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- Actress
- Producer
Angela Sarafyan is an Armenian American actress. She has appeared as a guest-star in several television series such as Judging Amy (1999) and Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997).
Sarafyan has acted in the feature films: On the Doll (2007), Kabluey (2007), The Informers (2008), A Beautiful Life (2008), The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 (2012), A Good Old Fashioned Orgy (2011), and Lost and Found in Armenia (2012).
In 2016 she starred as Clementine Pennyfeather in HBO's Westworld (2016).- Costume Designer
- Costume and Wardrobe Department
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mikael Sharafyan, originally from Yerevan, Armenia, is an award winning costume designer. Born into a family of artist, he is part of a lineage of entertainers, spanning back several generations. Of the artists, writers, musicians, and actors of his family tree, Levon Sharafyan stands out as a theater and movie actor. Sharafyan's mother, Ruzan Muradyan, is a pianist accompanist for ballet performances.
Sharafyan immersion into the arts began early. He would begin attending art academy at the age of seven. There, he learned to paint and sculpt. Patrons of theatre, his parents would work to advance Sharafyan's cultural and artistic palette by taking him to theatrical performances on a regular basis. There, the costume-designer-to-be found his passion as he was often introduced to performers and ushered through their dressing rooms. In 2001, Sharafyan settled in Glendale, CA. After graduating from Glendale High School, he participated in fine arts competitions, receiving awards and ranking highly amongst his peers. Thereafter, Sharafyan graduated from the Fashion Design Institute of Design (FDIM), receiving his degree in Fashion Design, taking an additional year to finish the Advanced Study Program in Theater Costume Design. His completion of the advanced studies program earned him a Warnaco Scholarship, which was presented to him by renown fashion designer Randolph Duke.
While acquiring his degree, Sharafyan also completed a six-month internship at Mon Atelier for couturier Ali Rahimi and another three-month internship working for Center Theater Group, in Downtown L.A. The competitions, internships, and academic training helped Sharafyan to acquire and advance his knowledge of the essential skills required of costume designers: sketching, dyeing fabrics, and constructing period and contemporary costumes. After his diploma, Sharafyan worked for eight years as a cutter and digitizer at Silvia's Costumes, Inc, in Hollywood. While there, he had the opportunity to work with Academy Award winning costume designer Colleen Atwood and Emmy Award winning designers Peter Menefee, Ray Aghayan, and Mona May, providing Sharafyan with the opportunity to cut the wedding dress from the movie "Enchanted". His debut as a costume designer was in 2008, when he worked for a Moulin Rouge ensemble that would go on to perform at President Obama's inaugural ball in Washington, D.C.
In 2011, Sharafyan became a recipient of the Best Costume Design award at the L.A. Cinema Festival of Hollywood for the music video "Disasteroid." Sharafyan's passion for costume design stems from a history of immersion into the arts. He considers costume design as a craft akin to sculpting and painting, where the artist is handcrafting individual works of art, meticulously drawing out the details and creating his works with the same strokes of inspiration that would motivate a painter to paint and taking his needle to thread with the same precision a sculptor would take a chisel to marble. In short, Sharafyan considers himself both as a dedicated professional and artist.- Actor
- Producer
- Director
Roman Mitichyan was born in Vanadzor, Armenia and started training at the age 8 in free style wrestling. He then went on to train in the art of Sambo-Judo with Baxshik Saroyan. Roman was a natural at the sport and soon became a Champion in Armenia. In 1997 he and his family moved to the United States and he started training at the Hayastan Judo Club under world renown grapplers Gene Lebell and Gokor Chivichyan.
In 2006 Roman won 1st place in the USJI National Championship. Roman is a world Bronze medalist in Sambo, and an active MMA fighter with a 15-3 record.
Roman's approach to fighting (and life) is grounded in his hard work ethic and relentless attacks. It is this tenacity that has propelled him to the top of his sport.- Actress
- Producer
- Director
Olga Chekhova (also Olga Tschechova in German), one of the most popular stars of the silent film era, remained a mysterious person throughout her life and was accused of being a Russian agent in Nazi Germany.
She was born Olga Konstantinovna von Knipper on April 26, 1897, in Aleksandropol, Transcaucasia, Russian Empire (now Gyumri, Armenia). She was the second of 3 children in a bilingual Russian-German family. Her father, Konstantin Leonardovich Knipper, a Lutheran of German descent. He made a military career in Russia as a railroad engineer. Young Olga studied art and literature at an art school in St. Petersburg. Later as an immigrant in Germany she claimed friendship with the family of Tsar Nicholas II--who also was of German origin--and that she had encountered the notorious Russian mystic and monk, Grigory Rasputin. In reality, she was sent from St. Petersburg to Moscow to her aunt, actress Olga Knipper-Chekhova, to study acting at Moscow Art Theatre. In 1914, at age 17, she eloped with Russian-Jewish actor Michael Chekhov, nephew of Anton Chekhov.
Olga adored her husband, Michael Chekhov, a rising star of stage and film. But he met another beauty, Xenia Zimmer, and became involved in extramarital affair while Olga was pregnant with their child. Their daughter, Ada Tschechowa, was born in 1916. Olga separated from Michael Chekhov during the tragic time of the Russian Revolution in 1917. That same year she made her film debut in a Russian silent film, Anya Kraeva (1918).
Olga claimed that she fled Russia disguised as a peasant woman and posed as a mute while carrying a diamond ring in her mouth. In reality she married an officer in the Austro-Hungarian army, Friedrich Jaroshi, and took a train from the Moscow Belorussky station to Vienna, Austria, having travel documents from the Russian Commissar of Culture (and she was also helped by the Russian intelligence agency in exchange for her cooperation). She was later invited to the Soviet Embassy in Berlin for meetings with Soviet officials. In Germany she was introduced to film producer Erich Pommer and renowned director F.W. Murnau, who gave her a leading role in his film, The Haunted Castle (1921). She quickly became a huge star in Europe and played in more than 40 silent films during the decade. Olga was joined by ex-husband Michael Chekhov in several films, including Der Narr seiner Liebe (1929) (aka "The Fool of Love"), which she also directed.
Future Nazi leader Adolf Hitler reportedly fell for Olga upon seeing her cold and beautiful face in several films in the 1920s. She was famous for her movie image as a baroness and was courted in the 1930s by Luftwaffe boss Hermann Göring and by Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels. Some wives of high-ranking Nazi officials were jealous of and hated the beautiful Olga. Goebbels was known to have visited her home on several occasions when he wanted to be away from his Nazi "activities". He invited Olga to several Nazi receptions and introduced her to Adolf Hitler in April 1933. Olga became a personal friend of Hitler and was photographed sitting next to "Der Fuhrer" at official events of the Nazi Party. She also received valuable Christmas gifts from Hitler, and regular birthday presents and other tokens of his attention.
In 1936 Olga was honored with the title of "State Actress" of the Third Reich and was made a German citizen. She married a wealthy Belgian businessman, Marcel Robyns. One day prior to the wedding she had a private reception with Hitler, who gave her permission to retain her German citizenship. Two years later she divorced Robyns and returned to her high-society life in Berlin. Her famous 1939 photo-op with Hitler was thoroughly analyzed in Moscow.
