The Last Tightrope Dancer in Armenia documentary tells the story of Zhora, 78 years-old, and Knyaz, 77 years-old, who were once the most celebrated tightrope dancers in Armenia. Today they are the only existing masters who can keep this ancient art alive against the currents of contemporary society. Envious rivals throughout their lives, they now share the same hope—that the only remaining tightrope student will carry on their life’s work. Hovsep, a 17 year-old orphan adopted by Zhora, has to decide whether or not to accept the responsibility of being the last tightrope dancer in a society that has abandoned both him and the art of tightrope dancing. And now, after the death of Zhora, his teacher, Hovsep’s choice has only become more difficult…

Festival screenings and awards

The film was completed in the beginning of November 2009 and started its festival life.

• IDFA 2009, November 18–28, 2009, Amsterdam, the Netherlands – Worldwide premiere
• Goteborg International Film Festival 2010, January 29-Fabruary 8, 2010, Göteborg, Sweden – Nordic premiere
• 8th Gdansk DocFilm Festival, (April 27–29, 2010, Gdansk, Poland) - Special Jury Award
• 7th Yerevan Golden Apricot International Film Festival, July 11–18, 2010, Yerevan, Armenia – Best Armenian Film
• 9th Euganea Film Festival, July 9–25, 2010, Padua, Italy - Competition Program
• Saratov sufferings International Documentary Film Festival]], September 11–17, 2010, Saratov, Russia – The Best Cinematography
• “Russia” Documentary Film Festival, October 1–5, 2010, Yekaterinburg, Russia –

Best Feature Length Documentary

• XIX International Festival of Ethnological Film, October 14–18, 2010, Belgrade, Serbia, Grand Prix
• FilmFest Hamburg, September 30-October 9, 2010, Hamburg, Germany – Official selection
• DOK Leipzig 53rd International Film Festival October 18–23, Leipzig, Germany – Official selection
• 5th Pomegranate Film Festival, October 22–24, Toronto, Canada – The Best Documentary
• Listopad International Film Festival, November 5–12, Minsk Belorussia – The Best Documentary

External links

• http://www.barsmedia.am/tightrope/index.html - "The Last Tightrope Dancer in Armenia" Official website
• http://www.barsmedia.am/ - Bars Media Documentary Film Studio Official website
• "The Last Tightrope Dancer in Armenia" on PBS.