Armenian Film Festival Australia

07/09/2026

🎬 A special message from director Tamara Stepanyan ahead of her arrival in Sydney for the Australian screening of In the Land of Arto.

🏆 ARMENIA'S OFFICIAL ENTRY TO THE 99TH ACADEMY AWARDS®
Selected for consideration in the Best International Feature Film category.

Tamara is joining us as a special festival guest, and we can’t wait to welcome her to AFFA for a special screening followed by a live filmmaker Q&A.

Hear from Tamara herself - then experience In the Land of Arto on the big screen and stay for the conversation with the filmmaker behind it.

🎟 SYDNEY SCREENING & FILMMAKER Q&A
📅 Sunday 13 September
🕟 4:30pm
📍 Event Cinemas Top Ryde
🎤 Q&A with director Tamara Stepanyan

Tickets are available now - don’t miss the opportunity to see the film and meet the director in person.

Festival Dates
📍 Sydney | 11-27 Sep | Event Cinemas Top Ryde
📍 Adelaide | 10-11 Oct | Palace Nova Eastend
📍 Perth | 24-25 Oct | Event Cinemas Innaloo
📍 Melbourne | 30 Oct-1 Nov | Village Cinemas Century City

10 Years of Cinema, Culture & Conversation.

07/09/2026

🎥 Docutainment Spotlight: MUMMA BEAR CUSHMAN

Australian production - World Premiere by filmmaker Alan Sarkissian.

Get ready for an unforgettable story of courage, compassion, and resilience.

MUMMA BEAR CUSHMAN, tells the extraordinary true story of Emma Darling Cushman, an American nurse who dedicated her life to helping vulnerable children and families during one of history's most turbulent periods. Powerful, moving, and deeply inspiring, this documentary shines a light on a remarkable woman whose legacy continues to resonate today.

🎤 Special Screening + Q&A with filmmaker Alan Sarkissian

Join us for a fascinating post-screening conversation with the filmmaker and discover the personal journey that brought this incredible story to the screen.

Mumma Bear Cushman combines archival footage and AI to bring this unknown story to life.

📅 Sydney Screening
📍 Saturday 12 September | 2:00pm | Event Cinemas Top Ryde

🎟️ Book your tickets now:
https://armenianfilmfestival.com.au/mumma-bear-cushman/

📅 Special Screening & Filmmaker Q&A
Sydney: Saturday 16 August, 2:00pm at Event Cinemas Top Ryde

Festival Dates:
📍 Sydney | 11-27 Sep | Event Cinemas Top Ryde
📍 Adelaide | 10-11 Oct | Palace Nova Eastend
📍 Perth | 24-25 Oct | Event Cinemas Innaloo
📍 Melbourne | 30 Oct-1 Nov | Village Cinemas Century City

10 Years of Cinema, Culture & Conversation.

06/09/2026

🎬 In the Land of Arto | Filmmaker Q&A

💬 "A widow uncovers her husband's hidden wartime past."

🏆 ARMENIA'S OFFICIAL ENTRY TO THE 99TH ACADEMY AWARDS®
Selected for consideration in the Best International Feature Film category.

Premiering at the prestigious Locarno Film Festival, In the Land of Arto is a moving journey through memory, love, loss, and the enduring impact of war.

✨ Special Event: Director Tamara Stepanyan in Sydney
Join acclaimed filmmaker Tamara Stepanyan for an exclusive post-screening Q&A and hear firsthand about the making of Armenia's official Oscar submission.

🎥 French, English & Armenian with English subtitles

🎟️ Book your tickets:
https://armenianfilmfestival.com.au/in-the-land-of-arto/

📍 Sydney Screening & Filmmaker Q&A
Sunday 13 September 2026 | 4:30pm | Event Cinemas Top Ryde

Festival Dates
📍 Sydney | 11-27 Sep | Event Cinemas Top Ryde
📍 Adelaide | 10-11 Oct | Palace Nova Eastend
📍 Perth | 24-25 Oct | Event Cinemas Innaloo
📍 Melbourne | 30 Oct-1 Nov | Village Cinemas Century City

Celebrating 10 Years of Cinema, Culture & Conversation.