She was invited by Soviet officials to join Hermann Göring and Joachim von Ribbentrop at the meeting with Vyacheslav Molotov and Gen. V. N. Merkulov at the Soviet Embassy in Berlin in 1940. At that time Olga was associated with her agent-brother Lev Knipper, who was sent from Moscow to Germany on a secret mission to assassinate Adolf Hitler. The plan was to use one of Olga's visits with Hitler for a suicide attack on the Fuhrer. Olga was kept oblivious of the plan, which was aborted by an order from Joseph Stalin, who became paranoid about the possibility of Germany's alliance with Britain if Hitler was killed. Interestingly, Stalin and Hitler were both amateur film directors in the 1920s, but as dictators they now directed the course of history.
Olga was invited by Josef Goebbels to the official reception in Berlin in July of 1941, only a month after the Nazis invaded Russia and Luftwaffe bombings caused massive devastation to Russian cities. Goebbels announced the planned occupation of Moscow.
She was being investigated by the SS on orders from SS leader Heinrich Himmler. She was constantly under surveillance by both Nazi and Soviet agents in her Berlin home. As the war progressed and conditions got progressively worse for the Nazi regime, party bosses became increasingly paranoid. Himmler was planning to arrest her in January of 1945. One early morning she was informed of Himmler's move. She immediately called him directly with a request for a favor--to let her finish her morning cup of coffee comfortably. When SS commandos surrounded her home Himmler opened her door and was met by an angry Adolf Hitler, who in no uncertain terms informed Himmler that he had made a mistake.
Olga was a beautiful pawn in a dangerous game between the two most destructive powers in the Second World War. She survived through acting, cheating, lying and disguise. She protected her daughter Ada from Nazi anti-Semitism by hiding the fact that her ex-husband, Michael Chekhov, was Jewish. Her brother Lev Knipper was held in a Nazi concentration camp and managed to survive because of his perfect German (and probably with her help). During the savage battle for Berlin just before the war's end, Olga hid in a bomb shelter and was eventually taken prisoner by the Red Army. She was flown to Moscow in April of 1945, for debriefing at the offices of Soviet secret police officials Viktor Abakumov and Lavrenti Beria. She discreetly attended the Moscow Art Theatre performance of "The Cherry Orchard" starring her aunt Olga Knipper-Chekhova in May of 1945. They were not allowed to talk and her aunt Olga fainted backstage.
After two months of interrogations in Moscow, on June 26, 1945, Olga was flown back to Berlin, where she was assisted by the Soviet Army. She was given money and moved in to a Soviet-supervised house on Spree Strasse in the Soviet sector of East Berlin. Several articles in the French and British presses stated that she was a clandestine agent and secretly decorated by the Soviet government. She praised the Russian victory over the Nazis in a private letter to her aunt Olga Knipper-Chekhova. Meanwhile, the film she made in Hollywood turned out to be a flop in the US market, mainly because of her heavy Russian accent.
She continued a film career in Europe and ran her own film production company, Venus-Film Olga Tschechowa. In 1950 she moved to Munich and starred in several films. In 1955 she used her star power to launch a successful cosmetics company, "Olga Tscheschowa Kosmetik Geselschaft." Her remarkable acting career, spanning almost 60 years, ended in 1978, with a small film role as a grandmother.
Her personal file was temporarily available for viewing at the KGB archives in Moscow. One report on her was prepared and signed by the notoriously brutal KGB chief Viktor S. Abakumov. On that report a handwritten question was left by a reader in Kremlin: "What do you suggest to be done with Ms. Chekhova?", the handwriting was by Joseph Stalin. Stalin was quoted as having said, "The actress Olga Chekhova will be very useful in the post-war years", and she probably was. One of her films was titled Der Mann, der zweimal leben wollte (1950), or "The Man Who Wanted to Live Two Lives"--and that was exactly what she did.
In 1955, Olga was saddened by the death of Michael Chekhov. In 1966, Olga suffered from another tragedy: her only daughter Ada died in an airplane crash. Devastated by the painful loss, Olga suffered from bouts of depression and turned to alcohol, but she survived thanks to her strong will and lust for life. She lived for another fifteen years, played a few more roles in the movies, and saw her great-grandchildren grow. Moments before she died, sensing the end was near, she ordered a glass of champagne from her granddaughter Vera Tschechowa. That was March 9, 1980, in Munich, Germany.
Her last words were, "Life is beautiful!"- Producer
- Director
- Writer
Born in 1984 in Yerevan, Armenia, by the age of 29, Sarik Andreasyan became a top-3 highest grossing Russian directors according to Variety Russia.
Directing a successful remake of the Russian cult classic "Office Romance" at the age of 23 puts him on the map and the widely beloved box office hit "Moms" cements his positions as one of the most talented and profitable directors in his country. The sequel to "Moms" - "Happy New Year, Moms!" sees Sarik working with the ensemble cast studded with the legend himself - monsieur Alan Delon.
In 2013 the American chapter of Sarik's career begins. In the summer of the same year his creative collaboration with the incredible talents of Adrien Brody and Hayden Christensen results in highly-anticipated dramatic action "American Heist".
In 2014 Sarik produces and directs a highly anticipated sci-fi thriller "Mafia" based on an international hit social game. Employing the top Russian talent and sensational CGI the film proved to be the biggest opening upon its release.
2016 sees Sarik take on one of the most dreadful and tragic natural disasters that has ever occurred to the humanity - Spitak earthquake - in a form of an epic drama "Earthquake" filmed on location. Passionate approach, unique style and immense desire to depict honest human suffering has earned Sarik's film to be selected by the National Armenian Film Committee to represent his country of birth in seeking an Academy Awards nomination.
Later that year Sarik breaks the boundaries with the most ambitious project from that part of the world to date - The Guardians (2017), described by a Rotten Tomatoes critic as "The plot is bone-headed and the quality of the visual effects is terrible, but there is a pure, unironic sense of purpose in this film that is utterly charming and, at times, unintentionally hilarious." - first of its kind superhero film that, according to The Hollywood Reported, The Guardian and many more, proves to become the most anticipated international release of 2017.
With four more projects in development as of the end of 2017 (among which are sci-fi thriller "Coma" and post-apocalyptic epic "Station 88"), Sarik Andreasyan is set to establish himself among the hottest directors chased by Hollywood producers and a cinematographic visionary of our time.- Producer
- Executive
Arthur Sarkissian was born on 11 May 1960 in Leninakan, Armenian SSR, USSR [now Gyumri, Armenia]. He is a producer and executive, known for Rush Hour (1998), Last Man Standing (1996) and The Foreigner (2017).- Actor
- Producer
- Editor
David Sargsyan is an American Armenian actor. He is known for his successful roles in the short films such as Dr. Antonio (2022), Molehill (2017) and Real Heroes Don't Die (2021). For these roles the actor received awards and nominations in many film festivals. Actor is also known for his roles in several popular commercials. In Armenia the actor is popular for his lead roles in TV series Tuxt U Gir (2013) and Dangerous Games (2015), filmed in Los Angeles. David Sargsyan is also a stage actor. He performed in many Armenian-American musicals and theatrical plays for kids in Los Angeles, by embodying characters such as Aladdin, Prince Charming, Prince Florian and many other lead roles.
