LOS ANGELES, CA - Organizers of Arpa Foundation for Film, Music & Art (AFFMA) chose an appropriate feature for their opening night premiere Sept. 8 here at historic Raleigh Studios. "After the End of the World" is a stunning co-production from Greece, Bulgaria and Germany whose hero, an Israeli Byzantine scholar, returns to Bulgaria for a conference and encounters Araxi Vartanian, his childhood sweetheart. Flashbacks gradually reveal a peaceful time when Armenians, Greeks, Jews, Turks, Bulgarians and Gypsies in the village of Plovdiv lived together with tolerance -- all soon to be undone during the Stalinist era of the late 1940s. Intense humanity and humorous details illuminate their cultural interaction and ultimately the temporal nature of life.

The reception afterwards in soundstage 14 brought together film professionals old and young, striving to have a say in Hollywood. Chairwoman Sylvia Minassian said in her welcome, "The third annual film festival for the first time showcases not only 12 Armenian films, but two dozen from the US, LTK, Japan, Spain, Italy, Austria, and Germany -- non-blockbuster-type films becoming accepted into the larger film community." AFFMA was listed in the all-important Special Film Fest Guide issue of 'Variety" in September and on the Internet.

Screenings lasted 12 hours all day Sept. 9 and five hours on Sept. 10, with Gala Awards Banquet set for that evening at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Short films: "Beautiful People" (USA, 26 mins.) explores a typist's fantasy of becoming an important enough writer to mingle with chic clubgoers. "The Birth of Babylon" (USA, 18 mins.) a co-winner for Best Short will become a full-length feature next year -- sophisticated comedy set in 1922 Hollywood recreates the silent film stars connected to the unsolved murder of a Paramount film director and their frantic efforts to hide booze, drugs and odd sex habits. Ara Soudjian was storyboard artist and did the camera oscura work.

In "Cargo" (Austria, 15 mins.), mysterious Asian characters chase a suspicious bag through elevated trains and a gridlocked cityscape of muted colors, suspenseful technical facility. "Carriage of Dreams" (USA, 5 mins.), written, directed and produced by Christian Garbis Adanalian, visualizes a woman's desperate thoughts en route through a city. "Concerto in F" (USA, 15 mins.), nominee for Best Short, uses dynamic camera angles and surreal images to trace a rebellious murderer and his ultimate ensnarement; writer-director-co-producer is Tony Petrossian with producers Meher Kourouyan and Vem Yenovkian, many Armenian cast members. "Cottontales" (USA, 17 mins.) is an animated sculpture by Jeremy Shawn about a squirrel, a rabbit, and a moose at home and two hunters they outsmart; it uses low-key humor and slapstick style music.

The New Vision Award was given to Raymond E. Spiess Jr. for "Dreamer" (USA, 11 mins.), a powerful story beginning with the 1629 meeting of Indians and whites, and adding a shaman's fearful visions of the future -- ten minutes encapsulating three centuries of inhumanity. In eagle regalia he dances and prays so wars and despoilment of the earth will not happen. "The Essential Syndrome" (Italy, 60 mins.) follows an afflicted man whose nervous system is in overdrive due to electronic allergies, unusual sound effects.

"'Funky Town" (USA, 24 mins.) won Best Screenplay Award, a fun-blown musical detective story noir-style with clever songs, hundreds of gifted singers and dancers. "Grandfather's Birthday" (USA, 17 mins.) shared Best Short Award, a beautifully filmed heartbreaker about old age starring Robert Prosky. In "Gone" (Spain, 8 mins.), obsessed woman meets the ideal concept of love itself. "Havoc" (USA, 15 mins.) presents a strong tableau of six desperate characters caught in a botched robbery in industrial LA; Roy Haratian is vivid as unfeeling liquor store owner.

In "Jack & Jill" (USA, 17 mins.) winsome New York women with agendas sidetrack a fumbling male, with sharp humor. In "Jimmy Ritz" (USA, 16 mins.) Best Screenplay nominee, a mobster's attorney cheats death -- concise, well done in black and white. In "The Last Supper" (USA, 23 mins.), Best Screenplay nominee, Death Row inmate's life events are recalled in memorable meals, rich visuals, Ani De Franco music, and homage to MFK Fisher's "Gourmets' Alphabet." "Local Time + 2-1/2" (Germany, 13 mins.) is an exhilarating, soundless fragment contrasting a black-clad dancing woman with white train terminal.

In "Madani" (USA, 10 mins.), Ara Jason Soudjian, with charm and humor films his siblings and mother who find a magical ring; his animated logo for Treaty of Sevres Productions is a scout marching with tricolor. In "Malaise" (USA, 20 mins.), a couple's discomfort evolves into murderous visions during New Year's Eve 2000. Credits include Ara J. Soudjian for camera and storyboards. "Merry Christmas" by Paul Marashlian won Best Short for Cheever's story about a forlorn but resourceful elevator operator and residents whose gifts lead to his downfall; it was screened by American Film Institute, and Marashlian appears in the December American Cinematographer.

