18th Annual Arpa International Film Festival Opens With ‘Lost Birds’

HOLLYWOOD””The first Arpa International Film Festival was produced by AFFMA in 1997 with a mission to cultivate cultural understanding and global empathy, creating a dynamic forum for international cinema with a special focus on the works of filmmakers who explore the issues of Diaspora, exile and multi-culturalism.  A strong emphasis is placed on ideals of independent thought, artistic vision, cultural diversity and social understanding.  This year, celebrating the 18th Annual Arpa International Film Festival at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood from November 13-15, the festival continues to grow focusing strongly on films dealing with humanitarian issues internationally such as genocide, holocaust, human freedom, women’s rights, homelessness and many others.

This year’s program will screen over 46 films from 24 countries, showcasing truly global range of artistic vision and thematic concerns.  The 2015 line-up of films include programs of documentaries, shorts and feature films.  This year the program highlights films from the Balkans also.

The Festival will open with the recipient of Arpa’s prestigious Armin T. Wegner Humanitarian Award (marks number 14 this year), “LOST BIRDS”