The Melody of Armenia Film Screening

A screening of a restored 100-year-old film featuring rare footage of the Burning of Smyrna and First Republic history, presented by the Armenian Cultural Association of Rhode Island.

On Saturday, September 12th, the Armenian Cultural Association of Rhode Island (ACAA-RI) and the Providence Hamazkayin will be hosting a screening of The Melody of Armenia.

U. George Aghjayan, Director of the ARF Archives, will lead the restoration efforts of the film and will be present to discuss how the film came to be, along with a Q&A session following the screening.

About the Film:

The Melody of Armenia is a recently restored 100-year-old film, a remarkable piece of Armenian history brought back to life. Originally filmed in the 1930s and thought lost, this six-reel silent film was rediscovered in the ARF Archives in Watertown and painstakingly restored.

The film contains incredibly rare footage including:

The Burning of Smyrna in 1922
Armenian community life in France in the 1920s
Images of Armenian schools
Homenetmen scouts in the 1930s
Prominent figures of the First Republic (Avedis Aharonian, Alexander Khatisian, General Andranik, and more)

The restored film is accompanied by a newly composed Armenian soundtrack featuring duduk, clarinet, violin, cello, and piano. The score was composed by Mher Mnatsakanyan, a world-class educator and performer.

Event Details:

Admission: $20 (all proceeds support ACAA archiving efforts)
Light refreshments provided