President receives “Architects of Denial” film producers

Today, President Serzh Sargsyan received “Architects of Denial” documentary film crew members Dean Cain and Montel Williams and their family members who are in Armenia in connection with the Yerevan premiere of the film.

Presenting his impressions of the film screened at the Moscow Cinema House for the Armenian audience, the President of Armenia expressed his conviction that the film is of paramount importance in terms of achieving international recognition and condemnation of genocides, including the Armenian Genocide.

Serzh Sargsyan said he was very much impressed by the film, which has won broad recognition both in the United States and other countries. Based on rich documentary material, it once again re-establishes and reaffirms the truth that negation and denial can lead to new atrocities and that recognition and condemnation are perhaps the most important means to prevent the crimes against humanity.

“I think the film is important, since despite the fact that the problem has been talked about too much in the scientific circles, nevertheless there is a lack of documentary films on the subject, and the “Architects of Denial” comes to fill the gap. The parallels between today’s realities and those of 100 years ago are very important. It was exciting for me to think that you wanted to say that denial, no matter how it happens, has many common features. In other words, the perpetrators of a crime know in advance that they should deny it afterwards, confident that denial will work just as it did before. Of course, noteworthy is the parallel with the Armenian Genocide and the events that are taking place in Nagorno-Karabakh,” President Sargsyan said and thanked the producers and all those who have contributed to the film.

For valuable contribution to the cause of international recognition of the Armenian Genocide, prevention of genocides and crimes against humanity, President Serzh Sargsyan conferred Armenia’s high State award – the Order of Honor – upon producer, playwright Montel Brian Williams and actor, producer Dean George Cain.

Dean Cain and Montel Williams thanked President Sargsyan for attending the Yerevan premiere of their film, noting that it was a great honor for them and their family members to be hosted at the Presidential Palace.

The producers expressed the hope that the film might help change the perceptions of the issue not only in the United States but also around the world. They stressed that any documentary filmmaker needs to watch it together with other people and hear the opinion of those watching the film at that moment.

Noting that they are aware that President Serzh Sargsyan has been the participant of the developments in Nagorno-Karabakh, the producers expressed the hope the President could bear testimony to what had been pictured in the film. They underscored that viewers’ feedback is the best appreciation of their film.