While protocol talks have stalled, “normalization” between Armenia and Turkey, is being felt in film as filmmakers from the two countries prepare a second year of film exhibit – documentary, feature and animation -- in Yerevan.

On March 25-27, the Caucasus Center for Peace-Making Initiatives in Yerevan supported by the British Embassy to Armenia will hold ’23.5’ (the title of one of Hrant Dink’s articles) Turkish Film Festival. "1.500.000 + 1" Hrant Dink International Foundation and Armenian ‘Agos’ weekly in Turkey are among the supporters of the film festival.

Festival director Georgi Vanyan said that there is no political context related to the Armenian-Turkish relations in the basis of the festival. Vanyan told ArmeniaNow that the topic of Armenia has not been included in the agenda of Turkish filmmakers yet: “They prefer shooting films on social, human rights issues.”

There were 77 film applications from Turkey (Ankara, Istanbul, Adana, Diyarbakir, Izmir and other towns); a non-professional jury chose ten. (No such festival is held in Turkey. Vanyan says that last year they initiated such a program, however, they got only seven applications, six of them were cancelled later.) Three films will be shown out of the competitive program of the festival, the film director of one of them – ‘Grains’- is an Armenian who lives in Turkey.

The films will be shown in Yerevan State Chamber Theatre.