David Sargsyan was born in Yerevan, Armenia on April 16, 1994. In 2011 he moved to the United States to start his acting career. In Armenia he studied in a dance academy and musical school. He is a skilled dancer, singer and piano player. He also trained martial arts, specifically "Traditional Karate". He is fluent in English, Russian and Armenian languages.
David Sargsyan received several degrees and certificates. He completed a Bachelor's degree at the University of California, Irvine in major "Film and Media" and minor "History". He has Associates in Science degree in "Film, Television and Media Studies" and Associates in Arts degree in "Visual Arts" from Glendale Community College. He also received "Dance Teacher" and "Choreographic Studies and Dance Technique" certificates from the same college.- He studied in Leninakan Art College and Theatre Studio, then finished at the Acting Department of Yerevan Institute of Fine Arts and Theatre. Since 1953 he has performed in the Sundukyan Drama Theatre of Yerevan. He also directed many successful productions, best of them Maxim Gorky's "The Lower Depths". His cinema career began in 1955. His famous roles in Aybolit-66 (1967), Kidnapping, Caucasian Style (1967), Mimino (1977) earned him the reputation of one of the leading comedy actors in the Soviet Union. But that reputation sometimes overshadowed his real talent and emotional deepness which he put in such classics of Armenian cinema as Yerankyuni (1967),_Menq enq, mer sarere (1970)_, Hayrik (1973), Life Triumphs (1977), Hin oreri yerge (1982), Tango of Our Childhood (1985). Certainly he was the most famous and internationally recognized Armenian artist of the 2nd half of 20th century.
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Armen Dzhigarkhanyan was awarded the Armenian Republican State Prize in 1975 for "Triangle" and again in 1979 for "Snow in Mourning." He was named People's Artist of the Soviet Union in 1985. Dzhigarkhanyan began his acting career in 1955 at the Russian Stanislavsky Theatre in Yerevan, and in 1967 moved to the Lenkom Theatre in Moscow. In 1969 he joined the Mayakovsky Academic Theatre. Born in Yerevan, Armenia, Dzhigarkhanyan worked as assistant cameraman at Armenfilm studios in 1953-1954.- Writer
- Director
- Producer
Born in Armenia and raised in Los Angeles, Eric Nazarian is a graduate of the University of Southern California's (USC) School of Cinematic Arts where he earned a B.A. in Film Production.
"The Blue Hour," his first feature film as writer-director, is composed of four stories about working-class lives near the Los Angeles River, starring Alyssa Milano, Clarence Williams III, and Emily Rios. The film's World Premiere took place at the 55th San Sebastian International Film Festival and was nominated for the Altadis-New Director's Award. "The Blue Hour" went to screen at the 25th Torino Film Festival in the Official Selection and was named "Film of the Day" by the European Network of Young Cinema. The film premiered in the U.S. at the 10th Arpa International Film Festival where Nazarian was presented with the Best Director award. At the 5th Golden Apricot International Film Festival, "The Blue Hour" received the Golden Apricot for Best Film in the Armenian Panorama, the Ecumenical Jury Award and the Prime Minister's Award.
Nazarian received the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences® prestigious Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting for his screenplay, "Giants." In 2010, Nazarian made "Bolis," a short film about a descendant of a Genocide survivor in Istanbul as part of the European Union's Capital of Culture Program. Nazarian adapted Chris Bohjalian's New York Times bestselling, critically acclaimed novel, "The Sandcastle Girls" that he is also attached to produce and direct. "Three Christs," his adaptation of Milton Rokeach's "The Three Christs of Ypsilanti" with director Jon Avnet premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), starring Richard Gere, Peter Dinklage, Julianna Margulies and Walton Goggins.- Producer
- Writer
- Director
Tereza Hakobyan-Lolli was born on 4 June 1987 in Armenia. She is a producer and writer, known for The Super Lollis (2023), From Fat Lolli to Six Pack Lolli: The Ultimate Transformation Story (2020) and 6 Degrees of Hell (2012).- Jaklin Baghdasaryan was born in 1997 in Yeghegnadzor, Armenia. She is an actress, known for Ladaniva: Jako (2024) and Eurovision Song Contest Malmö 2024 (2024).
- Director
- Writer
- Editor
Creator of the "distance montage," Artavazd Peleshian, one of the key Soviet documentary makers, removed the boundaries of feature and documentary films, editing both sequences as a real poetical unity. His "distance montage" was a new step in the development of film editing.
Even his student works [The Earth of the People (1966) and the Beginning (1967)] shot at VGIK, the oldest film school in Moscow, were awarded numerous prizes and he gained recognition among filmmakers. In 1975, he petitioned the Soviet authorities to allow the blacklisted cinematographer Mikhail Vartanov to film his ambitious next project and together they created the masterpiece Four Seasons (1975). It was Pelechian's first film without any archive footage, thanks to Vartanov's exquisite black and white cinematography.
Alongside his very successful solo career, Peleshian was invited to direct archive footage by such masters as Lev Kulidzhanov for Zvyozdnaya minuta (1973) and Andrey Konchalovskiy for Siberiade (1979). Mikhail Vartanov directed Osennyaya pastoral (1971) from Peleshian's screenplay.
Artavazd Peleshian is the author of a range of theoretical works, including his 1988 book "Moyo kino" ("My Cinema"). Some of the most important works of Armenia's documentary cinema include Sergei Parajanov's Hakob Hovnatanyan (1967), Mikhail Vartanov's Parajanov: The Last Spring (1992) and Artavazd Peleshian's Four Seasons (1975).- Svetlana Svetlichnaya was born on 15 May 1940 in Leninakan, Armenian SSR, USSR [now Gyumri, Armenia]. She is an actress, known for The Diamond Arm (1969), The Meeting Place Cannot Be Changed (1979) and Day of Wrath (1985).
