YEREVAN, JUNE 20, NOYAN TAPAN. Within the framework of the Golden Apricot (Voske Tsiran) international film festival, renowned Italian film directors Paolo and Vittorio Taviani brothers have been awarded S. Parajanov prize for their great services in the world cinema. Festival Chairman Haroutiun Khachatrian, giving the prize to P. Taviani, expressed gratitude to the film directors for presenting the Armenian Genocide in their film. It should be mentioned that the Taviani brothers have also received RA President's prize. Expressing satisfaction for being awarded S. Parajanov prize, P. Taviani said: "S. Parajanov was one of the exclusive directors, whose art gave something new to the sphere of cinematography. Among European artists I have never met a director, who had as much strength and imagination as Parajanov. The Armenian director's novelties are considered as victories and achievements of cinematography." The Italian film director said that the idea of shooting a film about the Armenian Genocide emerged after had he read Antonia Arslan's book Lark Farm. "During our childhood we saw Fascism, many difficulties, disasters, which also to some extent had an impact on our decision to shoot a film," he said. In director's words, the life of an Armenian woman with the name Melania who worked as a housemaid in their house was also a basis for creating the film. She had told some episodes from her life mentioning the crimes committed by the Turkish authorities. "When we were young, we were almost unaware of the Armenian Genocide, as not only we, but also the Italian society knew nothing about that. Now it is the opposite, they more often touch upon that subject, and many articles and books are published in Italy on the subject of the Genocide," P. Taviani said.

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