Vartan Oskanian has been Honorary President of the Golden Apricot Film Festival since the festival’s inception. This year, Mr. Oskanian presented the special ‘Master’ prize to the renowned American director Rob Nilsson at the Moscow Cinema on July 14.

“When the organizers of the festival invited me to take on this duty years ago, I accepted it with pleasure, because I believe that film is the best medium for dialogue and mutual understanding among societies,” Mr. Oskanian said in presenting the award.

He spoke about Rob Nilsson’s work as a shining example of the unique character of film. During the course of a rich career, which included the notable independent film Northern Lights, Rob Nilsson has helped individuals understand themselves and societies understand each other.

Rob Nilsson thanked the organizers and said that, although he has received many prizes, this one from Armenia will hold a special place in his heart. “It is an honor for me to receive an award from a country where the streets are named after poets and authors, where even the currency bears pictures of writers and painters,” he said. 

On the following evening, the Civilitas Foundation hosted the organizers and participants of the festival. Some 100 guests, including directors, screenwriters and actors from Japan, Canada, Iran, Turkey, Austria, the Netherlands, France as well as enjoyed beautiful rooftop views of the center of Yerevan.