YEREVAN (Novosti-Armenia), June 3–The Armenian documentary film “From Ararat to Zion” won the award for the Best European Documentary Film at Swansea Bay Film Festival, which took place in the UK on May 12, said screenwriter and producer of the film, Father Mesrop Aramian.

The documentary film “From Ararat to Zion” is about the role and contribution of Armenian people in the history of mankind, the mission of Christianity and the spiritual presence of Armenians in the heritage of the Holy Land since the 4th century A.D. The original film was shot in English, with voice-over read by Hollywood actor Aidan Quinn. The soundtrack was performed by a well-known musician of contemporary world cinema, Irish-Australian Lisa Gerrard.

“Participating in the first International Festival has brought an essential result — the film won the award for Best European Documentary Film at Swansea Bay Film Festival, which took place in Wales and in scope is one of the largest festivals in the United Kingdom,” said Aramian.

He added that he’s more than just glad about the film which won high praise and the blessing first from the Armenian people.

According to the film’s director, Edgar Baghdasaryan, the film will take part in many festivals, and due to this the creative team has to separate.

In particular, Aramian will take part in the Moscow International Film Festival, which will be held from June 17 to 26, and Baghdasaryan will fly to Colorado.

The filmmakers noted the unprecedented success of the picture. “Art is not subject to crisis. It’s subject to crisis of ideas. Nowadays our cinema shows too much of a provincial … And I’m extremely pleased that I managed to break the the only stereotype of perceiving jokes from the screen,” Baghdasaryan said.

Translated from Russian by Yerevan Report.