The Promise

It's well made considering the genre. An old-fashioned epic film. In fact, I haven't watched such films for quite a while so was a good change for me. Oscar Isaac shined. I would not say the same about Christian Bale. And Charlotte Le Bon as Ana strikingly resembled a good friend of mine, so was captivating to watch her for personal reasons too.

A little bit too long and at times losing its pace, but overall delivers and watchable, and could be an eye opener for people not familiar with the subject, triggering them to learn more about the Armenian Genocide and Armenians in general.

I hope we will get more sophisticated storylines in future.

Maxim Gorky theatre in Berlin delivers impressively designed programme re the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide

This was perhaps, the most impressive, diverse and arty programme I have ever seen in any country re the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. From the outside installation to the in-house design, from the leaflets and posters to the impressive variety of performances, concerts, films and events, including concert by Arto Tunçboyacıyan and world preview premiere of the Armenian Genocide themed film "1915" (see my brief reflections towards the end).

I am a big fan of independent cinemas and venues, and Maxim Gorky theatre in Berlin is exactly my type of the venue.

The influence of one of my all-time fave couples Atom Egoyan and Arsinée Khanjian was palpable, with the design themes à la Parajanov.

Concert by Arto Tunçboyacıyan was enjoyable, albeit somewhat lacklustre, lacking usual Arto's drive. I was told that his luggage didn't arrive in time. Not sure if this affected his mood.

There was also a world preview premiere of the new Armenian Genocide themed film "1915" by Garin Hovannisian [son of Armenia's ex-FM Raffi Hovannisian and grandson of well known historian Richard Hovannisian] and Alec Mouhibian. I thought it was mainly directed at Diaspora Armenians. Kudos to directors for attempting at portraying it in an unconventional way, raising some challenging questions. However, I am not convinced re the overall execution of the film, with unstable narratives and performances. But it will certainly generate discussions. [in picture above: Alec Mouhibian, Garin Hovannisian and Nikolai Kinski during the Q&A]

Yerevan Diaries: Cinema Star, "family space", film censorship, Lars von Trier and Parajanov

Here we are. Previously announced screening of Lars von Trier's Nymphomaniac has been cancelled by Cinema Star (part of recently opened Dalma Garden Mall Western style shopping centre in Yerevan), due to unspecified “complaints by individuals and groups". A day or two ago, I remember seeing this film being referred to as “porno-drama” by some on Armenian Facebook.

This reminded me hysteria and eventual cancellation of gay themed Parada film screening a year or so ago.

Even more outrageous, ridiculous, you name it, was Cinema Star's bullsh*t statement 'justifying' the cancelation of film screening by ‘cinema is a family space’ line.

«Որոշման համար հիմք են հանդիսացել մի շարք քաղաքացիների եւ հասարակական խմբերի բազմաթիվ առարկությունները, որոնք կասկած են հայտնել Հայաստանում մեծ էկրանով ֆիլմի ցուցադրության նպատակահարմարության վերաբերյալ: 2013 թվականին բացվելուց անմիջապես հետո Սինեմա Սթար Դալմա Գարդենը դարձավ «ընտանեկան տարածք» եւ երեւանցիների հանգստի սիրելի վայրերից մեկը: Հաշվի առնելով այդ հանգամանքը` մենք որոշեցինք խուսափել իրավիճակից, երբ ֆիլմի ցուցադրությունը կարող է հակասական կարծիքներ առաջացնել մեր այցելուների մոտ», - ասված է հաղորդագրության մեջ:

Forgetting for a moment such an utter nonsense as cinema calling itself a “family space”… If this was the case (which it is not, of course!), then why on earth did they announce the film's screening in the first place?!

If this is a some kind of “family space” cinema, then one would expect the showcase of only “U” or “PG”, or at the very maximum “12+” rating films there. One would expect. One would be wrong.

The even bigger irony is that this very cinema is currently screening a film that is as far from a “family friendly” notion as it can get - The Wolf of Wall Street, released in the UK under “18+” rating. A picture, still from The Wolf of Wall Street, is currently making rounds on Armenian sector of Facebook, along with abundance of jokes, memes and ridicules towards the Cinema Star and their statement.

But there is more ridiculousness incorporated within the statement. They also mentioned that they wanted avoiding the situation when a film’s screening generates “conflicting opinions” among cinema visitors… What?!… I have now ‘conflicting’ urge to laugh or scream…. Isn’t this the best that any film screening could achieve?!

