A seminar, “Directors Across Borders” and joint film program viewing to be held within the framework of Golden Apricot International Film Festival
The aim of “Directors Across Borders” program is to promote dialog in the region through cinematography

Within the framework of Golden Apricot International Film Festival, a two-day seminar will be held (July 12-13, 2006) in which the most active members of the established network “Directors Across Borders” will participate from Georgia, Iran, Turkey, Russia, Kazakhstan, and European countries, such as Holland and France. World famous film directors, producers, critics, and representatives of foundations will present their views on regional collaboration and joint projects; they will participate in the founding meeting of the international organization, “Directors Across Borders” and working sessions. The organizers hope that the new seminar will result in the inauguration of the international organization, the establishment of an organizing committee and film projects implementation “across borders” in the future.  
A special “Directors Across Borders” film program will be demonstrated within the framework of Golden Apricot-2006 which consists of 20 films from 20 countries.
The “Directors Across Borders” project that originated at the 2nd Golden Apricot Festival, nowadays is an indispensable part of the Festival. One of the main purposes of the project is to reveal common problems for the region, particularly, for the transition countries of South Caucasus, to promote dialog in the region though cinematography since cinematography is one of those unique means of expression that is intended to transform human relations and does not recognize political, ideological, racial or religious borders.
Summing up the results and achievements of the project for the past year, we would like to note that a network of regional cinematographers has been established that encompasses over 50 participants from 12 countries; as a result of the general discussion between network participants, the provisions of the initiative have been formulated. Both the project and the provisions were presented on December 2-4, 2005 at the 4th session of the European Culture Parliament held in Lisbon. The subject of the session was “How European Culture can Promote European Cooperation?” The chairman of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barozo participated in the session. The project was approved by the European Culture Parliament. Taking into account the project’s significance for the region, the European Culture Parliament decided to undertake sponsorship of the project which was reflected in the Lisbon Declaration. Thus, as it was mentioned before, in RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian’s report, through “Directors Across Borders” project the Golden Apricot Film Festival becomes part of Pan-European cultural policy.

Press Service of the Golden Apricot Festival