2015 : 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide

More than one million Armenians perished between 1915 and 1916 in massacres or brutal deportation programs. It was one of the 20th century´s worst genocides, and one of its most controversial. It has been the subject of bitter legal battles, with Turkey still denying it ever happened. In an attempt to understand the origins, nature and stakes of the Armenian Genocide, Laurence Jourdan went back in time to look at massacres of Armenians in the decades leading up to the mass murder, and analyze the geopolitical situation both before and after the genocide. The film is peppered with reports and documents written by Western diplomats stationed in the Ottoman Empire when the events unfolded, giving us a remarkable look at the methods used and the deportation routes. These accounts are mixed with personal stories from genocide survivors who are still living, as well as archive footage from Ottoman authorities.

A film by Laurence Jourdan
Chief editor: Françoise Boulègue
Original score : Jean-Louis Valero
Cinematographer : Arnaud Mansir
Documentalist : Deborah Ford

A Compagnie des Phares et Balises & ARTE France coproduction
With the collaboration of RTBF
With the support of the Centre National du cinéma et de l’image animée, as well as PROCIREP – Société des Producteurs and ANGOA-AGICOA

National Broadcaster :

International Sales :
RTBF Belgium
Phoenix Germany
WDR Germany
DR TV Denmark
Public Sénat France
KTO France
KCET USA
Czeska TV Czech Republic
RSI Italian Swiss
ERT Greece
Belsat TV Poland
Red Media Group Russia
Planète Polska Poland
Planète + Canada
Manoto TV Iran
AB Toute l’Histoire France
TV UNAM Mexico
Spiegel TV Germany
RUV Island
Foxtel Australia
Histoire France
LCP France
Non-theatrical rights : Swedish Films Sweden

© ARTE France – Compagnie des Phares et Balises – France, 2005