- Actor
- Director
- Composer
Shavo was born in Armenia in 1974. He has been in System of a Down, since the early 90s. He plays the bass. He made his film debut in Zoolander (2001). He and System of a Down have been touring on Ozzfest more than twice and recorded hugely innovative and platinum selling records "Toxicity" in 2001 and "Mezmerize" in 2005- Writer
- Director
- Actress
Milena Aboyan was born in 1992 in Armenia. She is a writer and director, known for Elaha (2023), Der Greteltrick (2018) and Das letzte Geschenk (2014).- Actor
- Writer
- Director
Vaz Andreas is an actor who's appeared in TV shows like NCIS, Lucifer, Chasing Life, The Shield, Hit The Floor and others. He started his training in theater and studied under prestigious acting coaches in Hollywood. Vaz has starred in several films and soap operas and published his first novel called 'Fade', which is available on all platforms. His short film "Dark Senses" which he wrote, directed and also acted in, has been officially seleced in eighteen film festivals and is a winner of two awards. The film still continues its run in the festivals around the world.- Actress
- Writer
- Director
Anna Condo was born on 25 December 1966 in Yerevan, USSR [now Armenia]. She is an actress and writer, known for Proud Iza (2008), Alchimie (2002) and New York Socialite (2000). She was previously married to George Condo.- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Hovhannes Babakhanyan is an American-Armenian actor and singer who enjoyed a successful career in theater, cinema and television as an actor, producer and singer. He speaks Armenian ,Russian and English which helped him to be in many international projects in London,New-York, Moscow, Beirut etc. In 2010 he moved to Los Angeles and joined "Victor Kruglov & Associates International Talent Management"- Director
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Executive
Jivan is an Armenian film director and a Berlinale Talents 2020. Jivan was born in Gyumri and raised in Artsakh. Jivan is based in the capital city of Yerevan, Armenia. Jivan grew up during one of the most violent conflicts in the caucuses and understands well the brutal consequences of war. And although his own childhood was stripped of playful mischief and was instead laden with responsibility to protect family and friends, Jivan did not abandon his dream and passion for filmmaking. Jivan's lifelong dream of storytelling, of chronicling history, and putting Artsakh on the world map has been realized through the art of filmmaking. Jivan has created well over twenty documentaries, short films, and three feature films, Tevanik, The Last Inhabitant, and Gate to Heaven. Jivan's first feature film, "Tevanik", has been recognized in over twenty international film festivals claiming over twenty awards including Best Feature Film. Jivan's second feature film "The Last Inhabitant" was screened at A class international film festivals including Shanghai and Venice and was considered for the Best Foreign Language Film and Best Original Score in the 73rd Golden Globe Awards; it won Best Feature Film and Best Actor Award at the Scandinavian International Film Festival in Helsinki, Finland. Lastly, the film was licensed by HBO Eastern Europe. Jivan's third film project, "Gate to Heaven" is making its round in the festival market. Jivan continues to thrive to tell stories about his hometown, and is in the development stage of his fourth feature film which is earmarked for production in 2021.
Jivan studied at the Yerevan State Institute of Theatre and Cinematography in the faculty of Feature Films from five years. Jivan pursued his career and became the director of the TV programs. Jivan was quickly promoted to director of films and TV programs at Yerkir Media TV company, a very reputable TV station in Armenia. Jivan's accomplishments as a director led him to become chief director at Yerkir Media in 2009 for the next five years. In 2014, Jivan co-founded Fish eye Art Cultural Foundation and has served as the director of the foundation since its inception.- Director
- Writer
- Producer
Aik Karapetian was born on 10 July 1983 in Leninakan, Armenian SSR, USSR [now Gyumri, Armenia]. He is a director and writer, known for The Man in the Orange Jacket (2014), Bezkaunigie (2023) and Riebums (2007).- Shake Tukhmanyan was born on 5 December 1951 in Yerevan, Armenia. She is an actress, known for Lord of War (2005), Sideways (2004) and Abducted (2018).
- Actor
- Producer
Hrant Tokhatyan was born on 10 January 1958 in Yerevan, Armenian SSR, USSR [now Armenia]. He is an actor and producer, known for Our Yard 3 (2006), 3 Weeks in Yerevan (2016) and Our Yard (1996).- Actress
- Additional Crew
Serine Sianosian was born on 16 August 1996 in Armenia. She is an actress, known for Checkout (2023), Odesskiy podkidysh (2017) and KuraTory (2018).- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Michael Poghosian was born on 31 May 1965 in Yerevan, Armenian SSR, USSR [now Armenia]. He is an actor and writer, known for Lorik (2018), If Only Everyone (2012) and Thank You, Dad (2014).- He has graduated from the Yerevan Fine Arts and Theatre Institute in 1954. From 1954 he performed at the Sundukyan Drama Theatre of Yerevan. In 1992 he established and headed "Hamazgain" Theatre. Since 1997 he is the rector of Yerevan Institute of Theatre and Cinema. Besides Armenian films has starred in a number of Russian films, most notable of which is Solaris (1972), directed by Andrei Tarkovsky.
- Actor
- Camera and Electrical Department
Samvel Tadevossian was born on 6 June 1993 in Yerevan, Armenia. He is an actor and director.
In 2014, he successfully completed his studies at the Yerevan State Institute of Theater and Cinematography, focusing on acting and theatrical arts.
Throughout his career, Samvel Tadevossian has made remarkable contributions to the world of Armenian contemporary theater. He also showcased his directorial talents in the ballet performance "Memos of a Suicide" at the National Academic Theater of Ballet and Opera, in the solo play "Egoist," demonstrating his skills both as an actor and director. In 2018, Samvel directed an experimental performance "Motherland".
In 2015, he was honored with the prestigious Artavazd Theater Award for his exceptional talent as a young actor. This was followed by the Anahit Award from the Armenian State Film Academy in 2016, recognizing his outstanding acting skills. In 2017, he received the Special Award at the esteemed Golden Apricot Film Festival, further highlighting his remarkable contributions.- Actress
- Sound Department
- Assistant
Tatevik Hunanyan is an American Armenian actress, born in Yerevan, Armenia on August 24, 1989. Raised in Los Angeles in a home of Artists, Tatevik began dancing contemporary ballet at the age of five. At the age of fifteen, she began dancing the Argentine Tango training with renowned dancer, Sergie Tumas. In 2009, she enrolled and became a member of the prestigious Lee Strasberg Theater / Film institute in Los Angeles where she began studying her craft in acting. In 2010, she was introduced to legendary martial artist and Hollywood stunt coordinator Benny "the Jet" Urquidez, whom with she began her extensive Kickboxing/stunt training. She currently holds a black-belt under Japanese American trained Martial Artist, Tadashi Yamashita. During her transition into the wrestling world, Tatevik trained under the expertise of wrestling veterans that include Tom Prichard, Pat Tanaka, Leilani Kai and Rocky Johnson. She made her debut in 2012 and worked her first event on January 19, 2013 at WOW 23: High Expectations, where she defeated Santana Garrett. On March 9, 2013 during the WOW Pandemonium Tour. Tatevik wrestled Frost in a No. 1 Contender match for the WOW Championship, resulting in a Double Count-Out. On November 16, 2013 Tatevik defeated Melissa Coates at Superstars Of Wrestling Fan Fest. In 2012 she was featured alongside Dolph Lundgren and Randy Couture in the film "Rush" as DEA Agent Garcia and has continued advancing her career as an actress and professional wrestler.- Producer
