On March 13, Armenia’s Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports held a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Armenian Film Foundation. According to the ministry, the session took place online and was chaired by Minister Zhanna Andreasyan, who also heads the board.
Board members attending the meeting included Sarah Nalbandyan, rector of the Yerevan State Institute of Theatre and Cinema, as well as film scholar, cultural expert, playwright, screenwriter, and candidate of art studies. Other participants joining online were film scholar, Honored Art Worker of the Republic of Armenia, professor, and Secretary of the Union of Cinematographers of Armenia Anna Yerznkyan, film scholar Ruzanna Yuzbashyan, and actor and director Ashot Adamyan.
The agenda included a number of issues related to the foundation’s work in 2025, including approval of its annual narrative report and several organizational matters. The foundation’s management also took part in the meeting.
Foundation director Davit Banuchyan presented the main areas of work for 2025, describing the year as a transitional period for the sector following the reorganization of the National Cinema Center of Armenia. According to him, this phase required not only structural changes but also the introduction of new tools and mechanisms.
According to the report presented at the meeting, several key regulations stemming from Armenia’s Law on Cinematography were adopted and put into operation in 2025. These included the creation of a national film registry, the introduction of a procedure for issuing distribution certificates, and the launch of a partial investment rebate system, Cash Rebate, aimed at attracting both local and international productions.
Banuchyan also said that a new set of regulations was drafted late last year with the participation of film professionals and submitted to the ministry for approval. He noted that the 2026 competition for national film support is expected to be conducted under these new rules.
Armenian Film Foundation Chief of Staff Artak Poghosyan also delivered a report on items on the agenda. Following discussions and a Q&A session, the Board of Trustees approved the reports and presentations submitted at the meeting.
The ministry’s statement also emphasized the importance of cooperation with the film community, professional associations, and film industry representatives. It highlighted work in film education and the significance of programs involving young people from Armenia’s regions.
At the same time, the ministry’s published statement does not provide detailed quantitative data on the foundation’s results, including funding volumes, the number of supported projects, or performance indicators for specific programs.