In "Mokusei X" (Japan, 11 mins.), symbolism dominates in a daring examination of reality between two men fighting outdoors. "Ruppy," Best Short nominee, is a startling, well-acted portrait of a crippled derelict redeemed by an unselfish act - sharing his hell arouses viewer compassion;

writer-director is Vem Yenovkian, producers are Tony Petrossian and Meher Kourouyan. "Paradox" (USA, 7 mins.) is an unscheduled work in progress by Shahan Minassian on mysterious, well-to-do Armenian schemers in LA.

"Single Moments" (USA, 15 mins.), Best Short nominee written, directed and produced with original music by Garin Armenian, is a sleek recreation of a couple's illicit sexual encounter. "Somewhere in the Night" (USA, 10 mins.), an unscheduled film by writer-director Meher Kourouyan, takes an unflinching look at a homeless drug-addicted woman sexually coerced by dealers; elegant but bleak and harrowing.

"The Terrible Cosmic Death" (USA, 6 mins.), Best Short nominee, is satirical animation with live action and voiceover about spies and perky junior heroes in space. In "Trinity" (USA, 16 mins.), one of three young spirits on a mission proves that spiritual love exists in the universe after all, with very good original music.

DOCUMENTARY FILMS
"A New Tajik Canvas" (LTK, 27 mins.), nominated for Best Documentary, was written, directed and originally produced by Ani King-Underwood for the UNHCR and records the rehabilitation of the refugee and displaced people of Tajikistan following civil war in mid-1990s. Artists, colorful folk dancers, dedicated musicians and diverse cultural performers help reconnect people to their roots, obliterated during Soviet times. Creator of a dozen documentaries, Ani (Manoukian) King-Underwood is currently filming in Britain and may co-produce a Flemish art series for Belgian TV. It was paired with "Eyes Wide Open: The Orphans of Armenia" (USA, 24 mins.) which was nominated for Best Documentary; it was written, directed and co-produced by Shant Petrossian for his 1999 MA thesis project; its producers were Hacob and Mina Shirvanian. This straightforward account of life in three Armenian orphanages -- Zadik, Gavan and Nork -- took heartrending testimony by children and staff to convey the plight of families in Armenia who have no other safety net - 75% of these children have either one or both parents living who cannot find the means to support them. They are obliged to love each other, grow up in a group, but nevertheless yearn for home. Viewers wept as one teen said, "One mother is worth more than 100 educators... not to pity me but pity the Armenian people to what they were and what they have become." "My American Grandmother" (USA, 45 mins.) won Best Documentary Award for a conflicted filmmaker from two cultures, Aysha Ghazoul chronicles how her American showgirl grandmother met and married an Iraqi-Armenian pilot, raised daughter Jamila Topalian in Iraq, was widowed, and remarried in Texas -- an honest appraisal assisted by interviews, home movies, glamour photos, and Arabic music. It was paired with a lengthy but fascinating study "Two Unknown Photographers" (USA, 150 mins.) nominated for Best Documentary, is the story of how Asian-American filmmaker Kon Pet Moon rescued unclaimed photographs of the 1960s and '70s, tracked down their locales and friends who knew the two forgotten photographers.

A FEATURE FILMS
"Blue Tower" (Japan, 146 mins.), a Best Feature and Best Director nominee, is a slowly unraveling trauma as withdrawn young man surrenders to love, details of daily life set in Vermeer-like interiors -- a deliberate and poised first work. "Hindsight" (USA, 98 mins.), a Best Feature and Best Director nominee, was a welcome relief after so many gritty, raw, urban dramas. This mature work portrays family life as heroic, moral and romantic, written, directed, co-produced and starring Shant Bejanian. Solid acting, realistic action sequences, uplifting narrative and unadorned, empathetic characters kept viewers involved until the tragic ending for the beautiful, loving couple.

"Jacks" (USA, 100 mins.), Best Director nominee and Best Feature winner, offers a professionally made look at four churlish college boys, their ventures with poker, gambling, drugs, women, and redemption. "N-4" (USA, 87 mins.), winner for Best Director and a Best Feature nominee, is Sevag Vrej's warm and suspenseful portrayal of a father and son struggling to connect. In "Ordinary Madness" (USA, 75 mins.), a Best Feature nominee, offbeat characters challenge a traveler's beliefs as a criminal chase enfolds him. In "Out of the Blue" (USA, 96 mins.), a hapless layabout, after several missteps, accidentally succeeds at sales. "Pedestrian" (USA, 97 mins.), winner of Best Feature and Best Screenplay, Best Director nominee; Jason Kartalian's debut is a witty sendup of film studio scams and a fantasy flame, co-producer Krikor Satamian is a charismatic villain with cameos by well-known actors. Altogether a splendid assortment of films!

At the sold-out gala, prizewinners and guests from Texas, Milwaukee, Seattle, and Washington, DC enjoyed an 18-piece Cuban band, three duduk virtuosos, vocalist Capri Mugrdechian-Compton, cocktails and lavish dinner. See www.affrna.org