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Under The Walnut Tree

A young boy has been displaced during the massacre of his people. After wandering alone for days, he is ready to give up but fights to continue to safety. His struggle for survival ends when he finds his mother singing to a lifeless body. "Under The Walnut Tree" is loosely based on the true story of Shahan Natalie, who survived the Hamidian Massacres after witnessing the murder of his family. Also known as the Armenian Massacres, the Hamidian Massacres were the precursor to the Armenian Genocide.

  • Leah Bedrosian Peterson
    Director
  • Maria Hebert-Leiter
    Writer
  • Leah Bedrosian Peterson
    Producer
  • Leah Bedrosian Peterson
    Story
  • Gabriela Burch
    Set Design and Costume Design
  • Leah Bedrosian Peterson
    Set Design and Costume Design
  • Geena Woodley
    Assistant Costume Design
  • Brianne Charnigo
    Special Effects and Motion Graphics
  • Hooshere
    Credit Music
  • Leah Bedrosian Peterson
    Character Design and Construction
  • Charles Garoian
    Narration
  • Vartan Matiossian
    Translation
  • Project Type:
    Animation
  • Runtime:
    6 minutes 20 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 9, 2018
  • Production Budget:
    2,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    Armenian, English
  • Shooting Format:
    2K DSLR
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1.85:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Demetera International Film Festival
    Paris, France
    France
    March 15, 2021
  • AI Animation Festival, Armenian Institute
    London
    United Kingdom
    May 27, 2021
  • KIN International Women's Film Festival
    Yerevan
    Armenia
    November 15, 2019
    Armenian Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Armenians in Film at Lincoln Center
    New York City
    United States
    November 14, 2019
  • Armenian Film Festival Australia
    Sydney and Melbourne
    Australia
    September 12, 2019
    Australian Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Arizona International Film Festival
    Tuscon
    United States
    April 12, 2019
    Arizona Premiere
    Official Selection
  • University Film and Video Association
    Minneapolis, MN
    United States
    July 17, 2019
    Official Selection
  • Socially Relevant Film Festival New York
    New York, NY
    United States
    March 17, 2019
    New York Premiere
    Women Film Critic Choice Nominee / Official Selection
  • Black Maria Film Festival
    New Jersey City, NJ
    United States
    January 2, 2019
    Director's Choice Award/Official Selection
  • Pomegranate International Film Festival
    Toronto, Ontario
    Canada
    November 16, 2018
    Canada Premier
    Official Selection
  • Arpa International Film Festival
    Hollywood, CA
    United States
    November 2, 2018
    West Coast Premiere
    Nominee for Best Animated Short/Official Selection
  • Florida Animation Festival
    Tallahasee
    United States
    June 14, 2018
    1st place Audience Award/Official Selection
  • Alexandria Film Festival
    Alexandria, Virgina
    United States
    November 11, 2018
    Official Selection
  • Montana International Film Festival
    Billings
    United States
    September 14, 2018
    Official Selection
  • Rockport Film Festival
    Rockport, TX
    United States
    November 3, 2018
    Official Selection
  • Animayo
    Gran Canaria
    Spain
    May 5, 2018
    Semi-Finalist
  • Atlanta Shortsfest
    Atlanta, Georgia
    United States
    July 7, 2018
    Official Selection
  • Austin Spotlight Film Festival
    Austin, Texas
    United States
    February 21, 2018
    North American Premiere
    Official Selection
  • DaVinci International Film Festival
    Santa Monica, CA
    United States
    May 17, 2018
    Finalist
  • LosAngeles Cine Fest
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    April 6, 2018
    Semi-Finalist
  • Buenos Aires Independent Film Festival
    Buenos Aires
    Argentina
    January 10, 2020
    Argentina Premiere
  • Dementera International Film Festival
    France
    May 10, 2021
    France Premiere
Director Biography - Leah Bedrosian Peterson

Leah Bedrosian Peterson teaches filmmaking and video art at Lycoming College. She received an M.F.A. in studio art from Tufts University and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, and a B.F.A. in photography and art history from Pratt Institute.

Bedrosian Peterson is an interdisciplinary artist whose artwork deals with issues of cultural identity and questions the role of fantasy in our daily lives. She has exhibited both nationally and internationally, most recently in Geneva, Switzerland; Atlanta, Ga.; Chicago, Ill.; Washington, D.C.; Brooklyn, N.Y.; and Medellin, Columbia.

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