Animated Film on Genocide Nominated for an Oscar

“Aurora’s Sunrise,” a documentary animated drama, has been nominated by Armenia for the Oscar in the category of Best International Film. The North American premiere of the film will take place in Hollywood on October 23, in the presence of its director, Inna Sahakyan, as part of the Animation is Film festival.

The global premiere of “Aurora’s Sunrise” occurred at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France, the largest animation film festival in the world. The film was awarded the Silver Apricot at the Golden Apricot International Film Festival held in Yerevan.

The storyline revolves around the true story of an Armenian woman, Aurora Mardiganian, who miraculously escapes death during the Armenian Genocide in 1915. Aurora survives against all odds as all her relatives are killed and her village is destroyed. She wanders through the Syrian desert, sold into slavery, and after enduring incredible trials for four years, finds herself in New York, where her story gains significant attention. Aurora becomes a media sensation in America and begins organizing aid for children who survived the genocide.