This is a case of censorship, simple and plain. You better remove Parajanov’s picture from your foyer. You don't deserve such associations. You would have succumb to censorship and censor Parajanov too. Because you are such a coward, or as well known Armenian DJ Vakcina described on her FB page (translit AM): “vaxkot u tssik Cinema Star Armenia !”

Speculations are abound as to who is behind this cancellation. Some say it's the church, but no clear confirmation yet.

So here we are. Yesterday it was Parada, today it is Nymphomaniac… What awaits Armenia tomorrow?… Back to the USSR?… or shall I say forward to the Customs Union?

In this age of internet, don't they realise that censorship won't work in Armenia and will only achieve an opposite effect, generating even more interest about (in this case) the film… Don’t they realise how ridiculous they look now - both those who gave the orders and those who complied with such orders.

In the meantime, while publicly, with such stupid actions some want to present an image of Armenia as some kind of backwards, morality and ‘traditional values’ obsessed nation, word ‘porno’ is on top of most widely searched by Armenians online.

In any case, I will never go to any cinema or venue that supports or gave in to censorship.

Civil protest? More like a mob rule against organiser of Azeri film festival in Armenia

After previous unsuccessful attempt, the Azerbaijani film festival - this time in Armenia’s second town Gyumri on 12 April - was yet again cancelled amid ‘campaign of terror’, police inaction and safety concerns, as the organiser explained.

Unfortunately, like two years ago, we witnessed similar level of nationalist hysteria.

Along with other medium, anti-Azerbaijani film festival Facebook page was set up full of hatred and with open calls at life of the organiser Georgi Vanyan.

Below is a screenshot of just one such example, with a description of ‘murder plot’.

Notorious mayor of Gyumri used the occasion to spearhead the nationalist parade against the film festival.

@onewmphoto: Poor Gyumri. Noted for its architecture & humor in the Soviet era, devastated by the 1988 earthquake, & now the fiefdom of Vartan Ghukasian

This was a campaign of bullying, intimidation, hate speech, direct death threats, psychological and physical abuse towards someone who you do not agree with. This was not a ‘civil’ protest. More like a mob rule.

Video of attack demonstrates this clearly.

As one of my Facebook friends commented on his page: is this how civilised and cultured people need to react to showing of film? “Do these protesters realize how insecure and weak they appear? So shameful...”

As I mentioned re relevant circumstances two years ago:

I strongly believe that art, and culture, do not recognise borders. Even if countries are at the state of war. Art, and films, are the best way for ordinary people to get to know each other better, to break the ice, even or especially in case of closed borders. There is also internet, of course, and meetings outside the national borders.

I have no problem if there are people who protest the idea or the fact of the festival. It’s their right. But do it in a (at least remotely) civilised way, without engaging the lowest possible denominator of nationalist/racist crap, personal attacks and threats to individuals. There is a fine line when freedom of speech gets transformed into something that should be considered within the frames of legal/criminal code. Many have already crossed that line.

Once again, freedom of speech lost in Armenia. Once again, state structures in Armenia failed to protect constitutional rights and freedom of their citizens. There were no winners.

*Recommended reading:

Armenia: Nationalist Threats Against Local Activist

Armenia: Support for Georgi Vanyan

Scarface: "The government is your government. What are YOU going to do about it?"

Was watching the old version of classic Scarface (director Howard Hawks, 1932) and was amazed that the film begins with the message demanding government to take actions re gang culture and calling viewers to act as "the government is your government”:

“This picture is an indictment of gang rule in America and of the callous indifference of the government to this constantly increasing menace to our safety and our liberty. 

Every incident in this picture is the reproduction of an actual occurrence, and the purpose of this picture is to demand of the government: “What are you going to do about it?” 

The government is your government. What are YOU going to do about it?”

'Armenian Activists Now' (trailer)

“If you are not majority, if you are not one of them, you suffer.” (Mamikon Hovsepyan, PINK Armenia)

This film - Armenian Activists Now! - (by Davidian Video Productions) is set to be released in the summer of 2012. It tells a story of some dedicated activists who work and aim at making the “Change” happen in Armenia.

People power? Yes, we can?

Here is hoping...



More about the film - here.

Obituary (The Telegraph): Michael Hagopian - "Film maker who sought to prove that the Armenians had suffered Genocide"

Only today, reading The Telegraph, I learned this... RIP, Michael Hagopian...

