Armenia’s ‘The Winning Generation’ Doc Connects with the Diaspora Through Festival and Streaming Launch Before Elections
EXCLUSIVE: The political documentary The Winning Generation will have its world premiere at the Movies that Matter Film Festival in the Netherlands this weekend, while also launching on the White Rabbit streaming platform.
This documentary charts the journey of Shahen Harutyunyan, an Armenian politician, from his early days as a 14-year-old activist to a promising political leader. He embodies a legacy of resilience, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather in Armenia’s ongoing pursuit of independence.
Through this journey, Harutyunyan aims to transition a historical legacy of resistance into a contemporary vision of democracy, leading to the formation of the grassroots “Winning Generation” movement, which has evolved into the Shant Alliance party.
The release of the documentary arrives at a crucial moment for both Harutyunyan and Armenia, as national elections are scheduled for June 7, 2026. Following a notable victory in Kapan, Harutyunyan is campaigning amid a landscape marked by political instability and significant Russian influence as he seeks to redefine the new generation’s struggle for freedom.
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Directed by Marco De Stefanis, an Italian filmmaker based in the Netherlands, The Winning Generation showcases his extensive work with major broadcasters, including Rai, Mediaset, Discovery Channel, and History Channel. De Stefanis’ first feature documentary, Waiting for Giraffes, received selections at prestigious festivals such as IDFA and CPH:DOX.
“Shahen’s story is more than a personal one; it reflects a nation wrestling with its future. As Shahen says in the film, ‘Freedom is much easier to achieve than to maintain.’ This sentiment resonates widely, emphasizing the fragility of democracy,” stated De Stefanis.
The project is a collaboration between Amsterdam-based BIND and EiE film, supported by the Netherlands Film Fund, Netherlands Film Production Incentive, Italian Ministry of Culture, Film Commission Torino Piemonte, and Regione Piemonte.
“Given the urgency of the upcoming elections, we aimed to make the film accessible to audiences worldwide as soon as possible,” noted BIND producer Joram Willink.
“Partnering with White Rabbit was ideal, allowing us to introduce a new distribution model for a socially relevant story and ensure immediate engagement from viewers worldwide following its world premiere.”
The documentary’s release on the White Rabbit platform will focus on Armenian diaspora communities, including those in Los Angeles, France, Canada, Buenos Aires, Georgia, and Ukraine, as well as politically engaged younger audiences.
“The Winning Generation exemplifies how audiences can play a pivotal role. For too long, the film industry has viewed audiences merely as passive consumers instead of active supporters of meaningful stories,” said White Rabbit CEO Alan R. Milligan.
“White Rabbit enables audiences and influencers to directly partake in a film’s journey, sharing their experiences with friends and communities. This dynamic transforms cinema and festival attendees into key players in fostering important stories that extend beyond the theater and the confines of algorithms.”
The Movies that Matter Film Festival, centered on human rights and social justice, is taking place in The Hague from March 20 to 28.
A trailer for the film can be viewed below.