- Actor
Karen Ghazaryan was born on 25 April, 1970 in Yerevan, the Republic of Armenia. From early childhood Karen stood out for his charisma, acting skills, creativity and quick wit, as well as organizational skills. However, destiny took him to the Armenian National Agrarian University. His career jump-started from the Club of the Merry and Inventive (KVN), when he and his team-mates started paving the way through television, starting with entertaining projects and ending up with the feature film Mer Baky/ Our Yard (1996), which had two sequels and became ultimately popular with Armenian audience. Since 1993 up to this day Ghazaryan has been the chairman of KVN association in Armenia. He initiated the creation of such popular teams as "New Armenians" and "Armenian Project". From 2008 to 2014 he appeared as a professor of "Creative Studies" and "Methods of Promotion" at Russian-Armenian State (Slavonic) University. He is the general director of "Sharm Holding" LLC - leading show-business and advertising agency in Armenia, which was founded back in 1991. The company collaborates with major film production companies, TV channels (Armenia TV, Public TV Company of Armenia, Fashion TV, Russian STS Television network, MIR TV and others), governmental structures (Yerevan City Hall, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Diaspora), funds ("Hayastan" All-Armenian Fund, "Lusabac", "Masnakic em" / "I participate" charity fund of which Karen is a co-founder) and cultural centers. His company and Karen personally have created many productions in collaboration with many renowned Armenian and Russian artists and directors, such as Vigen Chaldranyan (Alter Ego), Rodion Nahapetov (My Big Armenian Wedding), Saida Medvedeva (100; Water), Mher Mkrtchyan (Battle and Life), Gor Kirakosyan (Ticket to Vegas; Knight's Move), Vahik Pirhamzei (Three Weeks in Yerevan), David and Robert Sahakyants (Anahit) and many others. Since 2007 Karen Ghazaryan is the founder and general director of "Prime Commercial" LLC - advertising agency providing a wide range of advertising and marketing services. The agency is the affiliate of MindShare and JWT, world advertising network agencies. He is also the member of jury in a number of international festivals, such as White Square creativity festival, annually held in Belarus and "Popok" International Advertising Festival. At present Karen Ghazaryan is predominantly occupied by his job as a producer. Throughout the past 10 years he created over 13 productions, including feature films (The Line; Roots; Four Buddies and the Bride; Alter Ego; the Knight's Move; An Interrupted Flight; Half Moon Bay), documentaries (As Long as I live; Anna Hedvig Büll - The Last Prayer), Animated movies (Anahit) and miniseries (My Big Armenian Wedding). He also appeared as the producer of several TV projects, as well as the musical Love Bridge. Karen Ghazaryan has a number of awards for his contribution in Armenian culture. In 2010 the RA Ministry of Culture awarded him with a Golden Medal for his significant contribution in the development of Armenian culture. In 2015 he received a Gratitude medal, which is a state award given for personal contribution and dedicated work in social, economic, scientific, educational or cultural field. Karen Ghazaryan earned this award for his immense support in the organization and coordination of the events of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Serge Avedikian was born on 1 December 1955 in Yerevan, Armenian SSR, USSR [now Armenia]. He is an actor and director, known for Paradzhanov (2013), Lost in Armenia (2016) and Barking Island (2010).- Cinematographer
- Writer
- Camera and Electrical Department
Miko received his MFA in Cinematography from AFI Conservatory. His work "Cunningham" was premiered at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival and the New York International Film Festival. Miko got the best cinematography awards for the dance film "Nora" at the New Port Beach Film Festival and the grand prize for cinematography at the Golden Eye Festival of cinematography. Miko is the Vice President of ACG (Armenian Cinematography Guild) and The Armenian National Film Academy member. He lives in LA.- Actor
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
The modern Armenian theatre is distinguished by bright individuals-actors and directors, among whom Levon Sharafyan is a star of the first magnitude with brilliancy of a great artist. He was born in 1947, got his professional higher education in the Yerevan Institute of Arts and Theatre. Within decades he, thanks to his God-given gift and diligence has conquered summits of dramatic art. He is a well-known and favorite actor in Armenia and Diaspora every role of whom becomes a noticeable event in theatre life. He has played tens of leading parts in performances of Armenian, American, and European authors. He has won numerous international awards for performing his best parts, his creative work obtained unanimous recognition of the international community. Special attention deserves a galaxy of roles played by Levon Sharafyan in Shakespeare's tragedies "Richard III", "Henry VI", "Hamlet", "Romeo and Juliet", "Julius Caesar" in which he, shining with all verges of his original gift, shocked the audience by display of deep thoughts and feelings. Tours in Tbilisi, Moscow, Sofia, Beirut, Paris, London, Los Angeles and other cities were triumphant procession of his art. Sharafyan is not a one-sided, but a versatile and diverse actor-with the same unsurpassed skill he personifies tragic and comic, heroic and everyday states. The latter ones in his performance express great human life-laughter through tears. Sharafyan does not wear, like other actors, one and the same mask once and forever. In every play he creates a new and unique mask, with manifoldness of characters so typical of him that is actually his mask-a conglomeration of life and human destiny. The number of roles played by Sharafyan is extraordinary impressing-it is more than one hundred. There are no minor roles for him because he transfers even minor roles into the main ones. This is actually the sign of greatness of an actor, manifestation of high responsibility and exactingness of an artist. Sharafyan talent has also exhibited itself in TV and variety shows. It becomes apparent everywhere where he is an artist and he is an artist in everything. And not only an artist, but also a director, a theatre teacher, having brought up numerous youth. He is one of rare artists who are not strangers to international theatre and his presence and work would become conspicuous occurrence in any place of the world.- Actor
- Director
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Talented actor, director, and musician, Ashot Adamyan, is known not only in Armenia but also in many other countries. He has had a major impact on the art of cinema and theater, bringing a new specific artistic style to his field. He is a winner of many prestigious international film festivals, has been a member of the judging panels of said prestigious film festivals several times, and is recognized as one of the most beloved Armenian actors. Ashot Adamyan was born in 1953 in Yerevan, Armenian SSR, USSR, which is now the Republic of Armenia, to Karlos Adamyan (geologist) and Olga Hakobyan (chemist). From a very early age, he displayed exceptional artistic talent and embarked on his legendary career, playing in the school theater. After graduating from the Alexander Pushkin school in Yerevan, he attended the Yerevan Construction and Architectural College from 1968-1972. He graduated with honors from the college's architectural department, presenting his thesis on theater building design, which amazed the academic jury and was published by several newspapers. In his youth, he also played in many of the famous Armenian rock bands of that time, including Spiders, Apostles, and 1+2, and was known as a recognized rock singer and guitar player. From 