AUA Lecturer Armine Abrahamyan Receives Armenian National Film Academy’s Anahit Award

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YEREVAN, Armenia — On April 16, director, writer, actress, producer, and American University of Armenia (AUA) adjunct lecturer Armine Abrahamyan (artistic name: Armine Anda) received the Armenian National Film Academy’s Anahit Award for “Best Animated Film.”

Abrahamyan’s short animation, The Song of Flying Leaves (2023), which was the recipient of “Best Short Film” at the 2023 Golden Apricot International Film Festival, appeared in over 50 international film festivals after having premiered at the end of March 2023 at the Kaboom Animation Festival in Amsterdam, including the Academy Award qualifying competition ANIMEST (Romania), In the Palace International Short Film Festival (Bulgaria), Bolton International Film Festival (U.K.), Chicago International Children’s Film Festival (US), and Reel 2 Real (Canada). The film also received 13 awards across continents: the Audience Awards at the Horizons Competition and Paris International Animation Film Festival (France), the Golden Flame Animation Award and Producers’ Award at the Lantern and Light International Children’s Film Festival (Australia), Honorary Mention in the Grand Prize Competition at the Ajayu International Animation Festival (Peru), and Special Mentions at the Mexico International Short Film Festival (Mexico) and Corto Lovere International Short Film Festival (Italy), among others.

The Song of Flying Leaves is co-written, directed, produced, and voice acted by Abrahamyan. The film is co-written by famous Ukrainian film director Roman Balayan. The score belongs to Miqayel Voskanyan and the art direction to Anna Hakopian, while the cast also includes Gagik Ghazareh. The film is a co-production between Armenia and Iran, co-produced by the Hoshkee film production company founded by Abrahamyan and Hoorakhsh Studios, with both founders of the latter, Ashkan Rahgozar and Arman Rahgozar, as co-producers. 

In April 2023, the film also received the “Best Short Animation, International Competition” award at the Beirut International Women Film Festival in Lebanon. 

The film has more official selections, to be announced soon. 

Abrahamyan 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 and graduate degree and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.