Screening of Anahid Abad’s ‘Yeva’ in Istanbul halted after Azerbaijani threats

By Asbarez | Wednesday, 21 March 2018

Iranian-Armenian filmmaker Anahid Abad
Iranian-Armenian filmmaker Anahid Abad

ISTANBUL—The Istanbul Governor’s office on Saturday ordered the cancellation of the screening of Iranian-Armenian filmmaker Anahid Abad’s film, “Yeva,”which was scheduled as part of the Intenational Filmmor Festival, over alleged security concerns and pressure from the Azerbaijani Consulate

Melek Özman from Filmmor told the Bianet news agency that the Consulate of Azerbaijan first sent an official letter to the French Institute, the venue of the festival, and asked them to cancel the screening. “Later, they applied to the Azerbaijan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, they even applied to the Minister,’ said Özman. Eventually they received a written order from Turkish authorities banning the screening.

According to Azerbaijan government, the movie creates the perception that Karabakh is an Armenian territory.

Funded by Iranian cinema producer Taqi Aliqolizadeh, the film is a joint 2017 production of Armenia and Iran.

The film is about a young woman named Yeva who escapes her influential in-laws with her daughter Nareh, after her husband’s tragic death and takes refuge in a village in Artsakh.

The 94-minute “Yeva” is set in Armenia and boasts an all-Armenian cast that includes Narina Grigorian, Shant Hovhanisian, Sergay Tovmasian, Vrej Kasouny, Marjan Avadisyan, Roz Avadisova, Digran Davtian, Nanor Patrosian, Avalian Adamian and Marat Davtian.

“Yeva” was Armenia’s official submission for consideration in the 2018 Academy Awards in the “Foreign Language Film” category.

comments

Advertisement