Best Documentary Short Subject Shortlist for the 89th ACADEMY AWARDS® Winner of Best Documentary Film Award for the 19th Annual ARPA International Film Festival

The Other Side of Home - Film Screening & Discussion by Naré Mkrtchyan

On April 28th, 2021, we gathered for a powerful and intimate screening of The Other Side of Home, directed by Naré Mkrtchyan, in commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. The event created a space for collective reflection, dialogue, and healing through creativity—marking an emotionally charged evening of confronting silence, memory, and transformation.

The documentary follows Maya, a Turkish woman who discovers her great-grandmother was a survivor of the Armenian Genocide. Torn between two identities—one that suffers and one that denies—Maya journeys to Armenia for the 100th commemoration, confronting a suppressed past and re-examining her roots. The film resonates far beyond individual identity, shedding light on the long shadow genocides cast across generations, and how inherited trauma can evolve into a creative force for truth and reconciliation.

Following the screening, attendees engaged in an open discussion exploring the role of art and storytelling during times of adversity.