On January 20, 2026, the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of the Republic of Armenia submitted a draft government decision concerning the transfer of management powers over the state-owned shares of the Hamo Beknazaryan Armenfilm Studio CJSC to the same ministry. The public consultation period will last until February 6, 2026.
The draft proposes to assign the management of 100% of the studio’s state-owned shares to the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport. Within one month after the decision enters into force, the transfer of shares and their registration with a specialized registry organization must be carried out. The related expenses will be covered by the ministry’s own funds.
According to the justification, since 2015 Armenfilm has been subordinated to the State Property Management Committee, yet for almost a decade the studio has not been functioning and has remained in a state of continuous decline. Under these circumstances, the government considers it necessary to change the management model and transfer the authority to the body responsible for cultural and educational policy.
The document stresses that in today’s world film production is viewed not only as a cultural activity but also as a strategic sector of the economy. Examples are given of the United Kingdom, Canada, South Korea and New Zealand, where the film industry contributes to export growth, technological development, stronger education systems and the creation of thousands of jobs. This experience demonstrates the industry’s multiplier effect, influencing IT, tourism, construction, logistics and marketing.
For Armenia, the project emphasizes the need to establish a comprehensive film industry system that will foster creative potential, modernize infrastructure and increase the country’s presence in international markets. In this context, a relaunch program for Hayfilm is envisaged as the main tool for implementing the concept of a “film production city.” The complex is expected to include film production and post-production services, professional education and facilities for preserving cinematic heritage.
The authors note that adoption of the decision will not lead to a significant decrease in state budget revenues or an increase in expenditures. At the same time, the transfer of authority to the ministry is expected to ensure more efficient use of state-owned resources and the creation of a modern film industry infrastructure.
The draft is also linked to existing strategic documents, including the Law on Cinematography, the Government Programme for 2021–2026 and the Armenia Transformation Strategy 2050. According to the justification, the initiative should contribute to reforming sector governance mechanisms, improving transparency and generating additional resources for the production and distribution of Armenian films and for the preservation of national film heritage.
It should also be noted that the idea of relaunching Armenfilm is directly linked to programmes already предусмотренные in the 2026 state budget. In particular, the budget includes a measure entitled “Creation of a Film City,” for which the government has allocated 360 million drams. In December, KinoPress sent an official inquiry to the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Armenia requesting clarification of the programme’s content and implementation mechanisms. The ministry replied that it would need 30 days to prepare an answer. However, as of today, no response has been provided.
Overall, the proposed decision aims to redefine the role of Hayfilm not only as a historical institution but also as a future platform for the film industry. The initiative, open for public discussion until February 6, may become a key step toward establishing a new model of film sector governance in Armenia.
