Maria Saakyan
Maria Saakyan (1980, Yerevan, Armenia) was born and grew up in Armenia. In 1992, she moved to Russia with her parents and graduated from Moscow’s VGIK film school in 2003. During her studies she shot several short animated and experimental films. From 2003 to 2006 Maria worked as a creative producer for the Andreevsky Flag Production Company, and in 2009—alongside Victoria Lupik—she founded Anniko Films, where she developed her second feature I’m Going To Change My Name, an independent international co-production which was awarded Best Pitch from B2B, Belgrade and DAB at Golden Apricot International Film Festival, Yerevan. In 2010, Saakyan was selected for Berlinale Talent Campus. Her films have screen world-wide at IFFR, International Film Festival Telluride (USA); Premiers Planes (France), Film Festival Oberhausen (Germany), Karlovy Vary Film Festival, Sofia International Film Festival, among others. Her directorial debut The Lighthouse has been awarded Special mention at Premiera Film Festival (Moscow), Best Debut at ̈Golden Apricot (Armenia), Grand-Prix at Split International Film Festival and First Prize at Moscow Human Rights Festival.
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Join Peggy Ahwesh and Laura Guy for an informal discussion
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Join Ilona Jurkonytė, curator of the programme Ultramarine: The Sea as Political Space and Artistic Director of the Kaunas International Film Festival, Lithuania, for an informal discussion.
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Join Hardeep Pandhal and Amanprit Sandhu for an informal discussion
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Join Charlotte Prodger and Laura Guy for an informal discussion.
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The Young Filmmakers’ Competition is back for its 9th year! BFMAF encourages and supports budding young filmmakers in the region through separate competition streams: The Young Filmmakers’ Award (14 years and under) and The Chris Anderson Award (15-19 years old). The Chris Anderson Award is supported by Chrissie Anderson and Paul W.S. Anderson, director of Resident Evil and Alien vs. Predator.
Space to play, explore and to unleash your imagination! Explore is a brand new BFMAF kids and family-friendly space at 59 Marygate with rolling animation programmes (11am-6pm) and creative activities offered (11am–4pm). Artists Katie Chappell and Chloe Smith will be leading drop-in creative activities for children and their families, inspired by the film animations.
