“My Uncle Rafael” elicits plenty of goofy chuckles even as it regularly threatens to fly off the rails. The film, directed by Marc Fusco from a script by Scott Yagemann and star Vahik Pirhamzei (based on a character from Pirhamzei’s stage plays), feels a bit made up as it goes along but, like the best send-ups, also never feels so far from the actual truth.
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My Uncle Rafael had a sold-out showing, closing the Pomegranate Film Festival in Toronto! The Gala event marked the film’s Canadian premiere and ‘Rafael’ took home the “Audience Choice Award!”
“Three Veils,” “My Uncle Rafael,” “The Last Tightrope Dancer In Armenia” and “Bolis” take home top honors at the 14th Annual Arpa International Film Festival
HOLLYWOOD—The 14th Arpa International Film Festival presented by AT&T YP concluded this year’s festival on Saturday with a screening of FIVE MINARETS IN NEW YORK followed by a gala reception at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. This year’s festival drew record attendance during its 3 days of screenings, Q&As, receptions and awards. Taking top honors were THREE VEILS, MY UNCLE RAFAEL, THE LAST TIGHTROPE DANCER IN ARMENIA and BOLIS.
…BEST DIRECTOR and BEST SCREENPLAY kudos went to director Marc Fusco and writers Scott Yagemann and Vahik Pirhamzei for their comedy MY UNCLE RAFAEL.
Pirhamzei also received the festival’s 2011 Breakthrough Performance Award for his starring role in the film. Arman Yeritsyan and Inna Sahakyan’s THE LAST TIGHTROPE DANCER IN ARMENIA was given the award for Best Documentary with Eric Nazarian’s BOLIS winning BEST SHORT FILM.
Consider it our online press kit. It’s full of goodies like the trailer, behind the scenes footage, some insight from Vahik Pirhamzei, cast photos, music, and more!
Interjecting traditional, old country morals and family values into a fractured American family is the comic genesis behind the film My Uncle Rafael. In the current Hollywood film market of sequels and remakes, My Uncle Rafael is a fresh new comedy that quietly and subtly becomes an entertaining commentary on post-modern American culture.
Sheer entertainment, completely devoid of an analytical perspective, is not all that uncommon in current Hollywood films, and plays an important escapist function for most moviegoers. But when a movie has great entertainment appeal and leaves the audience with food for thought, well, that makes for a great movie-going experience. My Uncle Rafael has managed to combine pure fun and a heartfelt message about America’s great melting pot into a wildly humorous movie.
My Uncle Rafael filmmakers have a short conversation about the ground-breaking movie! Aired on Boston’s own Armenian Independent Radio WUNR before the Boston International Film Festival. The talk about the genesis of the project, uniqueness, music and a bunch more!
Listen to the interview here:
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April 19th
We are at the Boston International Film Festival and in Boston right now. My producers Michael Garrity, Ben Pomeroy, writer Scott Yagemann, my lead Vahik Pirhamzei with supporting actress Anahid Avanesian, and I are talking to press, eating seafood, watching movies, hanging with the locals, and did I mention eating? Special thanks to our sponsors the Armenian Cultural and Educational Center, Hotel 140, and DPSBanners.com.
April 21st
Last night, we unveiled the film to a capacity audience of over 300 and I’m happy to report that folks laughed, clapped, cheered and seemed to have an overall good time. Afterward, my team and I answered some questions, took some pix, and went to our reception to greet all the local supporters! Good times, good times…
Also thanks to the handful of BU film students who came out to lend a hand at the screening–shout outs to Tanya, Alvaro, Martin, Matt, and Jesse.
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I’ll be back soon with more goodies–stay tuned!
-Marc Fusco