A number of publications related to April and May have appeared on the official website of the Cinema Foundation of Armenia. As of May 20, these materials were not visible in the “News” section on the website’s homepage.
According to KinoPress, the version of the Cinema Foundation of Armenia’s website preserved by Wayback Machine on May 20, 2026 showed that one of the latest visible publications in the “News” section concerned the decision to return the management authority over Hayfilm Studio to the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports. It was followed mainly by publications from March and February.
Meanwhile, the current version of the website already includes a number of materials related to April and May: the screening of the film White Bone, the memorandum signed between the Cinema Foundation of Armenia and the Georgian National Film Center at the Cannes Marché du Film, the presentation of Armenian animation in the Annecy Classics program, the Artavazd Peleshian film program in Cannes Classics, an informational meeting dedicated to Cash Rebate, the visit of representatives of the CinéFabrique film school, and other topics.
However, the very topic of Artavazd Peleshian’s films being presented in Cannes Classics also demonstrates the selective nature of the website’s updates. On May 23, the Cinema Foundation of Armenia published a clarification and apology only on its Facebook page, following criticism over the Foundation’s earlier post, in which the contribution of Shushanik Mirzakhanyan, former director of the National Cinema Center of Armenia, had not been properly acknowledged.
In that post, the Foundation considered it important to express special gratitude to Shushanik Mirzakhanyan, noting her many years of work in promoting Armenian film heritage and presenting Armenian cinema internationally. At the same time, the Foundation expressed regret that, due to an error in the previous publication, her professional contribution over the years had not been properly represented.
Moreover, in the same Facebook post, the Foundation stated that an internal inquiry would be launched to determine how such a publication had been allowed, and that the persons responsible would provide explanations and be held accountable within the Foundation’s internal procedures.
However, as of June 9, 2026, the Foundation has not publicly reported what happened with that internal inquiry, what conclusions were made, or whether any responsibility was applied. This clarification has also not appeared on the Foundation’s official website, remaining at the level of a social media post.
Thus, the issue is not only the delayed update of the website. Many of the Foundation’s publications resemble messages previously distributed through social media, which were later transferred to the official website. However, certain important clarifications, including the statement regarding the criticism around the presentation of Peleshian’s films, have still not become part of the official website.
An official website is not a copy of a social media page. It is a platform for public memory, accountability, and verifiable information — especially in the case of an institution responsible for state funding, competitions, sectoral programs, and processes of public importance for Armenian cinema.
KinoPress has repeatedly sent inquiries both to the Cinema Foundation of Armenia and to the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of Armenia, trying to clarify why the Foundation’s official website is maintained in this manner, what technical problems are involved, and when the full and regular operation of the website is expected to be ensured. However, no substantive response has been received that would explain the situation or provide a clear timeline for resolving the issue.
Even more concerning is the fact that, as of June 9, 2026, the website of the Cinema Foundation of Armenia still does not contain complete information about the first state funding competition of 2026. In the “Announcements” section of the website, the first visible announcement is dated April 8 and concerns the expansion of the list of candidates for the expert committees that evaluate applications submitted to state funding competitions for national film projects. However, no separate publication regarding the launch, deadlines, conditions, or application process for the first 2026 competition is visible on the website.
According to the Foundation’s current regulations, which were adopted contrary to the requirements of the Law on Cinematography, an announcement about a competition must be published on the official website of the national body, through other mass media, and on the official public notifications website of the Republic of Armenia. Against this background, the absence of complete information about the competition on the website raises new questions regarding equal access to information for industry participants and public oversight.
When official information is published late, selectively, and without sufficient explanation, it creates an impression of closedness — especially when the institution manages funds allocated from the state budget. In the case of the Cinema Foundation of Armenia, this is no longer merely a technical issue, but a matter of public communication and accountability.
KinoPress will continue to monitor the transparency of publications related to the official website of the Cinema Foundation of Armenia, its competition procedures, and state funding processes.
