On January 17, 2016, the Galouste Gyulbenkyan Hall of the Hayartun Center at the Armenian Diocese in Georgia hosted the screening of documentaries. The famous film directors from Yerevan, Hakob Karanfilyan and Movses Gasparyan were attending the event.

The film “Akhtamar” by Hakob Karanfilyan belongs to “Yergir” movie series about the Armenian historical and architectural monuments in Armenia and around the world. The movie captivated the audience and took them to historical homeland, demonstrating the unparalleled beauty of Lake Van, the island of Akhtamar with its magnificent Sourp Khatch, the Church of the Holy Cross, overlooking the turquoise waters. Although no Armenians are left near historical Lake Van and on the island of Akhatmar, but there still remains a great power and the light of spiritual pillar of the Armenian church, which was so clearly expressed in the film. Director Karanfilyan expanded video coverage, thanks to which the audience could get acquainted with the symbols of the region, namely tastiness of Darekh, a species of herring found in Lake Van, and a breed of Van cat with unique eyes.

“At Death’s Door” directed by Movses Gasparyan is a deeply philosophical movie. Life and death is a fundamental concept of the movie. The director, after Man’s creation by God the Almighty, gradually revealing the way of death, through impressions and descriptions of diverse people in different occupations shows the way, which accompanies the mortal throughout life, leads him from the Earthly to eternity.

Upon completion of the screening, movie directors Hakob Karanfilyan and Movses Gasparyan gladly answered the questions of the audience, regarding the process of working in the historical homeland, the illness caused pain and the agony of death. The filmmakers also revealed their future plans, one of which is to shoot a documentary on the Armenian historical and architectural heritage in Tbilisi.

The filmmakers from Armenia presented the Director of the Hayartun Center, Levon Chidilyan, with the records of their films, which will be screened periodically in the center.