Stockholm (AINA) -- Assyrians are preparing for the 2015 centennial commemoration of the genocide committed against them in World War One by Ottoman Turkey. A film team spent recently three weeks in southeast Turkey shooting for a documentary film which will premiere next year.
The Turkish genocide targeted Assyrians, Armenians and Pontic Greeks between 1915 and 1918. 750,000 Assyrians (75%) were killed, 1.5 million Armenians and 500,000 Pontic Greeks.
The documentary, produced by the Assyrian Federation of Sweden and the Assyrian Youth Federation of Sweden, is directed by Aziz Said from Berlin, who has directed several other films, Several European broadcasters have expressed interest in the documentary, which aims to explain the genocide to a wider audience.
The film focuses on the genocide and effect on the Assyrians today. It will also deal with the denial which is still maintained by the Turkish state. Several experts will be featured in the film.
Sweden is the only country which has recognized the Assyrian genocide. On March 12, 2010 the Swedish parliament passed a resolution calling the killing of Assyrians, Armenians and Pontic Greeks a genocide (AINA 2010-03-12).
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