Focus ACTV » FILMS

Under the Guise of Charity

Խմբագրակազմ — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 08:40:33 +0000

The documentary is questioning the perception and coverage of socio-economic, political and environmental issues in Armenia. Particularly, it refers to the correlation of Alaverdi city and it’s integral part – the Cooper-Molybdenium Combine. The contrast between the social reality and the coverage of it are being demonstrated, leaving the viewer to draw conclusions.

Film by Anush Titanyan
Project Director: Davit Stepanyan
The film has been implemented within the “ACTV- Alternative Coverage Workshops”, with the support of European Endowment for Democracy (EED).

Pretty girl, why have you come, do you want to do my job?

Խմբագրակազմ — Wed, 15 May 2013 06:28:45 +0000

running time, 62 min
Languages` Armenian, English subtitles

Initiated by IDHR (Institute for Democracy and Human Rights)

http://www.idhr.am/

The Public Sphere in Armenia

Խմբագրակազմ — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 05:22:43 +0000

What are the conceptions of the public sphere in Armenia? What was the public sphere during the Soviet Union? Which are the priority issues of public sphere? Who makes decisions regulating public sphere and where? Who can participate in that decision-making process and how? This and other issues are covered in the film through interviews with art-critic Nazareth Karoyan and art expert Vardan Azatyan. The film also presents short visual chronology of the 20th century Armenia, as well as shows the efforts of self-organized communities towards saving public spaces from commercialization. The film aims at creating new platforms for discussion on the issues raised.

Initiated by IDHR – Institute for Democracy and Human Rights

http://www.idhr.am/

IN BETWEEN PUBLIC AND THE PUBLIC

Խմբագրակազմ — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 20:10:02 +0000

How is the notion ‘public’ perceived today? Are its hypotheses clear and distinct? Is there any connection between the way the concept ‘public’ is perceived and the social structure? To what extent are the borders among the public, the social, the state, and the private tangible?

The series of interviews held in the streets, squares, parks, and yards is an attempt to get informed about the opinions and ideas circulating in different social groups, and at the same time to promote the process of rethinking and redefining the above-mentioned concepts.

Euphoria

Խմբագրակազմ — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 19:00:50 +0000

A production by artist Vahe Budumyan and sociologist Arevik Martirosyan

Euphoria (from Ancient Greek εΰ, “well”, and φέρειν. “to bear”) is a mental and emotional condition in which a person experiences intense feelings of well-being, elation, happiness, ecstasy, excitement and joy.

On January 1, 2011, the Mayor Karen Karapetyan forbade the trade in the streets of Yerevan, which was followed by regular protests. Having lost their only means of living, people demanded to have their jobs back. Demonstrations were held in front of different state institutions, such as the City Hall, the Government, the Republican Party’s Central Office, and the Presidential Residence. Press conferences, public hearings and petitions were organized at the same time .

However, the previously promised alternative solutions were not carried out – leaving the problem unsolved.

“Euphoria” is an experimental film (with a duration of 25 minutes) which, using videos from different news sources and amateur film-makers, depicts the struggle of the people engaged in outdoor trade, their clashes with the police, followed by commentaries

The film is a combination of re-edited media materials and interviews. It aims to deconstruct the media-language structure by suggesting a new purpose and meaning.

“Euphoria” proposes to use the online video archives as a source for creating protest films.

The film-screening was attended by a number of artists, civil society activists, students, etc. It had overwhelmingly positive feedback.

MIKHAIL KARIKIS-Xeno

Խմբագրակազմ — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 19:00:37 +0000

“Mikhail Karikis” Performance – 10th September, 2010
The artist participated in the 7th Gyumri Biennale with a performance. The 7 minute performance was an extract from his current work, “Xenon” opera. The performance was not mentioned in the Biennale program or booklets because it was planned to be an unexpected and shocking event. The artist decided to make it during his speech at the opening ceremony.

The artist noted after the performance: “When I spoke with people in English (my second language), many did not understand me; when I performed in the artistic language, the response was immense.”

The performance was very successful. Many guests were very interested in Mikhail’s work and followed us to Yerevan to participate in Mikhail’s presentation on 12th September.

Sound workshop and performance – 12th September, 2010
The presentation/workshop at The CLUB
During his presentation, the artist talked about his recent art works, including his current collaborative project entitled XENON: an explosive opera which involves over 20 other international artists and explores the questions of human rights, territory, belonging, memory, independence and impossibility through different encounters with strangers.
Mikhail Karikis is a Greek-born and London-based artist. He has studied music, art and architecture. Karikis has developed an art practice that is equally embraced by art galleries and concert halls. His collaborators range from international visual artists to choirs, choreographers and designers. Karikis works cross-disciplinarily in performance arts, visual arts and music, focusing particularly on encounters with strangers, often employing the voice as a tool to explore ideas and politics of empowerment and difference. Coined by critics a ‘sound alchemist’ (Le Monde) and noted for his ‘sumptuous experimentalism’ (WIRE), Karikis’s first music-release on a Björk album was followed by his critically acclaimed album Orphica (Sub Rosa, 2007) and his award-nominated project Morphica (2009). Mikhail’s works have been shown at Tate Britain (London), Nederlands Dans Theater (Amsterdam), Musée Cantonal des Beaux-Arts (Lausanne), Coreana Museum (Seoul) and elsewhere.

Andre Gorz-Part 1

Խմբագրակազմ — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:00:42 +0000

The documentary ”Andre Gorz” (28 min) by the Belgian director Marian Handverkeri was translated into Armenian in 2009 by Utopiana within the framework of its project “Labour, the Artist as a Worker, the Artist’s Role in the Society”.

Where does the modern capitalist perception of the term ‘labour’ ‘come from? How was labour perceived in the Middle Ages? How did we get to the modern capitalist understanding of labour? Due to which factors do we identify an individual with labour? Is it possible to overcome capitalism today and how?

The French philosopher and journalist Andre Gorz presents his non-traditional opinions about these significant questions in an interview with director Marian Hanverkeri.

Andre Gorz -Part 2

Խմբագրակազմ — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:00:09 +0000

The French philosopher and journalist Andre Gorz presents his non-traditional opinions about these significant questions in an interview with director Marian Hanverkeri.