VISEGRAD + ARMENIA AND GEORGIA

INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE: BUILDING NEW APPROACHES

PROJECT

On 5-9 of November 2019 in Yerevan, in 7 regions of Armenia (Shirak (Gyumri), Lori (Vanadzor, Alaverdi), Gegharkunik (Gavar), Armavir (Armavir), Kotayq (Zovuni, Kotayk), Ararat (Ararat), Aragatsotn (Karbi)) and Georgia (Tbilisi) Armenian Rolan Bykov Foundation plans to implement a special project “Visegrad + Armenia And Georgia Intercultural Dialogue: Building New Approaches” supported by the International Visegrad Fund aimed at deepening and expanding intercultural dialogue between Visegrad countries (Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic), Armenia and Georgia, establishing and enhancing new direct ties not only in Yerevan and regions of Armenia, but also in Georgia to share the cultural heritage of these countries among maximally large audiences using 15th Anniversary of Rolan IFF for Children and Youth as a powerful platform.

Current project is continuation and development of the two projects supported by the International Visegrad Fund implemented in 2017 and 2018, involving not only Yerevan and the regions of Armenia (7) but also Georgia.

Project partners from Visegrad countries (Slovakia, Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic) are Association of Slovak Films Clubs (Slovakia), «Superfilm» production (Slovakia),  «ARCHiMERA» NGO (Hungary), “BuSho” (Budapest Short) International Film Festival (Hungary), «Kid’s Eye Art» association (Poland), “Ale Kino!” International Young Audience Film Festival(Poland), “HumanDoc” International Documentary Film Festival (Poland), “ASP Wroclaw” Academy of fine arts (Poland) , “JUNIORFEST” International Film Festival for Children and Youth (the Czech Republic), “ART FABRIKA” art studio (the Czech Republic), Shota Rustaveli Theatre and Film Georgian State University (Georgia) .

In the frames of the Project from 75 presented films (produced in V4 countries and recommended by project partners) 19 films were selected for screening.

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

• “Visegrad Film Days in Yerevan” special screenings and discussions to raise awareness about the culture and heritage of Visegrad countries in Armenia and to support the deepening of Cinema Platform in Yerevan. Screenings will be organized in “Moscow Cinema”, Union of Cinematographers of Armenia,  Yerevan City Center For Children And Youth Art, Youth Creative Center,
• “Visegrad Film Days in RA regions” special screenings and discussions to raise awareness about the culture and heritage of Visegrad countries in the regions of  Armenia supporting further decentralization of cultural activities from the capital to the RA regions. The best films will be screen in the towns of Gyumri, Alaverdi, Gavar, Ararat, Armavir and Zovuni and Kotayk villages adding Social component by involving children/youth from orphanages, with special needs, children from foster homes and vulnerable families.
• “Visegrad Film Days in Georgia”, this year for the first time screenings will be organized also in schools of Tbilisi (Georgia) from October 28 to November 1, 2019 to raise awareness about the culture and heritage of Visegrad countries in Georgia (Tbilisi) through film screenings attracting new audiences and enhancing the cultural ties between Visegrad countries and Georgia.
• Creative meetings, master classes, workshops, etc. in educational institutions of Yerevan and RA marzes (Armavir, Kotayk, Lori, Shirak, Gesharqkunik, Ararat, Aragastotn)  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. Creative meetings will be held also Gavar Orphanage and “Trchunyan Tun” Educational Complex – Children’s Home by the participants of the project for the children living there.
• This year art component has been added to the project. In cooperation with Vanadzor branch of National Center of Aesthetics after Henry Igityan from 5 to 25 of November Exhibition/Contest “Visegrad through the eyes of Armenian Children” will be held. Around 100 artworks created by 33 Armenian children devoted to the culture and heritage of Visegrad countries, Armenia and Georgia will be presented. It aims to support expansion of platforms in RA regions using Art for more productive promotion of culture and heritage of Visegrad countries in RA regions. The international jury comprised of the participants from Visegrad countries and Georgia and artists of Armenia will chose the best artworks and their authors will be awarded and invited to participate in the Closing ceremony of “Rolan” 15^th International Film Festival fro Children and Youth.

Project participants will be Director Martin Kotík (Czech Republic), Artist Lyuben Petrov (Czech Republic), Producer Ondrej Beranek (Czech Republic), Director, Founder of "Kids’ Eye Public Art" Association Nandor Grosch (Hungary), Director, Producer Balazs Simonyi (Hungary), Representative of "BuSho" Short Film Festival Charlotte Symmons (Hungary), Animator Martin Smatana (Slovakia), Artist, Photographer Andrea Kalinova (Slovakia), Cofounder of “Superfilm” production Simona Hrusovska (Slovakia), Director Tomasz Knittel (Poland), Director, scripwriter Jacek Blawut (Poland), Artist, Animator, 3D graphics Specialist Agnieszka Talik (Poland), Director, Producer Otar Shamatava (Georgia), Director Davit Janelidze (Georgia),Producer, Projects Coordinator at Shota Rustaveli Theatre and Film Georgia State University Tinatin Khutsishvili International (Georgia).

In Yerevan project activities will be implemented in “Moscow” Cinema, Union of Cinematographers of Armenia, Russian-Armenian University, TUMO Center for Creative Technologies, etc. and in regions of Armenia in “Trchunyan Tun” Educational Complex – Children’s Home, Gyumri Basic School N 7, “Ounjyan” Secondary School-college, Gyumri Secondary School N 23 (Shirak), Vanadzor branch of National Center of Aesthetics after Henry Igityan and Cultural Center in Alaverdi (Lori), Gavar orphanage (Gegharkunik), Armavir Cultural Center (Armavir), Cultural Center of Zovuni and Kotayk (Kotayk), secondary schools, etc.

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

Project activities

in Yerevan:

• “Visegrad Film days in Yerevan” - film screenings and discussions with cinematographers from V4 – 5 – 9 of November
• Creative meetings in specialized universities/institutions, schools, etc. – 5-9 of November
• Workshop held by Martin Smatana, Animator from Slovakia in “TUMO” Center for Creative Technologies – 7-8 of November
• Meetings with mass media – 5-9 of November

in RA regions:

• “Visegrad Film days in RA Regions” -film screenings in 7 regions (Shirak (Gyumri), Lori (Vanadzor, Alaverdi), Gegharkunik (Gavar), Armavir (Armavir), Kotayq (Zovuni, Kotayk), Ararat (Ararat), Aragatsotn (Karbi)) – 5 – 9 of November
• Creative meetings in “Trchunyan Tun” Educational Complex – Children’s Home in Gyumri (shirak) and Gavar orphanage (Gegharkunik) - 5 – 9 of November
• Exhibition/Contest “Visegrad through the eyes of Armenian Children” in Vanadzor branch of National Center of Aesthetics after Henry Igityan – 6 of November
• Meetings with regional mass media – 5 – 9 of November

in Tbilisi, Georgia

• “Visegrad Film days in RA Regions” - film screenings and discussions in secondary schools of Tbilisi