Armenian film award winners named

Yerevan’s Aram Khachatryan big concert hall hosted Sunday the second annual film award ceremony, Hayak, which honored the best 15 Armenian filmmakers with prizes in different nominations.

Russian-Armenian director and screenwriter Karen Shahnazarov, who was among the invitees, said a special prize should handed to the ceremony’s stage director for organizing the event on a high level.

Harutyun Khachatryan was honored with the best director award for the documentary “Endless Return and Endless Escape”. Apologizing to the jury, however, the prominent director bestowed the prize upon the Maria Sahakyan, a young director whose film, “It isn’t Me”, was later awarded a prize in the Best Live Action nomination.

The best camera operator award went to Mkrtich Malkhasyan (It isn’t Me). His film, Garegin Nzhdeh, had also been nominated for award.

Tereza Varzhapetyan and Mikael Poghosyan received the best script writer award for the film, “If Only Everyone”.

Armen Ghazaryan was honored with the Best Painter award for “Wandering”

Vahagn Hayrapetyan was declared the Best Composer (“If Only Everyone”).

The winner in the Best Actress nomination was Mariam Davtyan (“Voice of Silence”).

Zhenya Mkrtumyan was declared a winner in the Best Secondary Role Actor category (“If Only Everyone”).

Yevgeny Tsivagov was honored as the Best Actor for the film Garegin Nzhdheh. Four actors had been nominated for this award.

The best secondary role actor prize went to Khoren Levonyan (Garegin Nzhdeh).

Tamara Stepanyan’s “February 19” was honored with the Best Short-length Movie award.

Harutyun Khachatryan’s “Endless Return and Endless Escape” was further awarded the Best Documentary prize.

Naira Muradyan’s Ballet was declared the Best Animation Film.

The Best Debut award went to Marine Zakaryan (Pheasant Hunter).

Shahnazarov’s White Tiger was honored as the Best Foreign Film.

Special prizes were further awarded to the merited actors Armen Jigarkhanyan and Nerses Hovhannisyan. The Cinema Development Foundation granted its special prize to Arman Yeritsyan for the film Donkeymentary. Vigen Chaldranyan was honored with the Ministry of Culture’s special award for his “Voice of Silence”