ASPU hosted Oscar-winning Irish director
Armenian State Pedagogical University (ASPU) hosted Oscar-winning Irish screenwriter and directorTerence "Terry" George.
He arrived in Armenia within the framework of a conference organized by the State Commission coordinating the events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
ASPU Rector RoubenMirzakhanyan said it was a great honour for them to host Terence George at the University.
Speaking about his origin and the Rwanda Genocide, Irish filmmaker Terence George, who won an Oscar in 2012in the live action short category, confessed that his visit to Armenia was of profound significance. He noted that the strength of the two peoples, cultural values and victories are determined by the fact that both nations survived genocides.
With regard to modern cinematographic art and the functions of media, the prominent screenwriter said they help disclose different phenomena and, frequently,historical realities in the world. Terence George urged young people to present their history by using modern technologies, specifically the Internet and art.
Asked why Hollywood has not yet made a film about the Armenian Genocide, the screenwriter said, "Although numerous films with political messages have been shot in Hollywood, few are interested in art and politics. Hollywood is a place where one makes money: political themes and films about genocide are not considered commercial there."
Terence George was born and raised in Belfast, Northern Ireland. In 1985, George made his debut as playwright of The Tunnel, a stage drama based on real events. In 1993, he made his debut as screenwriter and assistant director with In the Name of the Father, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, and directed and co-written by Jim Sheridan.
Much of his film work (e.g. The Boxer, Some Mother's Son, and In the Name of the Father) involves "The Troubles" in Northern Ireland.
Terence George was nominated for two Oscars: Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium (1993; In the Name of the Father), and Best Writing, Original Screenplay (2004; Hotel Rwanda). On 26 February 2012, he received an Oscar in the live action short film category for The Shore.
At the end of the meeting, ASPU Rector RoubenMirzakhanyan awarded the guest with a jubilee medal symbolizing the 90th anniversary of the University. Terence George walked around the University building and visited its newly opened museum.
The Irish screenwriter visited the University with HarutSassounian, a well-known public figure, philanthropist, publicist, publisher and editor of The California Courier. The latter briefed the University's professorial staff and students on the key issues of his speech at the international conference entitled "Armenian Genocide: Challenges of the Eve of the Centenary" and his observations on the issue.
