National film “Hayak” prize to be awarded in 12 nomination categories

In March 2012, for the first time in the Armenian cinema history National Film Awards, initiated by National Film Development Foundation, “Orange Armenia” CJSC and National Cinema Center of Armenia, will take place in Yerevan.

The statute to be awarded to the best nominees of the awards is already ready. It has been chosen in the contest, announced in advance. The pedestal of 42cm high statute, representing a combination of forefingers and thumbs of two hands, is from marble and the combination of two hands is from gold-plated bronze. This combination of two hands has been long used in the world of cinema as means to find an image. It is called “hayak” in Armenian. Thus the statute got the name “HAYAK”. Izabella Nersisyan, the author of the statute, is neither architect, nor designer, sculptor nor painter. She is an actress and the statute designed and presented by her in the contest won the approval of the Board and the jury.

Bruno Duthoit, CEO of Orange Armenia, said: “We are happy to support and get involved in the launch and realization of the Armenian National Film Awards. 86-year-old Armenian cinema, which already has its special place in the world of cinema history and which after tough times is reviving nowadays, should be recognized and estimated at its true worth. This is not the first experience of Orange of supporting cinema; it already has a huge international experience in this respect: Orange is the official partner of Cannes International Film Festival since more than 10 years and of BAFTA British Film Festival since already 6 years”.

Every year during the National Film Awards the jury will rate the films, made during the previous year. An exception will be made only for the first awards, as it will recap the whole film production of the first 20 years of independent Armenia. According to the rules of the awards only the films having been made in Armenia in the period of 1991-2011 can participate in the first awards. In future not only the films, made in the RA, but also those with Armenian themes and filmed by Armenian directors can participate in the awards.

Total 92 films will participate in the awards, namely 28 full-length films, 22 short films, 10 animated films and 32 documentary films.

The jury of the awards composed of celebrated film and cultural workers will award the National Film Prize after two voting phases. In the first phase the jury will choose 2-3 film nominees for each nomination category. In the second phase the names of the winners will be announced. National Film Awards prizes will be awarded for 12 nomination categories, namely, best picture, best director, best cameraman, best screenwriter, best artist, best music, best actress, best actor, best short film, best documentary film, best animated film, best debut of the year. Besides main nomination categories a special prize will be awarded for the contribution to the Armenian film development.

Decision on each nomination category will be taken by simple majority of votes. Voting is secret. In case of equal “for” and “against” votes, the chairman of the jury will be entitled to a casting vote. According to the rules of awards, if any of jury members have participated in production of any of the nominated films, that member shall not have the right to vote for that nomination category.

National Film Awards is an annual open contest of the Armenian filmmakers. It aims to foster and develop national film industry, reveal new names, bring the Armenian audience back to cinemas, get together film workers, support new projects of film industry and preserve the best practices of national film industry.

Find more about the National Film Awards, jury members and participant films on the official web site of the National Cinema Center of Armenia: http://www.ncca.am.