Rep. Schiff to Host Screening of Armenian Genocide Documentary ‘Aghet’ on Capitol Hill

July 15, 2010 - PRLog -- WHAT:  The Capitol Hill premiere of the 90-minute documentary “AGHET: A GENOCIDE”, followed by a panel discussion on the impact of Turkey’s Genocide denial on international human rights policy.

WHEN:  Wednesday, July 21, 2010

6:00pm: Reception with Director Eric Friedler;
6:30pm: Opening Remarks by Congressional Host, Rep. Adam Schiff, followed by screening.  
8:00pm: Panel discussion featuring Friedler, former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans,
SCREAMERS Director Carla Garapedian, and Vartkes Yeghiayan, Director of the Center for Armenian Remembrance.  

WHERE: Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2325

WHO:   The screening is hosted by Congressional Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res. 252) lead sponsor, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA).  The panel discussion following the film is organized by the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) and will feature remarks by

ERIC FRIEDLER:  Award-winning filmmaker, and Commissioning Editor for Drama at NDR Television (Germany), director of the acclaimed film about BMW's Quandt family, "The Silence of the Quandts," and "Inside the Kremlin."

AMB. JOHN EVANS:  Former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, with over 35 years of meritorious service at the U.S. State Department, recalled from his posting for proper characterization of the Armenian Genocide as ‘genocide.’

CARLA GARAPEDIAN:  Director of the movie "Screamers," looking at genocides and genocide denial in the last century; award-winning documentary fillmmaker of "Lifting the Veil," "Children of the Secret State," "Dying for the President," "My Friend the Mercenary."

VARTKES YEGHIAYAN:  Lead attorney for the case against New York Life Insurance company, which returned unpaid claims to victims of the Armenian Genocide; author of numerous books including "The Armenian Genocide and the Trials of the Young Turks," "British Foreign Office Dossiers on Turkish War Criminals," and "The Case of Soghomon Tehlirian."

INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY AVAILABLE WITH FRIEDLER AND GARAPEDIAN ON JULY 21ST AND JULY 22ND.  Please contact Elizabeth Chouldjian – elizabeth@anca.org / (703) 585-8254 to schedule.

AGHET: A GENOCIDE is a powerful documentary which debuted on German public television (NDR) in April, 2010, depicting the annihilation of 1.5 million Armenians from 1915-1923 and the effects of the Turkish Government's international campaign of genocide denial on international policy. Award-winning director Eric Friedler assembles an impeccable cast, who bring to life the original texts of German and U.S. diplomatic dispatches and eyewitness accounts, interspersed with never-before-seen footage of the Genocide and its political aftermath.  The film, applauded by Nobel Prize laureate Gunter Grass, has sparked debate throughout Europe.  It is now being showcased around the world on television, and in major film festivals.

To RSVP for the July 21st screening and panel discussion, please contact Elizabeth Chouldjian at (202) 775-1918 or email: Elizabeth@anca.org.

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The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots organization. The ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.