PBS Station To Screen ‘Orphans Of The Genocide’/ video

By the end of WWI over 150,000 Armenian children were left parentless as a direct result of the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Authorities. Near East Relief commissioned by the US Congress catered to over 132,000 Armenian orphans alone.

Orphans of the Genocide is a film produced by the Armenoid Team. This documentary includes a feature interview by Maurice Missak Kelechian, whose findings unveiled the secrets of an orphanage in Antoura near Beirut, Lebanon where 1,000 Armenian Genocide Orphans were being turkified. Mr. Keleshian’s research prompted an article by award winning journalist Robert Fisk of The Independent magazine.

Orphans of The Genocide a documentary film was screened by ValleyPBS, Station KPVT 18, in Fresno on April 18 at 7 p.m..

The screening will be part of the ValleyPBS station fundraising drive, which will be hosted by actor Ken Davitian from the Academy Award® winning film The Artist. Donors will receive copies of Orphans of the Genocide DVD and accompanying book with various levels of donations.  Created by four-time Regional Emmy Award winner filmmaker, Bared Maronian, the documentary weaves historical archives with interviews and memoirs of Armenian orphans establishing irrevocable proof of the Armenian Genocide.

Armenians nationwide are asked to contact their local PBS station and urge them to screen Orphans of the Genocide during the month of April.

Orphans of the Genocide is an emotional visual journey through never-before-seen archival footage and discovered memoirs of orphans who lived through the last century’s first, fully documented and least recognized  Armenian Genocide of 1915.  The documentary follows Maurice Missak Kelechian whose research findings unveil the site of an Armenian orphanage located at the present day Antoura College near Beirut, Lebanon  where 1,000 Armenian Genocide Orphans had lived and were forcefully converted and “Turkified” during W.W. I.

In addition to the Antoura site, the documentary unveils numerous other orphanages where Armenian orphans were housed – and profiles one orphan girl who was adopted and later became one of Turkey’s high-profiled national icons as the daughter of Ataturk, the founder of modern-day Turkey.   The documentary traces the lives of many orphans who lived through the horrors of a war, losing parents and being separated from siblings and shipped to various countries.

The documentary also explores the herculean task of the American Near East Relief Foundation in saving, feeding and sheltering over 150,000 documented Armenian genocide orphans between 1919 and 1926 by setting up over 200 temporary and permanent orphanages in Historic Armenia, Turkey and throughout the Middle East. One of these orphanages was built in Gumri, the second largest city in Armenia, and housed 22,000 orphans.

Additionally, Orphans of the Genocide includes interviews with numerous public figures including British journalist Robert Fisk – whose article “Living Proof of the Armenian Genocide” published in 2010 by The Independent included many of the archival proofs – Armenian-American Dr. Jack Kevorkian, as well as revealing testimonials from children of the Armenian Genocide orphans scattered around the world. The Armenoid team offers never-before-seen archival footage weaving stories of Armenian orphans from around the globe.

Founded in 2006, Armenoid Productions has produced numerous award-winning documentaries among them Father Komitas depicting the lives and deaths of two major Armenian clergymen’s contributions to the Armenian nation and The Wall of the Genocide a poetic tribute to the 5,000 year-old Armenian History starting from the Noah’s Ark resting upon Mount Ararat to the modern day assassination of outspoken Turkish-Armenian editor of “Agos” weekly newspaper, Hrant Dink. Both documentaries were honored with Telly Awards in 2007 and 2008 respectively.

“We are honored to have the opportunity to premiere this powerful documentary on ValleyPBS. As Your Valley Classroom, we continually strive to bring compelling content such as Orphans of the Genocide to residents of the San Joaquin Valley who appreciate quality, educational programs and lifelong learning. This is truly an unforgettable show.” Paula Castadio, ValleyPBS President & CEO

Source:  Asbarez.com