rafael is thrown into the Schumacher family household where he has one week to save a broken and dysfunctional American family from falling apart. The only rule – everyone must follow his rules. Starring Vahik Pirhamzei, John Michael Higgins, Missi Pyle, Anthony Clark, Rachel Blanchard, Joe Lo Truglio, Anahid Avanesian, Carly Chaikin, Sage Ryan, Ursula Taherian, and Lupe Ontiveros.

The Last Tightrope Dancer In Armenia (Armenia)
Directors: Arman Yeritsyan, Inna Sahakyan Producer: Vardan Hovhannisyan, Writers: Arman Yeritsyan, Inna Sahakyan
BEST DOCUMENTARY 2011 – Zhora and Knyaz were once the most celebrated masters of tightrope dancing in Armenia. Today, they are the only surviving performers who can keep this ancient art alive against the current of contemporary society, but all their students grow up and find other interests in life. Why is their art not important anymore?

Bolis (USA/Turkey) – World Premiere
Director: Eric Nazarian, Writer: Eric Nazarian, Producers: Huseyin Karabey, Sevil Demirci.
BEST SHORT FILM 2011 – Armenak is a successful oud player who is in Istanbul for the first time for an important musical event. His feelings toward the city, which his Armenian grandfather fled at the tip of the sword in 1915, are very complex. Armenak arrives full of prejudice, expecting to hate the place, but instead finds it very familiar. The decision comes naturally to him to search for his grandfather’s old musical instrument shop with only an old photo and a street name. Is it destiny or coincidence that leads him to his destination?

Special Awards 2011

Vahik Pirhamzei for My Uncle Rafael (USA)
BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE AWARD 2011

Marion Stoddart: The Work Of 1000 – West Coast Premiere
Director: Susan Edwards, Producer: Dorie Clark, Writer: Susan Edwards
AT&T AWARD FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION AND STEWARDSHIP 2011 – Marion Stoddart lived next to one of America’s most polluted rivers and transformed herself from a 1960s housewife to a citizen leader and environmental hero honored by the United Nations. The Work of 1000 is the documentary film chronicling her life, achievements, setbacks, and unwavering belief that one person can make a difference in the world.

Children Of War (USA/Uganda)
Director: Bryan Single, Producers: Bryan Single, Farzad Karimi, Timothy Beckett
ARMIN T. WEGNER HUMANITARIAN AWARD 2011[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]