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Film & Talk

Mel charts the dramatic journey of the once-celebrated Armenian weightlifter Mel Daluzyan who became a pariah in his own country after publicly coming-out as transgender.



Shot in an intimate style, this documentary exposes the oppression faced by LGBTQ people in Armenia’s patriarchal society, while celebrating its protagonist’s determination to follow his dream of freedom at all costs. The first queer film to receive state funding, Mel marks a turning point in the history of Armenian cinema.


  • 76 min, 2022, Armenia/Netherlands
  • ARM OVS

As part of 100 + 10 – Armenian Allegories

Additional information
Participating artists
Inna Sahakyan
Paul Cohen
Dates
May 2025
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