Winning Films Include Joe Berlinger’s ‘Intent to Destroy’ for Best Documentary and ‘Mariam’s Day Off’ from Armenia for Best Short Honorees Terry George, Carl Weathers, Chris Cornell and Alexander Dinelaris Presented with Unique Gifts
HOLLYWOOD–The 20th Arpa International Film Festival and Awards Gala was full of memorable moments this year. An unprecedented number of guests attended the three-day film festival, held at Hollywood’s historic Egyptian Theatre from November 3-5. The opening night program featuring the French biopic ‘Dalida’ was sold to capacity, as were the centerpiece films ‘Intent to Destroy’ and ‘Dead on Arrival’ on Saturday evening.
The celebratory weekend closed with a spectacular sold-out Awards Gala held at the Loews Hollywood Hotel on Sunday, November 5. Over 400 guests attended the special 20th anniversary evening hosted by filmmaker Eric Nazarian (The Blue Hour, Bolis, Three Christs, The Sandcastle Girls). The program included special musical performances by theremin virtuoso Armen Ra and vocalist Mister X.
Awards were presented to the 5 winning films in the Best Shorts, Best Documentary, Best Screenplay, Best Director and Best Feature categories. Honorees Terry George, Carl Weathers, Alexander Dinelaris and Chris Cornell (posthumously) were given touching tributes, along with one-of-a-kind gifts.
Special guests throughout the weekend included Serj Tankian, Angela Sarafyan, Billy Flynn, Barbara Carrera, Ara Keshishian, Ken Davitian, Stephen C. Sepher, Rory Fradella, Nazo Bravo, Lillo Brancato, Scottie Thompson.
Unique Khachkar presented to Terry George
Academy Award-winning screenwriter-director Terry George (The Promise, In the Name of the Father, Hotel Rwanda, The Shore, Some Mother’s Son) received the prestigious Armin T. Wegner Humanitarian Award named after the German soldier/medic who was stationed in the Ottoman Empire during the Armenian Genocide and documented the atrocities he witnessed in photographs.
Arpa’s coveted Armin T. Wegner Humanitarian Award, presented each year to a filmmaker whose work contributes toward the struggle for social consciousness and human rights, was awarded to Terry George in recognition of his extensive body of films that have shed light on the situation in his native Northern Ireland, the Rwandan Genocide, and the Armenian Genocide.
Terry George also received a unique khachkar (stone-cross) sculpted by local artist Hrach Gukasyan. The tradition of etching crosses on stone is unique to the Armenian and Irish nations. A special khachkar with a Celtic cross surrounded by Armenian motifs was commissioned by Arpa, symbolizing the Armenian people’s gratitude to the Irish filmmaker.
Boxing Belt presented to Carl Weathers
Carl Weathers, the beloved actor best known for his portrayal of Apollo Creed in the Rocky series, was the recipient of Arpa’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Weathers has also starred in films such as Predator, Action Jackson, Hurricane Smith, Happy Gilmore and Little Nicky. Presenting the Lifetime Achievement Award to the legendary actor was award-winning writer/producer Jason Wilborn, best known for his work on Queen Sugar, Brothers and Sisters and American Dreams.
Weathers received a special personalized authentic championship boxing belt designed and gifted by SARTONK, originator of the modern boxing belt. Edward Majian’s SARTONK was founded based on the designs of his grandfather Ardash Sahagian’s boxing belts which serve as the blueprint for all of today’s championship boxing and MMA belts.
Portrait presented to Angela Sarafyan to be gifted to Family of Chris Cornell
This year’s Lifetime Legacy Award was posthumously awarded to music icon Chris Cornell, whose life came to a tragic end early this year. Chris Cornell, best known as the lead vocalist for the rock bands Soundgarden and Audioslave, as well as the founder and frontman of Temple of the Dog, was also a human rights activist committed to the world refugee crisis and the despair of vulnerable children. The Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter’s last solo release was the charity single “The Promiseâ€
