Buenos Aires Joins Other Organizations in Hosting "First Days of Cinema and Independent TV"

On March 17-19, 2011, the organization BRIDGE -- with the support of AGBU Buenos Aires, the National Institute of Audiovisual Arts (INCAA), the Government of the City of Buenos Aires, and Atorrante Films -- hosted a presentation and seminar entitled "First Days of Cinema and Independent TV." The three-day event was a presentation of pure audiovisual art that brought together a diverse crowd.

The first day, "Cinema + TV," began with a greeting from Eugenia Akopian to the attending public. Akopian is a member of both BRIDGE and AGBU, and she is a 2008 New York Summer Intern Program (NYSIP) alumna. She is also a scholarship recipient, as well as a graduate of AGBU's Marie Manoogian Institute. Akopian presented Gabriel Nesci to the audience, who is the director and scriptwriter of the miniseries All Those Against Juan. This series was broadcast in 2008 by America TV and then broadcast in its second season in 2010 by Telefe. It received the Martin Fierro award in two categories, which included best miniseries and best lead actor of a miniseries (Gastón Pauls). It also won the FUND TV award for best miniseries (fiction).

At the beginning of the lecture, Gabriel Nesci recounted his childhood and early interest in television and film. Using anecdotes and humorous stories, the young film director knew how to maintain the public's attention while he narrated his experience of the first and second season of his acclaimed miniseries. After Nesci's talk, an open discussion ensued, and the filmmaker enthusiastically answered each and every one of the questions. He also told all attendees about his new cinematographic production, All You Need is Love, a romantic comedy that covers the lives of four people. The film is due to start production in June and will be out for distribution next year. This first day ended with a special concert by Brenda Vaneskeheian and Tigran and Tomás Vardanyan, members of the band "Without Class."

Day two focused on the "Short Film Contest." After months of receiving films that were sent from several countries, the jury chose 10 finalists. Jury members included Roger Kupelian (Lord of the Rings, Alice in Wonderland, Flag of our Fathers), Martin Yernazian (Art Officially Favored, Through the Looking Glass, Amelia's 25th) and the actress Electra Avellan (Machete, Grindhouse, Proof of Death, Amelia's 25th). The short films of the finalists were screened, and awards were presented to the winners.

Ignacio Balassanian, president of AGBU's Young Professionals (YP) Buenos Aires, gave a special mention to the short On the Culture of Hawaiian Saturday, directed by Patricio Carragio. Third place was presented by Francisco Balassanian, president of AGBU Youth League, to Khen Shomron's Paper Games. Second place was given to the Spanish production of The Courtship of Mariana Seresesky, and first place was awarded to Because There Are Things That Are Never Forgotten, by Lucas Figueroa. The award was presented by Berdjuhí Emirian, benefactor and honorary member of AGBU. All productions can be seen on the BRIDGE fan page on Facebook.

"First Days of Cinema and Independent TV" came to a close on March 19 in the Jorge Luis Borges Auditorium of the National Library. The film Andres Doesn't Want to Take a Nap, by Daniel Bustamante and Aleandro Norm, was screened. Following the viewing, director Bustamante and actors Fabio Aste and Marcelo Melingo recounted their experiences making the film. Through questions from the public, the panel not only spoke of the technical components, such as the photography, art and overall production, but also of the social and historical matrix that was implicit in the theme of the film.

Notable AGBU attendees of the three-day event included Berdjuhí Emirian, benefactor and honorary member of AGBU, Rubén Kechichian, president of AGBU Buenos Aires, Hampartzoum Haladjian, vice president of AGBU Buenos Aires, Antonio Sarafian, secretary of AGBU Buenos Aires, and Elisa Yacoubian, member of the AGBU Board of Directors. The event was a success, thanks to AGBU and to all of the other organizations involved, as it was possible to bring in leading directors from both television and cinema and attract a large attendance from the public. All participants involved are confident that there will be another "First Days of Cinema and Independent TV" event in the near future.