The story of Aurora Mardiganian, an Armenian girl caught up in the 1915 Armenian Genocide, was the basis of a hugely popular book and the 1919 silent film Ravished Armenia. After witnessing the murder of her family, Aurora was kidnapped, forced to march over 1,400 miles, and sold into slavery before finally escaping. All known copies of the film, which starred Aurora herself, have been lost. For this program, filmmaker Carla Garapedian of the Armenian Film Foundation and film historian Anthony Slide, author of Ravished Armenia and the Story of Aurora Mardiganian, bring Aurora's compelling story to life through rare film clips and photos.

In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, we dedicate 2015 to an exploration of multiple facets of Armenian culture, history, and landscape through film.