Khojali Massacre Documentary "Endless Corridor" Premieres in London

LONDON, July 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

TV executives, Hollywood producers and prominent actors on Monday attended the premiere screening at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) of the documentary 'Endless Corridor', a film - narrated by renowned British actor Jeremy Irons - examining the events surrounding the Khojaly massacre, in which 613 men, women and children were killed on 25-26 February 1992.

The screening was attended by the documentary's Lithuanian Producer/Director Aleksandras A. Brokas and American Co-Producer Gerald Rafshoon, as well as international TV executives and prominent actors such as Iain Glen, one of the stars of the popular television series 'Games of Thrones' and Hayley Atwell, known for her work in stage productions and films such as 'Captain America'.

Brokas, who worked nearly five years on the documentary, noted that he worked with film professionals from 15 countries on the project in order to provide an independent point of view for the situation in the region. The Lithuanian citizen said: "The way to freedom and independence is very similar in all post-Soviet countries: it costs a lot. The tragedy of Khojaly tells the story of how cynical and inhuman people decided over the destiny of others."

Meanwhile, Gerald Rafshoon, the White House Communications Director under the Jimmy Carter administration and producer of the current successful play 'Camp David' in Washington, pointed out that until today no solution has been found to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, despite international efforts. "Thus I hope the film will re-focus attention about this besieged region that has been ravaged for more than two decades."

The film follows Lithuanian journalist Richard Lapaitis on a trip back to Azerbaijan 20 years after he covered the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and Khojaly massacre as a war correspondent, a story, he says, that has haunted him since.

The documentary sees him re-unite with survivors of the tragedy, who recall their heart-rending stories as they escaped Armenian bombardment, losing many loved ones along an 'Endless Corridor' seeking safety.

But it also hears from the perpetrators of the massacre, Armenian commanders, their war strategies and reasoning. Despite several resolutions by the United Nations and other international bodies calling for the unconditional withdrawal, Armenia continues to occupy Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding Azerbaijani provinces to this day.

The Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Leyla Aliyeva, the initiator and driving force behind the 'Justice for Khojaly' campaign, spoke about the importance of raising awareness about the tragedy. "I am pleased that this film has been made.  'Endless Corridor' is a moving documentary recalling the unimaginable horrors of the Khojaly massacre, shedding light on this awful chapter of Armenian aggression," she said. "We must never again see a repetition of such crimes."

The completed film is now being screened and distributed by international broadcasters.