Below is his Obituary as it appears in The Telegraph.
***

Michael Hagopian

Film maker sought to prove that the Armenians had suffered genocide

Michael Hagopian, who died on December 10 aged 97, survived the massacre of Armenians by the Turks during the First World War and went on, as a documentary film maker, to campaign for the killings to be recognised officially as “genocide”.

According to historians, between 1915 and 1918 some 1.5 million Armenians died in a series of wholesale massacres and deportations which took place amid the chaos of war and the dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire. Turkey maintains that the deaths (which it estimates at 300,000 Armenians and about as many Turks — many of them victims of famine and disease) occurred within the context of a civil war sparked after Armenians, backed by Russia, rose up against the Ottomans. It remains a crime in Turkey to portray the killings as “genocide”.

Hagopian was determined to refute the Turkish claims. Among several documentaries, The Forgotten Genocide (1976), the first full-length feature on the killings, involved nearly 400 witness interviews and 20 years of research and received Emmy nominations for best documentary writing and production.

The River Ran Red (2008) told how hundreds of thousands of Armenians were forced into the Syrian Desert, where most of them died of starvation, and was voted best international historical documentary by the New York International Film & Video Festival in 2009.

To date, 20 countries have officially recognised the events of the period as genocide. Earlier this year a resolution to that effect was narrowly approved by the American congressional Foreign Affairs Committee. On several recent occasions, however, similar resolutions have been adopted by the committee only to fall short of endorsement by a vote of the full House.

In 2007, for example, a committee resolution branding the massacre of Armenians as genocide was greeted by a jubilant Hagopian as a sign that “representatives in Congress now realise the Armenian community has a lot of political power”. But in the end support for the bill ebbed away as Ankara recalled its ambassador to Washington and politicians within Congress feared that ties to Turkey – whose airspace was a crucial corridor to supply US troops in Iraq – would be irreparably damaged. Turkey is again lobbying America to prevent any vote in the present instance.

The son of a prominent physician, Jakob Michael Hagopian was born on October 20 1913 in the ancient Armenian town of Kharpert, in what was then the Ottoman Empire (now Turkey). One night in June 1915, after his parents heard that Turkish soldiers were on the rampage nearby, he was hidden in a well behind their home. “To save my life, [my father] placed me in it, hoping the Turks would not find me, that by a miracle I would survive,” Hagopian recalled in 2001. “He had great faith in Providence.” The soldiers did not come that night. But when they did several days later, the family was spared because his father had treated local Turks.

The family remained in Turkey until 1922, when they fled to the United States. They lived in Boston before settling at Fresno, California, in 1927.

After studying Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley, Hagopian took a doctorate in International Relations at Harvard. He then served in the US Army Air Forces during the war before teaching at several universities, including the American University of Beirut, where he began teaching himself to make films. He later took film classes at the University of California, Los Angeles.

In 1952 he founded his own film production company, initially making films about the cultures of the Middle East, Nigeria, India and the American Indians. In 1979 Hagopian founded the Armenian Film Foundation, which was dedicated to preserving the visual and personal histories of the witnesses to the massacres.

Hagopian wrote, directed and produced 17 films about the Armenians . As he recalled in Voices From the Lake (2000): “I remember my mother saying, 'You can kill a people, but their voices will never die’.”

Michael Hagopian is survived by his wife, Antoinette, and by a daughter and three sons.

Nationalists gone hysterical in Armenian sector of Facebook over Azeri Film Festival in Yerevan

It’s funny how Armenian nationalists, self-proclaimed propagandists or ‘defendants’ of Armenian interests (whether in Armenia or Diaspora) are all up in arms to express their “outrage” when Armenian writers, artists, or anything Armenia related get threatened, abused and discriminated against in Turkey or Azerbaijan. They are all up in arms to “protest” and “expose” discrimination and abuse directed at few brave Turkish or Azeri voices who express different to the ‘accepted’ views in relation to Armenia, Karabakh or the Armenian Genocide.

But look at the nationalist hysteria that was generated and going on after the event’s page was set up for the Azeri Film Festival in Yerevan, Armenia (see poster above and FB page). Many of the most vocal and repetitive haters are those born in/around early 90s, a so called ‘lost generation’, who probably saw this as a chance for self-affirmation or whatever.

