The Armenian film was one of 34 films shown at the festival, out of a total of 210 submissions. The director Armen Khachatryan, who also produced the film, was able to attend the festival thanks to a grant from the Armenian Communities Department.

Steel Gates is an intimate portrait of Armenian contemporary artist Apresik Aloyan. Apresik lives in a small town. “I cherish a hope I’m going to end up with the eternal life in the paradise”, he says. He is fond of repeating the idea everything will be okay in heaven at least, though many of us are going to crash against the steel gates of hell. The festival’s international audience was charmed by his love of animals, many of which appeared alongside him in the film as well as in his artwork.

The prize was one of only two awarded. The other prize went to director Pedro Sobral’s film Enxoval in the Portuguese film category.

Click here to read more (in Portuguese)

Click here to watch the film

The Armenian Communities Department supports artists from Armenia and the diaspora as part of its mission to create a viable future for the Armenian people in which its culture and language are preserved and valued.