SYDNEY: A sold out Zenith Theatre held a minute's silence for recently passed away Sydney-based Armenian Genocide survivor Kerop Melkonian following the screening of The River Ran Red.
Directed by award-winning filmmaker J. Michael Hagopian, The River Ran Red detailed the epic search for survivors of the Armenian Genocide along the Euphrates River.
The film featured material from Hagopian's archives of 400 testimonies of survivors and eyewitnesses, including some who settled in Australia.
Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia) Community Relations Officer Stephen Abolakian said: "It was a very emotional movie experience for community members and the strong message coming out was that The River Ran Red must be distributed far and wide, and we plan to do that."
On the silent tribute for Melkonian, Abolakian added: "It was a fitting occasion to remember one of our local survivors and we wish he, along with all those who perished during and since the Armenian Genocide, rest in peace."
