FILM FESTIVAL SET TO OPEN ON TUESDAY.

Byline: Naush Boghossian Staff Writer

GLENDALE - Less than a decade after it was launched to promote only Armenian filmmakers, the Arpa International Film Festival has evolved into a prestigious showcase for filmmakers from around the world.

The six-day film festival, celebrating its seventh year, starts Tuesday and will feature 60 films by artists from 19 countries including Botswana, the Czech Republic, Russia, Mexico, Pakistan and Iran, all with one central theme: human struggles.

``Every year, we get more countries in our festival and people calling from all around the globe to submit their films,'' said festival committee member Alex Kalognomos.

``While we still have a core of Armenian filmmakers submitting films from the diaspora, every year it's more representative of the world at large.''

The nonprofit Arpa Foundation for Film, Music and Art, or AFFMA, was founded in Los Angeles - home to the largest population of Armenians outside Armenia - with the purpose of supporting filmmakers who explore subjects of social and cultural importance including diaspora, exile and multiculturalism.

``It's about people who have turned great misfortune into stories of human resilience. That's what this film festival is about,'' Kalognomos said.

``It's about global empathy and the love of humanity, especially at a time when we are at war, and that we can do it if only through the love of cinema.''

The festival - named for the Armenian word for a life-giving water source - draws about 2,500 people a year to its screenings and parties.

Next Sunday's awards banquet, to be held at the Sheraton Universal Hotel, will honor producers Robert Papazian and James Hirsch.

This year's films tell stories including a Japanese-American baseball pitcher's plight in a U.S. internment camp in World War II in ``Day of Independence''; modernism clashing with tradition for a teacher in post-revolutionary Iran in ``The Fifth Reaction''; and a young woman's humanity being cruelly rejected as she is placed on the auction block in pre-Civil War America in ``Bid'em In.''

Stories that revolve around life in America include ``Compton Cowboy,'' about a young African-American boy living in Compton who grew up dreaming about becoming a country music singer, and ``Poster Boy,'' about a senator's son coming out to his father about being gay during his campaign.

The festival, which was once restricted to Armenian filmmakers, began accepting submissions from non-Armenians within two years of the organization's inception.

``In the beginning, AFFMA as a small organization catered to young, aspiring filmmakers and other artists,'' said screenwriter Paul Peterson, who serves on the group's board of directors. ``Over the years, with its success becoming greater each year, AFFMA has opened up to artists of all caliber, from neophyte to veteran filmmaker.''

What helped propel the festival to a more prestigious level was getting ArcLight Cinemas on board, a coup for the foundation.

Even though the organization had shown films at local studios, ArcLight allowed its movies to be seen by the general public.

``ArcLight made Arpa visible to the public at large, and it wasn't by invitation only, and in that sense, ArcLight has been fantastic,'' Peterson said.

Though relatively small compared with the Hollywood Film Festival and the AFI Film Festival - also hosted by the theater - Arpa has always been well-received and well-attended by the public, said Tracy Hawkins, director of strategic alliances for ArcLight Cinemas.

``I think they have done a really good job choosing films to be in the festival that can cross over to people other than Armenians,'' Hawkins said. Arpa is one of about 10 festivals they hold each year. ``Through all their films, they have a way of touching all cultures.''

As the organization gets more involved in the industry, its leaders say, it will only grow in its role as an international festival.

``I think there are no limits to how big and how prestigious it could become. Am I saying it will ever be as big as the Cannes Film Festival? No. But that's not its purpose,'' Peterson said.

``For what started out as a small community festival, it has now blossomed into a legitimate international festival, which in time will only get bigger and better.''

Naush Boghossian, [phone]

naush.boghossian(at)dailynews.com

IF YOU GO

The 2004 Arpa International Film Festival will be held Tuesday through Sunday at ArcLight Cinemas, 6360 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. Visit www.arclightcinemas.com or call [phone].

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2004 ARPA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

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IF YOU GO (see text)