I am not going to repeat totally sh*tty language they use to show off how ‘patriotic’ they are and how ‘treacherous’ the organisers or supporters/attendants of the film festival are.

I strongly believe that art, and culture, do not recognise borders. Even if countries are at the state of war. Art, and films, are the best way for ordinary people to get to know each other better, to break the ice, even or especially in case of closed borders. There is also internet, of course, and meetings outside the national borders.

I have no problem if there are people who protest the idea or the fact of the festival. It’s their right. But do it in a (at least remotely) civilised way, without engaging the lowest possible denominator of nationalist/racist crap, personal attacks and threats to individuals. There is a fine line when freedom of speech gets transformed into something that should be considered within the frames of legal/criminal code. Many have already crossed that line.

And they pour tons of hatred, slander, nationalist crap and threats towards (among others) one of the brightest and the bravest souls in contemporary Armenia, writer and activist, and dreamer Lusine Vayachyan, who happened to help the organiser to set up the event’s page in Facebook, and supports the idea of film festival. Vayach, you have my respects. If only we have more dreamers in Armenia...

It’s an unfortunate reality that ‘treacherous’ Armenians become heroes only after their death. R.I.P., Hrant Dink...

*Recommended reading:

Azerbaijan Film Festival in Yerevan Sparks Hatred and Xenophobia

Armenian Writer Threatened for Facebook Page on Azerbaijan Film Screenings in Yerevan

No Enemy Nations, Only Regressive Societies and Governments: Ara Nedolyan

Intolerance Hidden Under Veil of Patriotism is Dangerous: Opinion

Hatred and Xenophobia is Alive and Well

Yerevan - Baku taxi experiment: listening to the ‘enemy’ music

Good experiment. [This film was made as part of the project by the Eurasia Partnership Foundation supported by the British embassy in Yerevan.]



I can’t say that opinions expressed from both sides were surprising. They were mainly based on cliches and due to the lack of direct communication between Azeris and Armenians following Karabakh war. That’s the reason why social networks, blogs or offline meetings are so important, although they could be used for inciting hatred too.

However, I was mostly interested in taxi passengers’ reaction to playing Armenian music in Baku, and Azeri music in Yerevan. And it was not balanced in that there were more opinions recorded from the Armenian side than from Azeri side. I’d be interested to hear more reaction from Baku residents too. And in general, I’d like to see this music part of the experiment expanded. Would be also interesting to repeat the experiment on different settings. For example, the reaction of exchanging respective cuisine set in Yerevan and Baku restaurants etc.

Arcade Fire rock band + Google Chrome interactive video project “The Wilderness Downtown”. Yerevan experience

The Independent: "On August 30, rock band Arcade Fire, together with Google and artist Chris Milk, launched an interactive video set to the band's track "We Used to Wait." Called "The Wilderness Downtown," the online project makes use of Google Maps and Google Street View to incorporate images of the viewer's hometown into the video. Viewers begin the experience by providing their childhood address. The video experience then unfolds in multiple windows, taking viewers on a tour of their hometown to the tune of the Arcade Fire track. Users can also write a note to their younger selves in a tree branch-inspired font that is incorporated into the video. "The Wilderness Downtown" is optimized for Google Chrome and should also run on any browser that supports HTML5."
***

It worked great with my London address. Unfortunately, when I tried submitting Yerevan or more specific addresses in Armenia, the following notice came up: “Your address doesn't contain enough Street-View and/or Google Maps data to 100% enjoy this experience.”

Still, you may click this link to see The Wilderness Downtown project’s Yerevan experience: http://www.thewildernessdowntown.com/#Yerevan,+Armenia

Or go to the website http://www.thewildernessdowntown.com and try playing with addresses and cities yourself.

You will have a chance to make postcards too. I did not have much time and made a simple one but from my heart :)

For more info about the project, visit http://www.chromeexperiments.com/arcadefire Overall, pretty fun experience. Enjoy!

National Cinema Center of Armenia and... Constitutional Court

As a big film fan, I am all excited with the launch of “promising” cinema related online projects. And it was with the excitement that I started exploring the website for the National Cinema Center of Armenia.

Boy, I was in for a surprise.

Have a look at this screenshot and remember which website you are looking at. Spotted anything bizarre or unusual for the occasion? I thought so too.

Why on earth under the Links section are links... to the president’s, parliament’s, government’s and constitutional court’s (!) websites is beyond me.

