The documentary “Three Stories of Galicia” screened in Yerevan took the viewers on a deeply personal journey into the everyday lives of people struggling to fight against the war, hatred and against all the consequences of the conflict between the nations living close. The screening was organized in framework of the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development and Polish Days in Armenia, and was supported by the UN Office in Armenia, Polish and Ukrainian Embassies and the management of the Paradzhanov Museum in Armenia. The documentary offered a unique glimpse into the events that took place during and after World War II in the Eastern European region of Galicia (now divided between Poland and Ukraine). For centuries Galicia was a motherland for many ethnicities, mainly Ukrainians, Poles and Jews but also a large number of Armenians. When the War erupted, ethnic jealousies turned into ethnic conflicts and former neighbors turned into enemies. The film pays tribute to the many unknown heroes of that war, the regular people who rose above fear and prejudice to do what was right instead of what was easy: a Jewish family that chose to save its worst enemy; a Ukrainian woman who endured the theft of her children to save her country; and a Polish priest who risked everything to end the sectarian hatred that tore at his parish. Three Stories of Galicia has been shown with great success at the Cannes Film Market, Hamburg Film Festival, and around the United States, Ukraine and Canada. And the Paradzhanov museum hall was packed with people today during the first screening in the Caucasus. The film was translated into Russian by Samvel Avetyan and dubbed by the Armenian company “Formica”. For more information on the film, you can visit the official website: www.threestoriesofgalicia.com

---