06/09/2026

🎬 5 DAYS TO GO SYDNEY!

In just 5 days, we'll be kicking off the 10th edition of the Armenian Film Festival!

🎟️ Have you got your tickets yet? Sessions are filling fast, so don't miss your chance to experience this year's incredible line-up of films and events.

Secure your tickets now: www.armenianfilmfestival.com.au

05/09/2026

🎬 In the Land of Arto | Filmmaker Q&A

🏆 ARMENIA'S OFFICIAL ENTRY TO THE 99TH ACADEMY AWARDS®
Selected for consideration in the Best International Feature Film category!

A powerful French-Armenian drama from acclaimed filmmaker Tamara Stepanyan.

In the Land of Arto is the debut fiction feature from acclaimed filmmaker Tamara Stepanyan. Starring Camille Cottin (Call My Agent!) and Zar Amir (Holy Spider), this moving drama follows Céline as she travels to Armenia to settle her late husband's affairs, only to uncover secrets about his wartime past and the lasting impact of conflict.

✨ Special Event
🎤 Q&A with filmmaker Tamara Stepanyan

🎟️ Book your tickets:
https://armenianfilmfestival.com.au/in-the-land-of-arto/

📍 Sydney Screening & Filmmaker Q&A
Sunday 13 September 2026 | 4:30pm | Event Cinemas Top Ryde

Festival Dates
📍 Sydney | 11-27 Sep | Event Cinemas Top Ryde
📍 Adelaide | 10-11 Oct | Palace Nova Eastend
📍 Perth | 24-25 Oct | Event Cinemas Innaloo
📍 Melbourne | 30 Oct-1 Nov | Village Cinemas Century City

10 Years of Cinema, Culture & Conversation.

05/09/2026

🎬 Relive a Golden Chapter of Armenian Football with ARARAT 73

An inspiring historical sports drama that celebrates determination, teamwork, and one of the greatest triumphs in Armenian sporting history.

Directed by Mher Mkrtchyan, Ararat 73 follows legendary Spartak player Nikita Simonyan as he takes the reins of Yerevan's Ararat football club and sets out to achieve the impossible: a historic ""golden double"" by winning both the USSR Championship and the USSR Cup. Faced with fierce rivals and enormous pressure, he must earn the trust of his team and lead them to glory.

A moving sports drama based on the remarkable true story of FC Ararat Yerevan's unforgettable 1973 season, widely regarded as the golden age of Armenian football.

Russian with English subtitles.

🎟️ Secure your tickets today:
https://armenianfilmfestival.com.au/ararat-73/

📅 Sydney Screenings
📍 Saturday 12 September | 8:30pm | Event Cinemas Top Ryde
📍 Sunday 20 September | 1:00pm | Event Cinemas Top Ryde

Festival Dates
📍 Sydney | 11-27 Sep | Event Cinemas Top Ryde
📍 Adelaide | 10-11 Oct | Palace Nova Eastend
📍 Perth | 24-25 Oct | Event Cinemas Innaloo
📍 Melbourne | 30 Oct-1 Nov | Village Cinemas Century City

10 Years of Cinema, Culture & Conversation.

04/09/2026

The first film ever screened at AFFA is still as powerful today! Don’t miss ARAM, ARAM! FLIX & MIX after the screening in the bar for Under 35s.

🎬✨ Best of AFFA: Special Screening: Aram, Aram

First screened at AFFA's inaugural festival in 2016, Aram, Aram returns as part of our 10th anniversary celebrations.

An emotionally powerful coming-of-age drama, the film follows 12-year-old Aram as he navigates family, identity and belonging after moving to America.

Directed by Christopher Chambers. Armenian with English subtitles. Watch the Tralier - https://youtu.be/ktqXgtULePM

🍻✨ Flix & Mix | Under 35s

Join us for this special screening and our Flix & Mix event for film lovers under 35. Your ticket includes a complimentary drink (beer, wine or soft drink), lucky door prizes, and the opportunity to connect with fellow attendees.