1975-1979, Adamyan studied directing at State Pedagogical Institute under the wing of Henrik Malyan, one of the greatest Armenian film directors of a ll time. Later he attended Moscow High Courses for Scriptwriters and Film Directors with Rolan Bykov as his professor (1987-1990). During his years as a student, Ashot Adamyan managed to juggle both his studies and his blossoming career. His cinematic debut was in Bow to the Coming Day (1977) by Vilen Zakaryan. Following this, director Arman Manaryan invited Ashot Adamyan to play the main character, Hovik, in his feature film, Another Five Days (1978). His next significant, leading role was as Captain Danielyan in "Silent Witness" (1980) by Anatoliy Mokatzian. However, his breakthrough performance was his role as Torik in the film "A Piece of the Sky" (Ktor me yerkinq (1980)) otherwise known as "A Slap" by translated versions, by Henrik Malyan. "A Piece of the Sky" (Ktor me yerkinq (1980)) was, and still is, considered one of the top classic Armenian movies of all time with a stellar cast, director, and ahead of its time screenwriting, and because of its fame, Ashot Adam yan became a household name. For this role, he received "The Most Charming Actor" award at the All-Union Film Festival in Vilnius in 1981. Seeing Adamyan's exceptional talent, director Henrik Malyan founded The Actor's Theater adjacent to the "ArmenFilm" Studio in 1980, where Ashot Adamyan worked as an actor, director, and later, artistic director of the renamed Henrik Malyan Theater. He took to the stage "Nazar the Brave" by Derenik Demirchyan, "Orchestra" by Jean Anouilh, and "Divine Comedy" by Isidor Stock, and also played in "The Decameron" by Giovanni Boccaccio, "My name is Aram" by William Saroyan, "Autobiography" by Branislav Nusic, and "The Prisoner of Second Avenue" by Neil Simon etc. Along with his theater performances, Ashot Adamyan was continuing his acting career on the big screen. He starred in Little Love Story (1981), Mi katil meghr (1982), and Hin oreri yerge (1982) by Albert Mkrtchyan, where Ashot Adamyan portrayed the main character, Oberon, for which he received three diplomas from The Lenin Komsomol Central Committee, The Union of Cinematographers of ASSR, and The Ministry of Culture of ASSR. Since 1982, he became a member of The Union of Cinematographers of Armenia. Later, Adamyan starred in more movies, including Daily Routine of a Young Man (1983), Master (1983), "The Price of Return" (Tsena vozvrata (1983)), We Shall Meet Again (1984), Path to the Sky (1984), "Where are You Going, Soldier?" (Ur es gnum, zinvor? (1986)), and "The Deadline: Seven Days" (Zhamkete yot or (1991)). In 1992, a renowned Canadian filmmaker, Atom Egoyan, visited Armenia and started shooting his new film, Calendar (1993), starring Ashot Adamyan and Arsinée Khanjian. The film was presented in several international festivals and got great feedback from critics and audiences alike. In 1996, Ashot Adamyan, his wife, Armine Geghamyan, and their two children, Gohar and Mariam Adamyan, released his musical album, "Dle M'konde", which consisted of old Armenian folk songs with new developments and arrangements by Ashot Adamyan himself. The album was well accepted with Armenian, European and American-Armenian audiences. The live version of this project was later presented in Vienna, Austria in the "Troubadour" festival in 2002, within the "Armenian Folk Music: Before and After Sayat Nova" program. During this festival, Ashot performed "Tamam ashkharh ptut eka" by Sayat-Nova, cooperating with a famous jazz musician, Christoph Cech. In 2001, Adamyan was awarded by The Best Song Pan-Armenian Award for the song "Back to Yerevan" in the Sayat Nova 2001 festival. In 1998, Ashot Adamyan was invited to Los Angeles to perform in Khoren Aramouni's play "Uncle Poghos's visit." Here, Ashot appeared both as a director and an actor. In 2003, director Adamyan was awarded "The best cognitive, cultural, and educational project" award for his film series "Javakhk: We are living here". The award was given by the "Television and Radio Association of Development" NGO. Later in 2005, Adamyan portrayed the main role of Tigran in Ruben Kochar's film, Arahet (2005). This film was shot in Armenia and the USA in cooperation with the National Cinema Center of Armenia and Blue Lion Entertainment. In the same year, Adamyan put on the play by Bernard Slade, "Same Time, Next Year" in the Hakob Paronyan Musical Comedy Theater stage. The following year, Adamyan starred in Black and White Rainbow (2006) by Khachik Chalikyan, and in 2006, portrayed the main character, Yusuf, in Enemies (2006) by David Matevossyan in collaboration with "Focal" Swiss company. In 2008, Ashot Adamyan was an honorable jury member of the Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival. On top of this, Adamyan organized artistic master classes in Tehran and directed "Like it or not - We are Armenians": a play dedicated to the 100th anniversary of William Saroyan. In 2009, Ashot Adamyan starred in "Metsamor", a mono-play based on the essay of a great writer, Hrant Matevosyan, for which Adamyan received The Best Actor "Artavazd" award by the Theater Workers Union of Armenia. After the turn of the decade, Ashot Adamyan, in cooperation with David Matevossyan, directed the film "We are...", dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the famous movie Menq enq, mer sarere (1969). The next year, by the invitation of Radio Liberty, Adamyan starred in "The Writer and the Reality" by the Radio Liberty Armenian Service production where he portrayed the infamous Armenian writer, Hovhannes Tumanyan. In 2012, he appeared in "The Pheasant Hunter", a segment of Half Moon Bay (2014) by Parallels Film production LLC supported by National Cinema Center of Armenia. In the same year, Adamyan presented his documentary film, "Snapshots", ordered by the women's' NGO, "Shahkhatun," in Armenia. Following this project, he reunited with Canadian filmmaker, Atom Egoyan to create, "The Invisible World" (Invisible World (2012)), their second collaboration. This film was brought to life by 12 directors (Theodoros Angelopoulos, Guy Maddin, Marco Bechis, Manoel de Oliveira, Laís Bodanzky, Gian Vittorio Baldi, Maria de Medeiros, Beto Brant, Cisco Vasques, Jerzy Stuhr, Wim Wenders, Atom Egoyan) and is presented in 11 short segments combined to become "The Invisible World" (Invisible World (2012)). The Yerevan part of the film was directed by Atom Egoyan with the addition of Ashot Adamyan as the leading actor. In 2012 Ashot Adamyan participated in the Genoa Poetry Festival, introducing several songs from his "Dle M'konde" music album, which were warmly welcomed by the Italian audience. In 2013 Adamyan appeared in A Hermit with No Tail (2013) by Khachik Chalikyan, for which Adamyan received the "Hayak" National Film Award by the National Cinema Center of Armenia as the "Best Actor for Secondary Play." In 2014, he was the leading actor in the film, "The Illuminator", by Atom Egoyan. In the same year, Ashot Adamyan was the head of the international jury of the One Square Meter Theatrical Festival in the Armenian Center for Contemporary Experimental Art (ACCEA). In 2015, Ashot Adamyan received Salento Cinema Actor Award from Salento International Film Festival in recognition of his work, achievements, and input in Armenian and International Cinematography. Recently, Ashot Adamyan starred in the feature films, Mariam's Day Off (2017) by Arshak Amirbekyan, And on the Seventh Day... (2015) by Arman Chilingaryan, and 28:94 Local Time (2015) aka Hot Country, Cold Winter (2016) by David Safarian.- Actress
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Laura Gevorkyan was born on 28 January 1939 in Yerevan, Armenian SSR, USSR [now Armenia]. She is an actress and assistant director, known for The Men (1973), Vozneseniye (1989) and Moratsvatz heqiatneri kirtche (1975).- Nikol Pashinyan was born on 1 June 1975 in Ijevan, Armenian SSR, USSR [now Armenia]. He is married to Anna Hakobyan. They have four children.
