WebApricot Pan-Armenian Film Festival () is the first pan-Armenian online film festival founded in 2011 by Golden Apricot International Film Festival (IFF) and Webtv.am Internet Channel. Armenian filmmakers from Armenia and abroad can take part in the festival.
WebApricot was established in 2011 as a collaboration between the Golden Apricot International Film Festival (IFF) and Webtv.am Internet Channel. The inaugural festival took place from November 25 to December 25, 2011. To determine the winners, online voting was conducted on the Webtv.am website as well as on the popular social network, Facebook.
The competition welcomed films of any genre, with a maximum duration of 20 minutes, and there were no restrictions on the technical methods employed in their creation. Two prizes were up for grabs: the Grand Prize valued at $1,000 and an Incentive Prize valued at $500.
The film ñ÷öáö áÃÂà("Autumn Sun") directed by emerged as the recipient of the Grand Prize. Additionally, the film "Crossroads of Fate" (ÃÂáÿþøò óáïáÿáãÃÂÃÂ¥ÃÂë ðáöãÃÂþáöè) directed by Arsen Hayrapetyan was awarded the Incentive Prize. Notably, several films received honorable mentions for their remarkable contributions, including "A Light Touch" (ùÃ¥éàðúøÃÂô) directed by Nare Mkrtchyan, "Nakhshoy School" (ÃÂáÃÂ÷øõë äúÃÂøÃÂè) directed by Gohar Khachatryan, "Another Frunzik" (÷ö øÃÂÃÂë÷ ÃÂÃÂøÃÂöæëïè) directed by Hovhannes Papikyan, "Help Them Now" (ÃÂãöëàöÃÂáöàðëôá) directed by ArtNerses, and "Bye-Bye" directed by Areg Mkrtchyan, Hrayr Lazyan, and Ashot Harutyunyan.
The 2nd edition of the Pan-Armenian online film festival, "WebApricot," took place from November 1 to 30, 2012.
Vardan Danielyan's documentary film, "Strawberry Fields" (÷ýÃÂëæöÃ¥àÃÂýïÃ¥þáæë äá÷ÿÃÂ¥ÃÂëÃÂ), emerged as the winner of the main prize, as determined by the esteemed jury. The film was commended for its artistic reinterpretation of reality, skillfully adhering to the principles of classical documentary filmmaking.
The second prize was awarded to Ashot Hovsepyan's documentary film, "Beard" (ÃÂøÃÂøÃÂÃÂ), which shed light on the life of a man facing challenging social circumstances. The film was lauded for its portrayal of resilience and the exploration of the human spirit.
The third prize was shared between Andranik Harutyunyan's feature film, "Zakat" (öáïáÿ), and Samvel Seyranyan's documentary, "Armenian Elderly" (ÃÂáõ ÿáÃÂÃÂ¥ÃÂè). Both films received recognition for their outstanding contributions to their respective genres.
Additionally, Arshak Zakaryan's film, "Woman" (ÿëöè), garnered the "Sympathy" incentive award and a special diploma for receiving the highest number of views.
The third installment of the online film festival took place from December 10, 2013, to February 23, 2014. This edition of the festival introduced a longer film length of up to 30 minutes.
Nikolay Hovhannisyan's "Shadow" (ÃÂÿþÃÂ¥ÃÂ) claimed the first prize. Vruyr Simonyan's "Giving" (ÃÂþëÃÂøÃÂô) secured the second prize. The third prize was awarded to Alen Manukyan's "Resurrection" (ÃÂáÃÂøÃÂéõøÃÂö). Nara Karapetyan's "Waiting" (ÃÂúáýøÃÂô) received the "Sympathy of the Audience" award.
The fourth edition of WebApricot commenced on November 18, 2014, and concluded on February 25, 2015.
The coveted main prize was bestowed upon the film "The Girl on the Moon" (ñòûëïè ìøÃÂýöë þÃÂá), directed by Aren Malakyan and Martin Hovhannisyan, with production by . Nahapet Sargsyan's film, "Echo" (÷ÃÂø), featuring Vahe Terteryan as the cinematographer, was awarded the first consolation prize. Andranik Harutyunyan's "Carpets" (óøÃÂãÃÂ¥ÃÂ), with Gabriel Mirakyan as the cinematographer, received the second honorable mention. Ani Hakobyan was awarded the "Sympathy" award for her film, "The Message" (ÃÂÃÂòÃÂ¥ÃÂñ).
The fifth WebApricot festival ran from February 3 to March 3, 2015. First prize went was shared by Lusine Papoyan's "Radiola" and Garik Avagyan's âÂÂI heard a sweet voiceâ¦âÂÂ. âÂÂI wanted a studioâ by Arpi Balyan received an incentive award and Arman Ayvazyan won the Audience award for âÂÂCrossroadâÂÂ.
For the 2017 festival, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Armenia allocated a special prize, which went to âÂÂThe Roadâ by Angela Frangyan. The main prize went to Naira Muradyan for the animated film "Ballet". The incentive awards went to "Diana's Gift" by Martin Matevosyan and "The Frame" by Ophelia Harutyunyan. The audience award went to âÂÂBeautiful Arusâ by Varuzhan Galtakyan.