Polish-backed Armenian Genocide film competes in Venice
PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge
02.09.2014 13:16
An international co-production on the Armenian genocide represents Poland's greatest chance of success at the 71st Venice film Festival.
(L-R): Alexander Hacke musician, actress Arevik Martirosyan, actor Simon Abkarian, actress Hindi Zahara, actor Tahar Rahim, actress Lara Heller, German director Fatih Akin, Makrram J. Khoury, producer Nurhan Sekerci and screenwriter Mardik Martin (Front) pose during a photocall for the movie 'The Cut' during the 71st annual Venice International Film Festival, in Venice, Italy, 31 August 2014.. EPA/ANDREA MEROLA
Hamburg-born director Fatih Akin worked on the film with a crew that included Oscar-winning art director Allan Starski (Schindler's List), and the movie was partly funded by the Polish Film Institute (PISF).
The Cut is competing against 19 other films in the festival's Main Competition, with new works by Abel Ferrara and Joshua Oppenheimer in the running for the coveted Golden Lion.
The Armenian Genocide has rarely been covered by film directors to date. Over a million ethnic Armenians are believed to have been killed as a result of extermination policies carried out by the Ottoman Empire between 1915-1917.
The plot of Akin's film focuses on Nazareth Manoogian, an Armenian man who has survived the genocide and hears that his twin daughters may still be alive. He sets off on a quest to find them.
The 71st Venice International Film Festival ends on 6 September. (nh)
Source: PISF