- Carlos Lehder was born on 7 September 1949 in Armenia, Colombia.
- Composer
- Music Department
- Actor
Arno Arutyunovich Babajanian (Babadzhanyan) was born on January 22, 1921, in Erevan (now Yerevan), Armenia. His father, named Arutyun Babajanian, was a mathematician and also an excellent flute player of the Armenian folk music. At the age of 5, he was noticed by composer Aram Khachaturyan, who recommended that Babajanian must study music seriously.
In 1928 he was admitted to the group of gifted children at the Yerevan Conservatory. At the age of 9, Babajanian wrote his first composition, 'Pioneer's March'. He was very good at sight-reading and had a remarkable memory. His piano playing at the young age was already marked by unusual power of expression and technical finesse. At the age of 12, Arno Babajanian became the winner of the First Prize at the Armenian Republic National Competition of the Young Musicians. There Babajanian performed the piano sonata No. 4, by Ludwig van Beethoven and 'Rhondo Capriccioso' by Felix Mendelssohn.
Babajanian continued his music studies under the tutelage of the notable Armenian composer Sergei S. Barkhudaryan (Barkhudarov) from 1936-38. In 1938 Babajanian moved to Moscow and was admitted to the graduate level at the Gnesin School of Music, where he studied piano with Yelena Gnesina and composition with Vissarion Shebalin. His talent was noticed by many intellectuals in Moscow. He continued his studies at the Moscow Conservatory. There he studied piano under the famous concert pianist Konstantin Igumnov, who guided Babajanian through the wisdom of the 'Well Tempered Clavier' by Johann Sebastian Bach, as well as the piano works by Sergei Rachmaninoff, Ludwig van Beethoven and Frédéric Chopin. He also studied composition under the notable ethnomusicologist 'Heinrich Litinsky' at the House of Armenian Culture in Moscow. Babajanian graduated as a concert pianist and as composer in 1948. He was a professor at the Yerevan Conservatory from 1950-1956. While in Armenia Babajanian composed his most celebrated concert works such as the 'Heroic Ballade' for piano and orchestra (1950), the 'Armenian Rhapsody' for two pianos (1950), and the acclaimed 'Piano Trio' (1952).
Babajanian became famous with his title song for the film 'Song of the First Love' (1958). It became a popular radio hit and a best-selling record in the former Soviet Union. At that time the cultural "Thaw" was initiated by Nikita Khrushchev and that allowed some degree of artistic freedom of expression. Babajanian wrote many popular songs in collaboration with the leading poets such as Yevgeniy Yevtushenko, Robert Rozhdestvensky, Andrei Voznesensky, Bella Akhmadulina and others. In partnership with the popular singer Muslim Magomayev Babajanian produced many successful recordings. He also composed a large-scale 'Cello Concerto' (1959) dedicated to Mstislav Rostropovich, and important music for piano, especially his innovative 'Six Pictures for Piano' (1965).
Arno Babajanian created a successful cross-cultural style of his own. His original style absorbed a variety of influences including jazz, rock'n roll, classical music, and the traditional Armenian folk-music. Babajanian's original style is immediately recognizable by everyone who once heard his classical compositions and popular hits. He dedicated himself to teaching and concertizing instead of becoming a prolific composer. He died on November 11, 1983, in Moscow.- Director
- Writer
- Actor
A pioneer of cinema in Armenia and the Caucasus, Amo Bek-Nazaryan began his career as a professional athlete. However, he later discovered film, joined the cinema as an actor in 1914, and soon became one of the major stars in the pre-Soviet Russian cinema. In 1918, he graduated from the Moscow Commercial Institute. In 1921, he became the head of the film section of Narkompros in Georgia and later a director of Goskinprom in Georgia. Like his friend and colleague, the Georgian cinema pioneer Ivane Perestiani, Bek-Nazaryan sought to incorporate avant-garde techniques popular in NEP-era Soviet films into conventional narrative frameworks.
In 1924, he returned to his native city of Yerevan where he became one of the founders of Armenkino (the predecessor to Armenfilm). He directed the first full-length Armenian feature film, Honor (1925), in collaboration with Sakhkinmretsvi in Georgia. He also directed the romantic film Natela (1926) with the glamorous Nato Vachnadze that same year and, the following year, he directed the first Kurdish film, Zare (1927). In the 1930s, he directed the first Armenian sound film, Pepo (1935), based on a play by Gabriel Sundukyan and with music by the renown Armenian composer Aram Khachaturyan. For this production, he earned the title People's Artist of the Armenian SSR.
Following World War II, he directed the film Erkrord karavan (1950) about the repatriation of Armenians living in the United States to Soviet Armenia. This production was canceled by Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, a move that personally hurt Bek-Nazaryan. Following this, he did not direct any more films until after the death of Stalin in 1953. After Bek-Nazaryan's death in 1965, Armenfilm adopted his name to their full, official title in his honor. Today, he is widely regarded as the founder of Armenian cinema.- One of the leading Armenian actresses, Galya Novents graduated Yerevan Institute of Fina Arts and Theatre in 1958. Since then she acted in various theatres in Armenia, mainly Sundukyan Drama Theatre but also in Leninakan Theatre and Yerevan Drama Theatre. She received the Best female actress prize during the Venice Film Festival for the role of Siranush in Tango of Our Childhood (1985).
- Director
- Writer
- Actor
Suren Babayan was born on 18 September 1950 in Yerevan, Armenian SSR, USSR [now Armenia]. He was a director and writer, known for Mi nayir hayelun (2010), Trinadtsatyy apostol (1988) and Ararman Uterord Ory (1980). He died on 4 December 2023.- Stunts
- Actor
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gokor grew up on the streets as an aggressive child beating up others. When Gokor was 5 years old a studio owner invited Gokor to train at his place in wrestling, and Gokor turned out to be a natural. Within one year, Gokor would begin training in SamBo for at least 4 hours a day.
In 1971 Gokor would compete and win all matches at the Armenian Junior National Sambo Championship. At the age of 9, Gokor would win his second championship in 1972. In 1973 Gokor made a big step and started training and competing in Judo. He won the Armenian Junior National Championship and experience his first loss against the reigning champion, which motivated him to train even harder. And he was very successful since he won all his Judo and Sambo tournaments between 1974 and 1979.
In 1981 Gokor and his family moved to Los Angeles in the US. One year later Gokor started training even harder and even worked with the legendary Gene 'Judo' Lebell. Gokor was determined to be an Olympic winner. His competitions took him to France, Japan, Thailand, Mexico, Germany, Canada, England and many more places. In this time Gokor was studying English and added Boxing and Muay Thai to his skills.
Gokor was becoming a fearsome fighter, but still didn't get to fight at the Olympics, because of the Russian boy-cot, while still winning various Judo competitions. Gokor also met some Brazilian people who trained him in Jiu-Jitsu.
