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The Winning Generation

Date:
January 12, 2023

FIRST CUT+

The Winning Generation

WinningGeneration-still01

The Winning Generation

by Marco De Stefanis
BIND | Netherlands
EiE | Italy
Ofelya Zalyan | Armenia

Documentary | 2nd feature

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Logline

Filmed over 12 years, a 14-year-old Armenian activist grows into a rising political leader, carrying the weight of his father’s and grandfather’s resistance while fighting to reshape Armenia’s democratic future and counter Russian influence.

Synopsis

In 2013, 14-year-old Shahen Harutyunyan joined his father Shant, a prominent dissident, protesting corruption and Russian influence in Armenia.
The moment when Shant was arrested and imprisoned for four years, sparked Shahen’s political awakening. This film follows his journey from young activist to emerging politician. Shahen carries a powerful legacy: his father, once charismatic but changed by prison; his grandfather, an underground Soviet-era activist.
In 2021, Shahen won 70% in local elections through his new Shant Alliance party. Now he aims to become Armenia’s youngest prime minister in the 2026 national elections. Against modern Russian pressure, the film reveals a politically aware generation emerging. It portrays Shahen navigating between inherited resistance and self-determination, between longing for his father’s recognition and forging his own vision.
The Winning Generation captures the first political steps of a new generation, fueling hopes for a new democratic future in Armenia.

Director’s Profile

Marco De Stefanis is an Italian director who, after studying Physics at the University of Rome, embarked on a completely different career path, working on several TV programmes in Italy for Rai, Mediaset and abroad for Discovery Channel and History Channel. He has shot documentaries in Italy, Mexico, Colombia, Egypt, Congo, Nepal.

Since 2001 he lives in the Netherlands. His first feature Waiting for Giraffes was selected for a.o. IDFA competition, CPH DOX, Movies That Matter and collected several awards and prizes. The documentary tells the story of the zoo in the Palestinian village of Qalqilya where many of the animals were killed during the Intifada. The zoo’s director and veterinarian, Dr. Sami, is determined to revive the zoo’s fortunes and wants to bring in two new giraffes at all costs. The film succeeds in recounting the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in a completely unprecedented and non-rhetorical key.

 

Company Profile

BIND’s objective is to tell striking, unique stories that move and inspire, that open eyes and take root. BIND develops and produces genuine, provocative films about real people and the quest for their identity. Films that have proven to be a powerful way to portray contemporary topics in an intriguing or surprising manner.
Our aim is to create an effective connection between engaged filmmakers and their audience. BIND also stands for how we want to make films: by connecting passionate and talented filmmakers and taking the time to build a close relationship with them. Since 2007, BIND has built a rich track record with a number of notable successes.
My Extraordinary Summer with Tess won more than 20 international awards, including a Special Mention at the Berlinale, and was released in cinemas in over 12 countries. Gluckauf and The Judgements each won four Golden Calves (the Dutch Academy Awards), including two for Best Film. Our documentary A Thousand Fires received international recognition with the Marco Zucchi Award at the Locarno Semaine de la Critique 2021 and was selected for IDFA and CPH:DOX. Recent successes include the family film I Accidentally Wrote a Book (Cinekid, European Film Award nomination) and the documentary series The Butlers, which won the Prix Europa in 2024.
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