4–7 December 2025 | ICA London
Tickets: https://ica.art/films/armenian-film-festival-london-2025
Following the success of its inaugural edition in 2024, the Armenian Film Festival London proudly returns to the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA). Its second edition presents an expanded four-day programme, offering a compelling insight into Armenia’s vast cinematic landscape.
“After our successful debut, the stakes even higher this year with a fantastic programme. It features staples of Armenian and Diasporan culture, such as Charles Aznavour and daring British Armenian creatives — visual artists, dancers, musicians, and filmmakers. No sophomore slump for us, as we are waiting for the magical moment of the lights going down before our films.”
— Kira Adibekov and Tatevik Ayvazyan, Co-founders of Armenian Film Society London
Showcasing an exceptional selection of films from both the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian diaspora, the festival presents a wide spectrum of work, including feature and artists’ films, documentaries, shorts, and restored classics. Screenings will be accompanied by Q&As, film introductions, lectures, drinks receptions, and DJ sets.
The Festival will open with the UK premiere of the highly anticipated biopic and César Awards nominee Monsieur Aznavour, tracing the beginnings and rise of the inimitable French-Armenian crooner.
Another UK premiere, My Armenian Phantoms, a personal journey into the history of Armenian cinema and Armenia’s official Academy Awards submission, will be presented by its filmmaker, Tamara Stepanyan.
Armenia-born, LA-raised Eric Nazarian will also be in London for the UK premiere of his new feature Die Like a Man, a testosterone-fuelled drama of street violence and revenge.
This year introduces a new section, FROM SHADOWS TO LIGHT, featuring two extraordinary restored classics. Atom Egoyan’s Cannes Grand Prix winner The Sweet Hereafter (1997) will have its UK premiere in a new 4K restoration. The audiences will also have the rare opportunity to experience Parajanov’s cross-arts short masterpiece Hakob Hovnatanyan (1967), accompanied by an illustrated lecture by the director of the Sergei Parajanov Museum in Yerevan.
The festival’s BRITISH ARMENIAN FOCUS, showcasing home-grown talent, returns with four award-winning shorts exploring identity, migration, resilience, and homecoming — alongside the London premiere of Richard Melkonian’s long-awaited debut sci-fi feature UNIVERSE25, which will close the festival.
Contacts
Email: london@armenianfilmsociety.com
Tel / WhatsApp: +44 7909 966266
Instagram / Facebook: @armenianfilmsocietylondon
Co-founders
Kira Adibekov is an award-winning curator, producer and Chevening alumnus with MA in Film and Screen Cultures from the University of Roehampton. CICAE jury member at Berlinale. Launched GES-2 mixed-arts centre by V-A-C and RPBW. Curated and produced numerous film seasons, live events and cross-disciplinary shows, including This Is Not (a) Cinema at Whitechapel Gallery.
Tatevik Ayvazyan is a writer and producer at Rebel Republic Films and the former director of the Armenian Institute, with extensive experience in organising events, festivals, and screenings. She has produced the award-winning poetry film Taniel, recently released feature documentary Married to the Music and is currently developing several projects. Tatevik is the co-editor of the Special Armenian Issue of Wasafiri magazine.
Acknowledgements
Programme supported by Film Hub London, managed by Film London. Proud to be a partner of the BFI Film Audience Network, funded by the National Lottery. www.filmlondon.org.uk/film-hub-london
Armenian Film Society London would like to thank Ego Film Arts for the opportunity to organise the UK premiere of the 4K restoration of The Sweet Hereafter.
Armenian Film Society London is grateful to the Sergei Parajanov Museum, Richard Anooshian, Benlian Trust, Yesai and Maria Mazmanian Foundation, Stephan Avetoom and each of those who contributed via crowdfunder for their support in making this festival a reality.
