Film Produced by Armine Anda on a Festival Journey

2 min read

The American University of Armenia (AUA) is happy to share that a short animation film When I Am Sad, produced and co-written by AUA adjunct lecturer at the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS), Armine Abrahamyan (artistic name Armine Anda), gets into three Academy-qualified animation festivals, October 15-November 15, 2021: Anim’est Bucharest International Animation Festival (Romania); BIAF, Bucheon International Animation Festival (South Korea); and CINANIMA, International Animation Film Festival of Espinho (Portugal).

When I Am Sad tells the story of the smile that travels through the world of sadness transformed by emotions and thoughts. The film is co-written and directed by Lilit Altunyan, co-written and produced by Armine Anda. The voice acting also is by Armine Anda. The music is created by Armenian composer Miqayel Voskanyan. The film is supported by the National Cinema Center of Armenia and the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia. 

The film was presented as a project at the ReAnimania 2018, international animation films and comics art festival of Yerevan, where it was announced as Animation du Monde’s winning project. In the following year, it received the Folimage Co-Production Award at MIFA, the International Market of Animation Pitches in Annecy International Animation Festival. Subsequently, the film was produced in 2021 by Hoshkee Film (an Armenian company founded by Armine Anda) and co-produced by FOLIMAGE, France.

Armine Anda is an Armenian actress, writer, director, and producer. She has a feature fiction film (Joan and the Voices), directed by Mikayel Vatinyan, co-written, produced, title role by Armine Anda, that premiered at the Busan International Film Festival (South Korea) in 2011, then had the European Premiere at the Goteborg International Film Festival (Sweden) and the American Premiere at the Seattle International Film Festival in the U.S. The film was produced in partnership with Goteborg International Film Festival (Sweden). The short animation (BOJO) produced and co-written by her is an adaptation of her own story reflecting travels to many  festivals and recognized by three awards. Wind Blows, written, directed and with the lead role by Armine Anda, made in the Abbas Kiarostami Workshop, received an Audience Award at the ISFF, NY online festival in 2014. Armine Anda also has an award-winning fantasy novel The Inhabitants of Ankimure, published with her illustrations. 

Armine Anda teaches Acting Techniques and Creative Productions at AUA. 

Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.