How to Cross (from Jiliz to Jiliz) / Ինչպես անցնել (Ջիլիզից Ջիլիզ)

Documentary Film, 15:26′
2014, Yerevan, Armenia
Directed and produced by Sona Kocharyan & Marine Kocharyan
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Hot Docs Canadian International Film Festival, 2015, Honorable Mention
Young Documentarians Short Film Competition, Yerevan, 2014, Winner
CinéDOC-Tbilisi International Documentary Film Festival, 2015, Special Mention
Young ADAMI Media Prize, 2015, Winner
KIN International Women’s Film Festival, Yerevan, 2015, Special Prize
SR Socially Relevant Film Festival New York, 2016, Special Mention
Pomegranate Film Festival, Canada, 2016, Honorable Mention
Filmski Festival Herceg-Novi Montenegro Film Festival, 2015, Official Selection
Cronograf International Documentary Film Festival, Moldova, 2015, Official Selection
Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival, 2015, Official Selection
This Human World International Human Rights Film Festival, Vienna, 2015, Official Selection
Asia House Film Festival, UK, 2016, Official Selection
Black Sea Arts Festival, Romania, 2016, Official Selection
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Short description:

They say there is a border, but none of the villagers have ever seen it. There is no sign, no wire, no checkpoint – just a small stream separating the village of Jiliz into two – one part in Armenia and the other part in Georgia. Lousine is a little girl who dreams of getting together with her grandmother and her other relatives who live on the other side of the border. She has not seen them in six years. The distance between her and her family members is only one kilometer, but they are worlds apart. They have to travel 100 kilometers to reach the village they see every day just across the stream. What is a border? Where is the border? Why do we need a border? That is what Lousineh thinks about all the time. Seeking answers, she decides to undertake the journey from Jiliz to Jiliz.