I understand that the website is still ‘under construction’. But would not you expect to see cinema and art related links when you enter the National Cinema Center of Armenia? You would not necessarily search for the Constitutional Court of Armenia there, would you?

Interestingly, they were in such a hurry to put those websites in, that they forgot the most relevant one - Ministry of Culture’s. Oh my...

“Modern gay classic” French Armenian Serge Avedikian won Palme d'Or 2010 at Cannes

Simply amazing news. French Armenian director, actor, writer and producer Serge Avedikian received the highest award at Cannes - Palme d'Or - Short Film, 2010, for Chienne d’Histoire (Barking Island). [Another director of Armenian origin, Lebanese Armenian video artist and filmmaker Vatche Boulghourjian was awarded 3rd prize Cinéfondation Ex-aequo, 2010, for Hinkerord Zorasune (The Fifth Column). Congrats, Vatche!!]

Congrats, dear Serge!!

Serge Avedikian made an unforgettable mark on the history of world gay cinema by playing in a very different wartime love story - Nous étions un seul homme (We Were One Man), film by renown French director Philippe Vallois in 1979.



Critiques call it the “most unusual wartime love story”, “a modern gay classic”.

(picture - Amazon)

***
For more details - see Unzipped: Gay Armenia

Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival demands release of renown Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi

*Yerevan, 2007 (pictures - via Golden Apricot International Film Festival Facebook page)

Yerevan's most famous GOLDEN APRICOT International Film Festival has signed the petition demanding Jafar Panahi's freedom more than a month ago, on 12 April 2010. This became known couple of days ago, when festival's press office released the statement via their official Facebook group in response to queries re festival's stance towards the imprisonment of renown Iranian director. In addition, festival's press office informs that in 2007, "when Panahi was one of the honorary guests of GOLDEN APRICOT, festival administration had numerous difficulties to deal with the Iranian embassy in Armenia and finally had to break the relationships with them."

Below is a statement in full.


To Whom It May Concern,

The entire staff of GOLDEN APRICOT IFF, being convinced that imprisonment of Jafar Panahi, the humanitarian interpreter of Iranian cinema, is unfair; joins this initiative (the information of which reached us through Ludmila Cvikova - IFFR programmer, film-critic Shahla Nahid, and other Golden Apricot-friendly circles), and signs this petition demanding his and his colleagues release from the prison.

Armenian spectators had a chance to explore the problems of women in the present Iranian reality in 2007, when Jafar Panahi's film "Offside" was shown within the framework of the 4th GOLDEN APRICOT IFF. Jafar Panahi deserves the right to be heard and must be given the freedom to create.

GOLDEN APRICOT International Film Festival
www.gaiff.am
***
Related:

Jafar Panahi's message from prison

Juliette Binoche sobs at news of hunger strike

Cannes contender Abbas Kiarostami demands release of Iranian film-maker

Eugene Ohanjanyan (Евгений Оганджанян) - young Brodsky in Khrzhanovsky's "A Room and a Half" film

Overall, good reviews for the film by Time Out London and the Evening Standard (pictured, above). Haven't seen the film yet, but worth checking it out. As for Eugene Ohanjanyan, young Russian Armenian actor, could not find much info about him, other than that this is probably his first film and he is a high school student.

A Room and a Half ('Полторы комнаты, или Сентиментальное путешествие на родину') released in the UK this Friday 7 May 2010.

UK airport closures forced Atom Egoyan to cancel personal appearance at Tate Modern, but he will be speaking via webcam

As part of the Arshile Gorky exhibition (my brief review with pictures to be posted soon), independent Canadian Armenian filmmaker Atom Egoyan was due to London tomorrow to talk about “a number of his installations and short films that relate to Arshile Gorky's life and artistic legacy in relation to the Armenian massacres, which are widely regarded as a genocide.” (quote via Tate Modern).

However, due to volcano related UK airport closures, he won’t be able to fly to London, but instead, as Tate Modern now reports, “will be speaking at this event via online broadcast”.

I phoned Tate Modern, and confirmed this info. The event will go ahead with Egoyan’s webcam appearance. However, what I think is not fair, ticket prices - £10 (£8 concessions) - will stay the same, as Tate’s representative told me.

Tigran Paskevichyan: Infiltration (Ներթափանցում)

Վաճառում եմ կարծրատիպեր`

տեղական, լավ պահպանված:

Ներթափանցում from eurasiaam on Vimeo.

