Golden Apricot brings iconic films from different eras back to big  screen

ArmInfo.  The 23rd Yerevan International Film Festival "Golden Apricot" will present several iconic films from world and Armenian cinema in special screenings and  newly restored versions.

According to the festival's press service, one of the main premieres  will be the restored version of Gor Kirakosyan's comedy "Big Story in  a Small Town." Twenty years after its release, the film, which became  one of the most successful comedies of independent Armenia, will once  again be seen on the big screen.

"The film, which was virtually a fixture on television in its time  and became the most successful comedy of independent Armenia,  attempted to combine the traditions of Soviet Armenian humor in  cinema with the realities of Yerevan life in the early 2000s,  creating a good-natured story with vibrant characters and absurd  situations," the festival organizers note.

Another highlight of the program will be the anniversary screening of  Jean-Pierre Jeunet's film "Amelie," which turns 25 this year. It was  this film that helped an entire generation of viewers rediscover the  power of imagination and the ability to see miracles in everyday  life. "Exactly 25 years ago, we were reminded that, despite the  change of century, miracles still lurk in the details of everyday  life, helping the imagination triumph over loneliness. 'Amelie'  transformed the streets of Montmartre into a modern fairy tale: it  was through her eyes that the world acquired magical hues. And thanks  to its unique blend of visual ingenuity, subtle humor, and a touch of  melancholy, the film became a symbol of hope, joy, and the ability to  dream for millions of viewers worldwide," the organizers note.

The screening will be especially significant thanks to the  participation of French cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel, who created  the film's unique visual style. He will introduce the film to Golden  Apricot audiences.

The festival program also includes a screening of one of the most  celebrated works of Iranian cinema, Bahram Beyzai's "Bashu, a Little  Stranger Among His Own." As the festival organizers point out, this  film intertwines the theme of the search for one's own identity with  a story of compassion and coexistence.  "This is one of the greatest  triumphs of humanism and the greatest masterpieces of Iranian cinema.  Festival audiences will see a 4K restoration of the film, shot in  1989 on 35mm film. In the year of Beyzai's death, this version was  recognized by Venice Classics as one of the finest restored works in  the film's oeuvre," the statement reads.

Thus, the Golden Apricot Festival will not only introduce new films  to its audiences but also bring back to the big screen films that  have become significant cultural phenomena over the years.

The 23rd Yerevan International Film Festival "Golden Apricot" will be  held from July 12 to 19, 2026. As in previous years, audiences will  be treated to competition and non-competition programs featuring  films from around the world, as well as films screened at leading  international film festivals, including Cannes, Berlin, and others.

During the festival, world-renowned directors, actors, authors, and  film industry professionals will arrive in Armenia to present their  work to the Armenian public, creating a unique platform for dialogue,  the exchange of ideas, and cultural interaction.