Epress.am News from Armenia
“Azerbaijani films are being screened in Armenia, if I’m not mistaken, for the first time, more so, for a rather narrow, even professional circle. I am convinced that mainly experts, people who have long engaged in joint projects of a peace-building or other nature will be present. This, it can be said, is a working meeting within a professional framework, in which also those who wish can attend,” said Armenian filmmaker Ara Shirinyan, while speaking to Epress.am on the festival of Azerbaijani films to be screened in Yerevan from Nov. 2–4.
He noted that the public outcry on this issue is either false or artificial (feigned) and does not equal to the event (that is, the reaction is overrated).
“The enemy country’s films also can be viewed once every 20 years. Some psychologists even insist that to overcome an enemy, you must know him well. I don’t see a threat here. More dangerous is the intolerance in our country toward dissent, more so, that is hidden beneath a veil of patriotism,” he said.
According to Shirinyan, if those complaining were really concerned about the influence films shown in Armenia will have on society, then clearly the first target of complaints should have been the Armenian films shown on TV every day.