Aurora’s Sunrise

With director Inna Sahakyan in person

Dir. Inna Sahakyan. Armenia/Germany/Lithuania, 2022, 96 mins. In Armenian with English subtitles. In 1915, Aurora Mardiganian, at only 14 years old, lost everything during the horror of the Armenian genocide. Four years later, through luck and extraordinary courage, she escaped to New York, where her story became a media sensation. Starring as herself in the 1919 silent film Auction of Souls, based on her published memoir, Aurora became the face of one of the largest charity campaigns in American history. Blending vivid animation that captures the arc of her story, archival photos, interviews with Aurora as an elderly woman (she died at age 93), and footage from the silent film, Aurora’s Sunrise captures the fascinating story of an immigrant, author, actress, and advocate for survivors of the Armenian genocide. Armenia’s official 2022 Oscar submission and winner of Best Animated Film – Asia Pacific Screen Awards and the Audience Award at 2022 Animation Is Film Festival, Los Angeles. 

Recommended for ages 13+  

Tickets: $15 / $11 senior and students / $9 youth (ages 3–17) / free for MoMI members at the Senior/Student level and above. Order tickets. Please pick up tickets at the Museum’s admissions desk upon arrival. All seating is general admission. Review safety protocols before your visit.