Press 2024

Armenia+V4: 20th “Rolan” IFF as a Sustainable Platform for Deepening Intercultural Dialogue

Project

On November 5-9, 2024 in Yerevan, in 3 regions of Armenia (Shirak (Gyumri), Lori (Vanadzor), Gegharkunik (Gavar) Armenian Rolan Bykov Foundation plans to implement a special project “Armenia+V4: 20th “Rolan” IFF as a Sustainable Platform for Deepening Intercultural Dialogue” supported by the International Visegrad Fund aimed at creating of appropriate conditions for deepening intercultural dialogue (engaging new participants from V4, Georgia, Western Balkan countries/Serbia for the first time) for V4 culture and heritage promotion in Armenia (through art/educational/social components) involving maximally large audience using 20th Rolan IFF for Children and Youth as a sustainable international platform.

Current project is a continuation and development of the five projects supported by the International Visegrad Fund implemented in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020-2021, 2023.

Project partners from Visegrad countries (Slovakia, Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic) are Superfilm Production (Slovakia), Kid’s Eye Art Association (Hungary), HumanDoc Foundation – HumanDoc International Documentary Film Festival (Poland), JUNIORFEST International Film Festival for Children and Youth (the Czech Republic), from EaP countries – Culture and Education Foundation (Georgia) and from Western Balkan countries – Media Education Centre (Serbia).

In the frames of the Project 16 films (produced in the Visegrad countries and recommended by the project partners) were selected for the project and the screenings.

Within the scope of the project the following events will be implemented:

• “V4 Film Screenings” in Yerevan and the regions of Armenia will be organized to raise awareness about the culture and heritage of the Visegrad countries in Armenia and to support maintaining of Cinema Platform in Yerevan and RA regions. The screenings will take place in the Moscow Cinema in Yerevan, Sahakyants Animation Studio, Naregatsi Art Institute,  Vanadzor Branch of National Center of Aesthetics after Henrik Igityan in Vanadzor (Lori region), Gyumri Branch of National Center of Aesthetics after Henrik Igityan in Gyumri (Shirak region), Gavar Orphanage (Gegharkunik region).

• Creative meetings/master classes/workshop will be organized in educational institutions of Yerevan (TUMO Center for Creative Technologies, Ayb School, Yerevak Educational Complex) and in regions of Armenia/Gegharkunik region (social component of the project) to provide possibilities for the participants of the project activities to share experience, deepening of intercultural relations, to establish new cultural ties for potential partnership in future.

• 2 Exhibition/Contests “Visegrad+Georgia+Serbia through the Eyes of Armenian Children” will be held in cooperation with the Vanadzor and Gyumri branches of the National Center of Aesthetics after Henrik Igityan. The exhibitions/contests will take place in Vanadzor and Gyumri on November 5-20, 2024. Artworks created by Armenian children devoted to the culture and heritage of Visegrad countries, Armenia, Georgia and Serbia will be presented. It will give new opportunities for more extensive promotion of V4 culture/heritage among new audiences expanding art/educational components of the project. The jury will choose the best artworks and their authors will be awarded.

• The project participants will be director of animated films and illustrator Martin Smatana (Slovakia), film critic and production assistant Tereza Kravecová (Slovakia), director, founder of Kids’ Eye Art Association Nandor Grosch (Hungary), art teacher Veronika Filo (Hungary), head of the education and social innovation program of HumanDoc Foundation Izabela Żbikowska (Poland), social worker at the HumanDoc Foundation, psychotherapist Aleksi Kvatania (Poland), filmmaker Bakar Cherkezishvili (Georgia), film director, actor, film artist Maria Sichanin (Georgia), head of the Education Team of the Media Education Centre, expert in producing videos and animated clips Igor Gimbos (Serbia), founder and president of the Media Education Centre Miomir Rajcevic (Serbia), scriptwriter Tomáš Končinský (the Czech Republic), filmmaker, founder of “Oko Uragánu”  children gallery Magdaléna Bažantová (the Czech Republic).

In Yerevan project activities will be implemented in “Moscow” Cinema, Sahakyants Animation Studio, Naregatsi Art Institute, TUMO Center for Creative Technologies, Ayb School, Yerevak Educational Complex and in the regions of Armenia in Vanadzor Branch of National Center of Aesthetics after Henrik Igityan in Vanadzor (Lori region), Gyumri Branch of National Center of Aesthetics after Henrik Igityan in Gyumri (Shirak region), Gavar Orphanage (Gegharkunik region).

All screenings and events are organized exclusively on a charitable basis.

PROJECT ACTIVITIES

in Yerevan:

• “V4 Film Screenings” – screenings of the films produced in the Visegrad countries – November 5-8, 2024

• Creative meetings/master classes/workshops in specialized universities/institutions, schools, etc. – November 5-9, 2024.

in RA regions:

• “V4 Film Screenings” – screenings of the films produced in the Visegrad countries in 3 regions (Shirak (Gyumri), Lori (Vanadzor), Gegharkunik (Gavar) – October 31 – November 7, 2024

• Exhibition/Contest “Visegrad through the eyes of Armenian Children” in Vanadzor branch of National Center of Aesthetics after Henry Igityan (Vanadzor, Lori region) – November 5-20, 2024

• Exhibition/Contest “Visegrad+Georgia+Serbia through the Eyes of Armenian Children” in Gyumri branch of National Center of Aesthetics after Henry Igityan (Gyumri, Shirak region) – November 5-20, 2024

• Creative meeting in Gegharkunik region – Gavar (Gavar Orphanage) – November 5-9, 2024.

Preparation of a special documentary short film “Visegrad+Serbia+Georgia: Welcome to Armenia!” – Yerevan and RA regions – November 5-9, 2024.