THE WITNESSES Trilogy

THE WITNESSES trilogy is a series of three films based on professionally filmed interviews of nearly 400 survivors of the Armenian Genocide. These interviews were commenced in 1967 by Dr. J. Michael Hagopian, chairman of the Armenian Film Foundation and producer/director of this huge endeavor.

VOICES FROM THE LAKE (87 min.)
The first feature-length documentary film on the Armenian Genocide focuses on the tragedy unfolding during the last days in the city of Kharpert. Hilmar Kaiser, noted Genocide historian, has proclaimed the film, “…a unique achievement…the most comprehensive and authoritative case study of the Armenian Genocide in print or film!”

Voices From the Lake has been translated into French and is now being shown in all French-speaking countries in Europe and Africa. It received the Bronze Chris Award from the Columbus Film Festival.
GERMANY AND THE SECRET GENOCIDE (60 min.)
Set against the backdrop of World War II, the film chronicles the involvement of Turkey’s ally, Germany, in the first genocide of the 20th Century. German documents attest to Turkish culpability and to German complicity and cover-up. Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times has declared the film a “…rigorously researched and a damning indictment…a notable and persuasive film…a warm-up to the Holocaust.”

Germany and the Secret Genocide, the second film of THE WITNESSES trilogy on the Armenian Genocide of 1915, received the coveted First Place Golden Camera Award in the History Category from the 2004 U.S. International Film and Video Festival, the largest festival of its kind specializing in documentary, informational and industrial films. In addition, it was one of only 7 productions selected from 1500 submissions from 27 countries to be nominated for the Festival’s Grand Prix Award.


Germany and the Secret Genocide was featured at the non-competitive One World Human Rights Film Festival in Prague in April 2004. Festival audiences voted the film the 7th most popular of the 156 presented. It has been translated to Czech and German and is being screened throughout Central Europe and the Balkans.

Through the influence of the National Center for Jewish Film, Germany and the Secret Genocide was featured in the Jewish “Side Bar” at the 2004 Rhode Island International Film Festival in Providence.

In late Fall 2004, it was viewed by members of Parliament in Bratislava, Slovakia and no doubt was instrumental in the resolution subsequently passed to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide of 1915.

Additionally, it has been selected as one of five of the best films screened at the One World Human Rights Festival in Berlin which was aired at a special screening at a Berlin theater in January 2005. The film has been made available by festival officials in an Internet "Video on Demand" format, in English with German subtitles, through 2006 on its web site http://www.oneworld-fest.de.

CARAVANS ALONG THE EUPHRATES (approx. 90 min.) - Not yet available
This film is anticipated to be the crown jewel of THE WITNESSES trilogy, drawing from a rich texture of intimate survivor interviews, the heart-rendering saga of a people in a long forced journey to extermination. Caravans, the third and final film of the Trilogy, is targeted for completion within one year.