The new drama “Spitak” which centers on the catastrophic earthquake that shook Armenia on 7 December 1988 is the country’s official submission for the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 91st Academy Awards.
A total of 87 films have joined the 2018 Foreign Language Film Oscar race, its official website said.
Nominations for the 91st Academy Awards will be announced on January 22, 2019, with the 91st Oscars slated for February 24.
Directed by Russian filmmaker Alexander Kott, the feature film is based on real events and includes stories from eyewitness accounts. The film is dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the devastating quake which claimed several thousand lives. The first part of the drama has been shot in the Crimea, while the second part in Armenia.
World-famous Armenian-American singer-songwriter Serj Tankian composed the score for the film, which won best director for Kott at this year’s Moscow International Film Festival.
The drama’s screenwriter is Marina Sochinskaya, cameraman – Pyotr Dukhovskoy, composer – Karen Margaryan, producers – Elena Glikman and Theresa Varzhapetyan.
A joint production of Armenia and Russia, the film tells the story of Gor, who left Armenia in search of a better life but now returns back after the earthquake in order to find his home and family. But it is too late. Everything is destroyed by the disaster, and he has to re-learn to love what he destroyed himself.
