Screamers (2006 film)

Screamers
Film poster
Directed byCarla Garapedian
Produced byPeter McAlevey
StarringSerj Tankian
Daron Malakian
Shavo Odadjian
John Dolmayan
CinematographyCharles Rose
Edited byWilliam Yarhaus
Music byJeff Atmajian
System of a Down
Distributed byMaya Releasing
Release date
  • December 8, 2006 (2006-12-08)
Running time
89 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguagesEnglish
Armenian

Screamers is a 2006 documentary film directed by Carla Garapedian, conceived by Peter McAlevey and Garapedian and produced by McAlevey.[1] The film explores why genocides have occurred in modern day history and features talks from Serj Tankian, lead vocalist of the American alternative metal band System of a Down, whose grandfather is an Armenian genocide survivor, as well as from human-rights activist, journalist, and professor, Samantha Power, as well as various other people involved with genocides in Rwanda and Darfur. Screamers also examines genocide denial in current-day Turkey, and the neutral trend that the United States generally holds towards genocide.[2]

Screamers is now shown in Armenian Youth organizations to explain and clarify the Armenian genocide, and raise awareness. Also, it is used to educate Armenians and others about the genocide.

Contributors

(in order of appearance)

  • Samantha Power, Professor, Harvard University, Pulitzer prize-winning author, A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide
  • Serj Tankian, Vocalist, System of a Down
  • John Dolmayan, Drummer, System of a Down
  • Daron Malakian, Guitarist, System of a Down
  • Shavo Odadjian, Bassist, System of a Down
  • Aram Hamparian, Armenian National Committee
  • Stepan Haytayan, Grandfather of Serj Tankian, 96-year-old survivor of Armenian genocide
  • Maritza Ohanesian, 100-year-old survivor of Armenian genocide
  • Guy Simonian, Community Activist
  • Michael Hagopian, Filmmaker, "Voices from the Lake", "Germany and the Secret Genocide", "The Forgotten Genocide"
  • Verjin Mempreian, 96-year old survivor of Armenian genocide
  • Greg Topalian, Freeman College, UK
  • Henry Morgenthau III, Grandson of Henry Morgenthau, Sr., U.S. Ambassador to the Ottoman empire
  • Lord Shannon, House of Lords
  • Lord Avebury, House of Lords
  • Baroness Cox, Deputy Speaker, House of Lords
  • Charles Tannock, MEP, Conservative, European Parliament
  • Tom Tsvann, Professor, Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies Amsterdam
  • Peter Galbraith, Former U.S. Senate Staff
  • Vartkes Yeghiayan, "The Case of Soghomon Tehlirian" Author
  • Sibel Edmonds, Former FBI translator
  • Taner Akçam, Turkish historian and dissident
  • Hrant Dink, Agos Newspaper, Istanbul. Assassinated by a Turkish nationalist shortly after the premiere of Screamers, in which he was interviewed about Turkish denial of the Armenian genocide.
  • Appo Jabarian, Editor, USA Armenian Life Speaking at UCLA conference
  • Ara Sarafian, Gomidas Institute
  • Adam Schiff, U.S. Congressman
  • Salih Booker, Africa Action

Response

Critical reaction

  • Screamers generally received good to average reviews from critics. Metacritic assign it a score of 55 / 100 based on a weighted average of more than 10 newspaper reviews.
  • Ken Hachikian, chairman of the Armenian National Committee of America, described the documentary as a "powerful contribution to the anti-genocide movement."[3]

Awards

  • In 2006, Screamers won the AFI Audience Award for Best Documentary.[4]

References

  1. ^ "StayThirstyMedia: 'Screamers'"
  2. ^ "Carla Garapedian, 4 Angry Men and Countless Screamers"
  3. ^ ANTI-GENOCIDE DOCUMENTARY ‘SCREAMERS’ ===PREMIERES AT AFI FILM FESTIVAL===
  4. ^ AFI FEST 2006 Announces Award Winners Archived 2007-01-05 at the Wayback Machine