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STAGE

STAGE is an emotionally charged tale of passion, sacrifice, and the pursuit of artistic excellence, where personal and professional ambitions collide in a web of love, betrayal, and ultimate determination in the cutthroat world of ballet.

  • Hovhannes Galstyan
    Director
  • Hovhannes Galstyan
    Writer
  • Marine Zakaryan
    Writer
  • Hovhannes Galstyan
    Producer
    Bonded Parallels
  • Ani Galstyan
    Producer
  • Armen Greyg
    Producer
  • Adolf Ell Assal
    Producer
    Kanaval. Panfir
  • Laura Clever
    Producer
  • Neigeme Glasgow Maeda
    Producer
    Kanaval
  • Khoren Levonyan
    Key Cast
    "GABRIEL"
  • Lilit Hakobyan
    Key Cast
    "Jeannette"
  • Vivien Bastajyan
    Key Cast
    "Marie"
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Genres:
    Drama
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 34 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    November 1, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    650,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Armenia, Germany, Luxembourg
  • Country of Filming:
    Armenia
  • Language:
    Armenian, French, German
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, 4K
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2:35
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Distribution Information
  • Wady Media
    Distributor
    Country: Luxembourg
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Hovhannes Galstyan

Film director, writer, and producer, was born in Yerevan, Armenia. Graduated from the Cultural department of directing at the ASPU.
Founded PARALLELS FILMPRODUCTION Company in 2005. Galstyan's directorial debut, "BONDED PARALLELS" (Armenia, France, Norway) , premiered at the Moscow IFF in 2019 and later had its EU premiere at the International Film Festival Rotterdam's Bright Feature Program in 2010.
In 2016 he established "The Center of Industry, Education & Motion Arts" (CINEMA).
In 2019, completed the TV Series “REMISSION”, a coproduction between Public TV Company, German “Clever Production” and Bulgarian “JelFilm”.
In 2024, completed his 2nd long feature “THE BACKSTGAE”, a coproduction with Germany and Luxembourg.
In 2024, Galstyan was elected as chairman of the board of NGO “Panarmenian Federation of Film Producers” | PFFP.

NATIONAL AWARDS: Galstyan was awarded by Gold Medal - the main award of the Ministry of Culture of the Armenia for his contribution to the development of national cinema in 2011, and twice won the HAYAK National Film Award as director in 2012 (Bonded Parallels – Best Debute) and as a producer in 2013 (The Pheasant Hunter – Best Short Film)

Director – Writer - Producer

BONDED PARALLELS (2009) – First Feature
https://youtu.be/h1HnZ6Zs8vM
35mm, 87 minutes, Fuji color, format 1:1/85, Dolby SR, Armenia-France-Norway

REMISSION (2019) - TV SERIES
4K, TV Series 16 Episode (Broadcaster: Publec TV company of Armenia)

STAGE (2024) – Second Feature
100 min, 4K, release 2023, Armenia, Luxembourg, Germany

Producer

THE PHEASANT HUNTER (2012)
4K, 23 minutes,Dolby SR, dir. Marine Zakaryan, Producer: Hovhannes Galstyan

HALF MOON BAY (2014)
4K, 80 minutes, Dolby SR, dir. Marine Zakaryan, Producer: Hovhannes Galstyan

In Production

VERA – Status: Pre-production (2024/25)
THE LAND – Status: Production (2025)

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Plot:
Gabriel (44) a well-known choreographer is preparing his latest ballet piece. A few weeks before the premiere, Jeanette (26) - his prima becomes pregnant and is diagnosed with breast cancer. She then becomes Gabriel wife, Marie’s (46) patient who starts to fight for the baby’s life.

Review:
"The Backstage" is an emotionally charged tale of passion, sacrifice, and the pursuit of artistic excellence, where personal and professional ambitions collide in a web of love, betrayal, and ultimate determination in the cutthroat world of ballet.

Background:
“The Backstage" is the only film in the modern history of Armenia that was involved in a criminal procedure. The production was suspended for 6 years (2018-2024). In 2018 a criminal case against the film was opened with a denunciation by the National Cinema Center to the Prosecutor General RA. In 2020, the case was closed due to the absence of any elements of crime. But officials at the National Film Centre have filed a lawsuit against the investigators handling the case, accusing them of negligence and impetuosity. The trial lasted 4 years (2020-2024). In 2024, the criminal court completely justified the investigators and confirmed that there is no criminal element in the actions of the director of the film. That same year, the National Cinema Center, which had started this entire mess, was disbanded.

Conclusion:
In fact, “The Backstage” is about the chains that are held by authorities against artists in order to control them and their creation in totalitarian societies.