First published in the July 30 print issue of the Glendale News-Press.
The Glendale Laemmle Theatre is hosting a one-night screening of “Motherland,” an investigative documentary on the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War written, directed and produced by journalist Vic Gerami.
The screening will begin at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4. The Laemmle Theatre is located at 207 N. Maryland Ave.
The film focuses on Azerbaijan’s “unprovoked genocidal attack,” with the political backing of Turkey, on the Artsakh in 2020, which killed more than 5,000 Armenians living in and defending the breakaway republic, according to Gerami. It also looks at the two nations’ “ongoing campaign of hate, violence and disinformation against the indigenous Armenians.”
Gerami said he traveled to Armenia twice last year to interview elected officials, eyewitnesses, veterans, refugees and journalists for the film. The documentary also includes interviews with seven members of Congress, including U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, Sen. Bob Menendez and U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone.
“Motherland” premiered on Thursday, July 7, at the Raleigh Studios Hollywood to a standing ovation. U.S. Rep. Judy Chu gave a speech before the curtain and presented commendations to the filmmakers. Other elected officials were Assemblyman Adrin Nazarian, Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang, Glendale Mayor Ardy Kassakhian and Los Angeles Councilman Mitch O’Farrell.
Kassakhian and state Sen. Anthony Portantino are co-sponsoring the one-night-only special, with Kassakhian moderating a Q&A session following the screening.
