Golden Apricot 2025 Opens in Yerevan with Global Energy and Armenian Pride

The 22nd Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival kicked off in Armenia’s capital on July 13. Running through July 20, the week-long festival welcomes a lineup of films, industry leaders, and creative voices from around the globe — all while putting Armenian cinema on a bigger, brighter stage. The Armenian Report’s Ani Khachatryan was there to cover all the glitz and glam.

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From red carpet arrivals to masterclasses, this year’s edition feels especially alive. Films that have already screened at major festivals like Cannes and Berlin are now lighting up Yerevan’s screens, while the streets are filled with actors, producers, and audiences drawn together by a shared love for cinema.

“This feels better than the Oscars,” said Armenian actor Vache Tovmasyan during an interview with The Armenian Report on opening day. “It’s our home. After all the ride… it was a crazy ride though… it feels amazing to be back.”

Tovmasyan arrived alongside his longtime creative partner, Karren Karagulian, to present their latest film together — a dream years in the making.

“It’s a great festival — very cozy. I’m very proud of this festival,” Karagulian said. “Vache and I probably talked about this day during the film’s premiere. We were wishing the day would come when we would go to the Golden Apricot Festival together to present this film. I always believed it would happen.”

Golden Apricot has matured into a cultural powerhouse. Its commitment to spotlighting Transcaucasian and regional cinema is drawing international attention — not just from filmmakers, but from cultural leaders and diplomats.

Veteran Italian producer Marco Müller sees the festival as a vital platform:“Golden Apricot has become the best platform to understand what is happening in the whole region of Transcaucasia,” he said. “The programming this year proves that. Even just the fact that Kira Kovalenko is on the jury reflects its dedication to diverse voices.”

The French Ambassador to Armenia, Olivier Decottignies, spoke about the festival’s ability to connect global cultures through a universal medium.“We have a number of films in competition, including French films. I’m eager to discover the creativity of Armenian, international, and French participants — and to enjoy the common language that we have: cinema.”

The festival also marks an important milestone in Armenia’s cultural development. With international guests arriving and Armenian filmmakers networking on the ground, Golden Apricot is fast becoming a launchpad for new talent and cross-border collaborations.

“This kind of festival is a platform to connect with international partners, talk about new projects, and make the Armenian film industry more visible,” said Armenia’s Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, Zhanna Andreasyan. “Today we can watch films that were in Cannes and Berlin. These kinds of opportunities are very important to integrate with the world.”

Actress Diana Dayan echoed that sentiment from an industry perspective:“The film industry is developing in Armenia, and every year Golden Apricot becomes more exciting. You can meet real professionals, network, collaborate, and enjoy the magic of the film industry.”

Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan praised the festival’s consistency and rising prestige:“From year to year, Golden Apricot delivers more quality. It has become one of the most important events of the year for Yerevan.”

For filmmaker Hrachya Keshishyan, the connection is even deeper:“This festival is the pride and soul of Armenia. It has grown, and we are growing with it.”

Golden Apricot 2024 is not only ambitious in scale — it’s full of personal touches and cinematic surprises. According to the head of the festival’s international department, Varvara Hovhannisyan, this year’s edition was designed to feel intimate and extraordinary.

“Everything is special this year. We’re opening at the Cinema House for a cozier atmosphere, with new carpets, exclusive films, and a surprise for the opening,” Hovhannisyan revealed. “We’re showcasing Jafar Panahi’s latest film, honoring Amir Naderi with the Parajanov’s Thaler, and welcoming Abderrahmane Sissako — the first African filmmaker to attend Golden Apricot.”

TV host and author Hamlet Arakelyan was particularly eager about the guests and upcoming conversations.“I really hope Panahi will be here,” he said. “I’m excited for the dialogue around Anora with Karren, Vache, and also Sean Baker. I’d love to sit down with them.”

Golden Apricot has always been about more than screenings. It’s about memory, identity, resistance, and dreams — all woven together through the power of storytelling. This year, perhaps more than ever, it is a reflection of Armenia’s evolving voice on the international stage.

From local actors returning home in triumph to foreign diplomats discovering new talent, the message is clear: Yerevan is not just hosting a film festival. It’s hosting the future of cinema in the region.

And as Vache Tovmasyan said with emotion in his voice, “It feels incredible.”

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