YEREVAN, JULY 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The Golden Apricot (Voske Tsiran) 5th International Film Festival started late in the evening of July 13 in the Moscow Cinema of Yerevan, with the showing of the film "Paradise Birds" by Ukrainian-based Armenian director Roman Balayan. The guests and participants of Golden Apricot walked along a red carpet to enter the cinema. RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsian, RA Minister of Culture Hasmik Poghosian, artists from abroad and Armenia were also present at the festival's solemn opening. A video material presenting the birth and past way of the Armenian festival was presented to the guests and participants before the film showing. RA President Serzh Sargsyan's congratulatory speech on the occasion of film festival's opening, in particular, mentioned that Golden Apricot's international cooperation gives a new quality and resonance to the festival. Film festival Director, film maker Haroutiun Khachatrian, greeting the guests, said that they have achieved success thanks to state support and sponsors' assistance. According to him, it is the 5th time many friends support them, and their number grows year by year. H. Khachatrian awarded Mantashov Knight special order to Yalf Yirikian, the Director of the VivaCell company, festival's permanent sponsor, for "constantly supporting them." H. Khachatrian posthumously awarded Parajanov Taler special prize to renowned Italian director Michelangelo Antonioni: the prize was given to his widow, Enrica Antonioni. Parajanov Taler was also given to renowned Iranian director Dariush Mehrjui, the Chairman of Fiction Films Jury, for his contribution to world cinematography.

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