July 12, 2005 marked the opening of the 2nd annual Golden Apricot International Film Festival in Yerevan, Armenia. There are submissions from over thirty countries, including India, China, Iran, France, and the United States.

Both documentary and feature films are included in the program, with special competitions and distinguished jury panels for each. Atom Egoyan, the Oscar nominated and Golden Apricot winning director of Ararat, Simon Field, head director of the London production company Illuminations Films, and Jos Stelling, a prolific and critically acclaimed director, are among the jurors for the feature films. Ruben Gevorkyants, an author of about 60 documentaries, and Gary Conklin, an Armenian-American author of ten documentaries and other renowned individuals will judge the documentaries.

The theme for this year’s week long festival is “Crossroads of Culture and Civilization.” Yesterday’s opening ceremony at the Moscow Cinema included remarks from Armenia’s Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian and Armenian director Atom Egoyan. Many local and international celebrities including Arsine Khanjian, Nikita Mikhallov, and Abbas Kiarostami were present. The festival culminates with an awards ceremony on July 17, 2005.