Kissani Films, a French production and distribution company, is asserting ownership by claiming exclusive rights to approximately 250 Armenian films, citing an agreement allegedly signed in the 1990s, a move that could place a sweeping portion of Armenia’s cinematic legacy in foreign hands, reports the Armenian Film Society, citing The Cinema Foundation of Armenia.
So far, it is not clear exactly which films are in question. The Foundation’s statement does not list them, leaving the full scope of the dispute unknown. The Foundation says it will carry out a comprehensive review of the situation with relevant professional and governmental authorities, and that based on what it finds, it will take the necessary steps in line with Armenian law and the goal of protecting both the country’s film heritage and its national interest.
If upheld, the claim could carry major implications for Armenian cinema, potentially placing control over how a large share of the country’s films are shown, distributed, and licensed around the world in the hands of a single foreign company. For a film tradition that stretches back more than a century, from the Soviet-era Armenfilm studio to the international acclaim of director Sergei Parajanov, the consequences would reach far beyond any one list of titles.
The dispute is already having an effect. The Foundation has temporarily postponed a planned Armenian program in the Classics section of the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, one of the most prestigious animation showcases in the world, citing the importance of the matter and the need to study the legal questions around it carefully. The delay pulls Armenian cinema from a major international stage at a time when the country has been working hard to raise its profile abroad.
The Foundation, the state body that supports Armenian filmmaking and oversees the archiving and preservation of its films, called the country’s film heritage one of the most important parts of its national memory and cultural identity. It said protecting, promoting, and representing that heritage internationally are among its top priorities.
This is a developing story.
