Yerevan/Mediamax/. On November 8-12, Armenia will host a festival of Japanese films.

On November 8, 9 and 10 films will be demonstrated in Yerevan’s “Moscow” cinema and on November 11 and 12 - in the “Hoktember” cinema in Gyumri. Admission to the film festival will be free.

The festival is organized by the “Hikari” Armenian-Japanese scientific, educational and cultural center.

In her interview to Mediamax, head of the “Hikari” Center, Karine Piliposyan, mentioned that the proposal to organize the festival came from the Japanese Embassy in Armenia (with residence in Moscow). After this proposition, the center appealed for support to the Armenian Ministry of Culture, Armenian-Japanese organizations, as well as representative offices of Japanese companies in Armenia. In particular, the Festival will be supported by the Armenian representative office of the Japan Tobacco International (JTI).

During the festival five films will be demonstrated in Yerevan and Gyumri: “Aiki”, “Header”, “First love”, “Fire” and “What the snow brings.”

The only example of a classic Japanese movie among those presented at the festival is the “Fire” filmed in 1958.

“All the films are very interesting and unfamiliar to the Armenian public. Armenian audience is not acquainted with the Japanese cinema, but shows a great interest in Japan and its culture, hence, the festival will be a pleasant surprise to the Armenian public,” said Karine Piliposyan.

According to the head of the “Hikari” Center, the last festival of Japanese films took place in Armenia in 2007 and there was a need to continue this tradition. During the days of the festival, the newly appointed Ambassador of Japan to Armenia (residence of the Ambassador in Moscow) will be in Yerevan. The Ambassador is expected to hand his credentials to the President of the Republic of Armenia on November 8th.

Within the framework of the festival an exhibition of engravings of the Japanese Utagawa School will be demonstrated at the National Gallery of Armenia, also supported by JTI.

The exhibition will be open for a period of one month. During the opening ceremony on November 8th,  the Japanese Ambassador will transfer modern painting restoration equipment donated by the Government of Japan to the National Gallery of Armenia.