This is a documentary by Tigran Paskevichyan which was produced as a part of Eurasia Partnertship Foundation's Freedom of Expression project. The project is supported by British Embassy in Yerevan and USAID.

*English version 

"Sako" at Human Rights Watch film festival in London

Human Rights Watch International Film Festival showcases selection of films with a distinctive human rights theme. It first started in New York in 1994; then expanded to London from 1996. The dates for this year's festival in London are set for 17 to 26 March.

As part of Youth Producing Change programme within the framework of the festival, Armenian short film "Sako" will be presented too (among selection of 10 stories from across the world produced by young filmmakers).

SAKO

[Unzipped: I wonder what happened to this guy since then... If the film produced in 2005 (as indicated in festival's programme), when Sako was 13, he should be around 18 now... Child labour... "He was made to work by his father since the age of seven"... No education... Good heart... and dreams...]

Aram Abrahamyan and Davit Martirosyan of Manana Youth Center—Armenia—2005—5m—doc—In Armenian with English subtitles

Meet Sako, a 13 year old boy who works in a gravestone factory in order to support his family. Sako speaks about his daily life, and his dreams of going to school.



Screening details

Location: The Ritzy, Brixton Oval, London
Date and time: 19 March 2010, 7pm

Location: ICA, The Mall, London
Date and time: 20 March 2010, 3.30pm

Parajanov

*Yuri Mechitov photo exhibition at the National Theatre in London

Read: Parajanovian London: Yuri Mechitov photo exhibit at the National Theatre (+ Mat Collishaw at BFI)

Armenian gay icon Parajanov festival in London (February - May 2010)

He is one of my all time favourite film directors. For me, he is an Armenian gay icon. And not only for me... for many LGBT Armenians, Georgians, Ukrainians, Russians.... world-wide.

It's with great pleasure, I'd like to let you know that for the first time, a large scale Parajanov festival will be staged in London (+ Bristol) over February-May 2010.

For details, see Unzipped: Gay Armenia

P.S. Btw, today is Parajanov’s birthday. Happy bday, Parajanov!! x

*I made this picture outside the museum of Parajanov in Yerevan, Armenia

Ali Bastian: “the epitome of an English rose” of Armenian and Russian descent

I knew Ali Bastian as Becca from a popular Channel 4 TV soap Hollyoaks. I never knew her real name. Watching yesterday BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special, where 6 celebrities compete in an “end of year dancing extravaganza”, it suddenly occured to me that her surname is “ian”. I know, it’s probably genetic, when each time hearing -yan/ian on a non-Armenian TV or event or a news item, our heart beat increases and we start looking for an Armenian heritage and so on and so on :) Yes, I accept this, and that’s exactly what I did. Quick search on Google brings me to this source that Ali Bastian is of Armenian and Russian descent. She is gorgeous and sexy. BBC describes her as “the epitome of an English rose”.

Originally hailing from Windsor, Ali is the epitome of an English rose. She made her first forays into TV with quintessentially English dramas such as Jane Eyre (when she was 10 years old) and A Touch Of Frost.

Ali is best known for playing Becca Dean in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks from 2001 to 2007. Becca's most controversial storyline in Hollyoaks saw her fired from her teaching job and sent to prison after having an affair with one of her students.

She did not manage to pass through to the final for Strictly Come Dancing 2009 competition. She was dancing in pair with Brian Fortuna, a professional ballroom dancer and choreographer from the US. Apparently, they are an item too.

[...] But just a week after they were controversially voted off Strictly Come Dancing during the semi-final, Ali Bastian and Brian Fortuna have finally confirmed they're an item.

After leaving the BBC show where they met, the couple journeyed to Paris for a romantic city break in the snow.

In an interview with the new issue of Hello! magazine, the couple said they are finally ready to go public with their romance.

In fact, they're getting so serious about each other Brian, 27, has bought Ali, 26, flight tickets to join him at his parents' home in New Jersey for Christmas. [...]

Before finding love with Brian, Ali dated London Irish rugby player Nick Kennedy and her Hollyoaks co-star Kevin Sacre.

But yesterday... she won the ultimate festive Christmas edition of the programme with all judges awarding the highest 10 score + being voted the highest by the audience.


Ali Bastian & Brian Fortuna dance the Viennese Waltz to Please Come Home For Christmas.


The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special 2009 Champions are crowned.


*picture - via Ali Bastian fan site