Sydney Screening:
🎥 Friday 25 September, 7:00pm
📍 Event Cinemas Top Ryde
Screening is open to the public. Flix & Mix is for Under 35s.
🎟️ Book tickets:
https://armenianfilmfestival.com.au/aram-aram/

Festival Dates
📍 Sydney | 11-27 Sep | Event Cinemas Top Ryde
📍 Adelaide | 10-11 Oct | Palace Nova Eastend
📍 Perth | 24-25 Oct | Event Cinemas Innaloo
📍 Melbourne | 30 Oct-1 Nov | Village Cinemas Century City

10 Years of Cinema, Culture & Conversation.

04/09/2026

🎬✨ Best of AFFA: Special Screening: Aram, Aram

First screened at AFFA's inaugural festival in 2016, Aram, Aram returns as part of our 10th anniversary celebrations.

An emotionally powerful coming-of-age drama, the film follows 12-year-old Aram as he navigates family, identity and belonging after moving to America.

Directed by Christopher Chambers. Armenian with English subtitles. Watch the Tralier - https://youtu.be/ktqXgtULePM

🍻✨ Flix & Mix | Under 35s

Join us for this special screening and our Flix & Mix event for film lovers under 35. Your ticket includes a complimentary drink (beer, wine or soft drink), lucky door prizes, and the opportunity to connect with fellow attendees.

Sydney Screening:
🎥 Friday 25 September, 7:00pm
📍 Event Cinemas Top Ryde
Screening is open to the public. Flix & Mix is for Under 35s.
🎟️ Book tickets:
https://armenianfilmfestival.com.au/aram-aram/

Festival Dates
📍 Sydney | 11-27 Sep | Event Cinemas Top Ryde
📍 Adelaide | 10-11 Oct | Palace Nova Eastend
📍 Perth | 24-25 Oct | Event Cinemas Innaloo
📍 Melbourne | 30 Oct-1 Nov | Village Cinemas Century City

10 Years of Cinema, Culture & Conversation.

04/09/2026

🎥 Australian production - World Premiere: MUMMA BEAR CUSHMAN

Get ready for an unforgettable story of courage, compassion, and resilience.

MUMMA BEAR CUSHMAN, directed by Australian filmmaker Alan Sarkissian, tells the extraordinary true story of Emma Darling Cushman, an American nurse who served in the Ottoman Empire as war and genocide tore families apart around her. Negotiating with officials in their own language and risking deportation rather than leave her orphans behind, she was pulled into a role that history has only half-told. A source-backed docutainment that asks: how much can a soul carry, lose, and still remain whole?

🎤 Special Screening + Q&A with filmmaker Alan Sarkissian

Join us for a fascinating post-screening conversation with the filmmaker and discover the personal journey that brought this incredible story to the screen.

🎟️ Book your tickets now:
https://armenianfilmfestival.com.au/mumma-bear-cushman/

📅 Special Screening & Filmmaker Q&A
Sydney: Saturday 16 August, 2:00pm at Event Cinemas Top Ryde

Festival Dates:
📍 Sydney | 11-27 Sep | Event Cinemas Top Ryde
📍 Adelaide | 10-11 Oct | Palace Nova Eastend
📍 Perth | 24-25 Oct | Event Cinemas Innaloo
📍 Melbourne | 30 Oct-1 Nov | Village Cinemas Century City

10 Years of Cinema, Culture & Conversation.

03/09/2026

🎬 Ojakh, on the other side of the silence

Erhan Arik, a Turkish photographer, grew up in a house previously inhabited by Armenians. After he hears a voice in his dreams, he goes on a journey to understand the Armenian history of the land around him.

"A moving documentary into Armenia's forgotten past and shared history."

Directed by Diana Mkrtchyan. Armenian, Turkish, French with English subtitles.

🎟️ Book now:
https://armenianfilmfestival.com.au/ojakh-on-the-other-side-of-the-silence/

📅 Sydney Screening
📍 Saturday 19 September 2026 | 3:00pm | Event Cinemas Top Ryde

Festival Dates
📍 Sydney | 11-27 Sep | Event Cinemas Top Ryde
📍 Adelaide | 10-11 Oct | Palace Nova Eastend
📍 Perth | 24-25 Oct | Event Cinemas Innaloo
📍 Melbourne | 30 Oct-1 Nov | Village Cinemas Century City

10 Years of Cinema, Culture & Conversation.