Russian-Armenian producer to shoot film on 1988 earthquake

A Russian-Armenian producer is working on a film project devoted to the 1988 disastrous earthquake in Armenia, RIA Novosti reported.

Ruben Didishyan, who is the founder of Central Partnership, a Russian film distribution and production company, is reportedly going to allocate a big budget to the initiative.

The film, entitled The Story of One Earthquake, features the second largest city of Gyumri, the then Leninakan, which suffered considerable losses in the aftermath of the quake. The starring heroes are Robert Melkonyan, a 28-year-old Armenian, and Andrey Berezhnoy, a 50-year-old Russian man, who find themselves in the epicenter at the time of the quake and become the first to rush to help the survivors.

“It is our first joint project with Sarik and Ghevond Andreasyans. We are planning to start the shooting in Armenia in spring 2015. We have received support from Armenia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations and the Public Television,” said the ethnic Armenian producer, adding that they intend to invite also actors from different countries to play in the movie.

“We will select actors in France and other European cities, in countries of the former USSR, including Georgia and Ukraine. We are now negotiating with Vladimir Mashkov [a Russian actor] who will probably play one of the leading roles,” Didishyan said.

The film’s budget will make up 5 million US Dollars. Aznavour pour l’Arménie" (Aznavour for Armenia) , the fund established by great French-Armenian singer Charles Aznavour after the quake, is reportedly going to assist in the project.