Still bothered by the fact that he didn't get a chance at the Olympics, Gokor was ready for the next challenges. In 1987 he acquired his legal US citizenship and in 1989 he married his lovely Narine and raises his child Arthur who was born in 1990. For this he retired as an undefeated champion.
With fighting in his blood, Gokor opened the long awaited Hayastan Grappling Academy in Hollywood, California. Gokor would train people from all over the world and compete and win at the US Judo Nationals after stepping out of retirement.
In 1997 Gokor received a special invitation to fight at the No-Holds-Barred competitions and defeated the champion Mr. Maeda in 51 seconds. This shocked many and later Gokor gained the title: 1997 Judo Instructor of the Year. Gokor still trains fighters and champions all over the world and has affiliate schools in America, Europe and Armenia.
The only thing left was to fulfill his dream of becoming an actor and stuntman. And this he did, including becoming a fight choreographer. Gokor has now appeared in some of the better action movies, with the likes of Chris Casamassa, Christine Bannon-Rodriguez, Don 'The Dragon' Wilson, Cynthia Rothrock, Eric Lee and many more famous martial artists.- Cinematographer
- Actor
- Camera and Electrical Department
Hayk Kirakosyan was born in USSR in 1962. His father was an engineer-designer and his mother was an electronics engineer. His interest in cinema started at age of 11 when he began to study photography at Art School and subsequently continued his education in Cinematography department at State Institute of Cinema (VGIK. Moscow). He graduated from Vladimir Monakhov's class as a valedictorian student when he was 22. As a student, he was employed as a trainee camera assistant with famous cinematographers such as Leonid Kalashnikov, Albert Yavuryan and Levon Atoyants. After completing his education at VGIK (MFA), he started working as a cinematographer on several short and full-length documentary, feature and animation films. He was also a lecturer at the Cinema Television Department Faculty of State Pedagogical Institute (Yerevan, USSR) between 1987 and 1991. Since 1991, Kirakosyan has been working both in Armenia and Russia. In addition, between 1994-1999, he was a cameraman MPS TV, editor In Paradise Production and director in VKT TV in Moscow. In 2000, he moved to Istanbul, Turkey. Keeps working on feature projects, commercial films and music videos in Turkey, Russia and Armenia. Since 2006, teaching "Cinematography" and " Advanced Cinematography" at Kadir Has, Istanbul Bilgi Universities and Plato College of Higher Education. Kirakosyan held workshops at the Marmara Istanbul) and Bilkent (Ankara) universities, 6.45 Art Club (Eskisehir), Bursa International Film Festival, Atif Yilmaz Turkish National Film School between 2007 and 2010. In 2008 he was a jury member at the Adana «Golden Cocoon» and in 2014 at the Antalya «Golden Orange» International Film Festivals. Since 1991, Kirakosyan is a member of the Filmmakers Union of Russia and member of the Guild of Cinematographers of Russia (R.G.C). Since 2005 member of European Federation of Cinematographers from Russia (IMAGO). Since 2014 member of the Turkish Society of Cinematographers.- Producer
- Writer
Artur Janibekyan is the founder of Comedy Club Production. He was born on February 29, 1976 in Yerevan, Armenia, and graduated from the PhysMath School at Yerevan State University, then from the Yerevan State University majoring in economics.
Artur started his career in 1993 as an advertiser, administrator, project coordinator and film set director. In 2001, he produced the 'Good Evening with Igor Ugolnikov' program on STS (a Russian TV channel), and two years later, in 2003, created comedy show Comedy Club along with his comedy sketch friends. Comedy Club introduced Russian viewers to comedy. In 2006, Comedy Club entered the top 10 of the most commercially successful Russian projects (ninth place) according to the Forbes magazine. Comedy Club has aired on the popular Russian TV channel TNT till nowadays.
Artur founded the multi-functional producer center Comedy Club Production (2007), where he serves as CEO and general producer, and 7 Art, the company that produced the popular sitcoms UNIVER and The Interns airing on TNT. In 2011 the controlling stake of Comedy Club Production was sold to TNT. The stake amounted to 250 million dollars and was a record sale for the Russian TV. In 2013, Comedy Club Production took second place in the list of the largest companies producing content for major federal Russian TV channels according to the Forbes Magazine.
GQ magazine (Russia) named Artur as a Person of the Year 2007 in the 'Producer of the Year' category.
From 2015 Artur managed TV channels including TNT, TV-3, «2x2», TNT4 and «Friday!» (which was launched internationally in 2017), as well as Comedy Club Production and A Plus production (former Good Story media). In the three years from 2016 to 2018, the projects of TNT, «Friday!» and TV-3 channels under the management of Artur Janibekyan, received 19 statuettes in total of the largest Russian TV award TEFI 2016, TEFI 2017 and TEFI 2018 in the Daytime Broadcast and Evening Primetime categories.
The TNT team led by Artur Janibekyan developed and launched the broadcasting of premium TV series that increased the audience share of the TV channel, enabled collecting more precise nation-wide audience coverage data and combatting piracy.
Artur changed the TNT broadcasting line-up from foreign to local content - Russian comedy series and its own shows (2017). This provided additional support for production companies within the holding and raised long-term investments due to copyright ownership and broadcasting own programs on different media and with unrestricted number of runs.
Artur Janibekyan produced and sponsored a documentary film 'The Book' (2013) directed by V. Mansky. In 2014 the film was shown during the official program of the documentary film 'Free Thought' at the 36th Moscow International Film Festival.
Artur Janibekyan together with Valeriy Fedorovich and Evgeniy Nikishov became a producer of the unique "Gogol. The Beginning" project (2017), - the first mini-series in the world to be widely released in theaters. The mini-series paid for itself on the day of its premiere and set several box-office records. The production was ranked in the top 10 ten movie theatre releases in 2017. In addition to Russia and the CIS, Gogol. The Beginning was released in Russia in the USA, UK, Germany, Spain, Austria and Cyprus. Gogol's promotional campaign received several professional awards and diplomas and aroused interest of the professional community during its presentation in Cannes at MIPCOM.- Music Department
- Composer
- Additional Crew
Jivan Gasparyan was born on 12 October 1928 in Solag, Armenian SSR, Transcaucasian SFSR, USSR [now Armenia]. He was a composer, known for The Siege (1998), Blood Diamond (2006) and Syriana (2005). He died on 6 July 2021 in Armenia.- Director
- Writer
- Actor
Edmond Keosayan was born on 9 October 1936 in Leninakan, Armenian SSR, TSFSR, USSR [now Gyumri, Armenia]. He was a director and writer, known for Neulovimye mstiteli (1967), Novye priklyucheniya neulovimykh (1968) and The Men (1973). He died on 21 April 1994 in Moscow, Russia.- Director
- Writer
- Producer
Edgar Baghdasaryan was born on 8 March 1964 in Yerevan, USSR [now Armenia]. He is a director and writer, known for The Simon's Way (2017), Lengthy Night (2018) and From Ararat to Zion (2009).- Cinematographer
- Visual Effects
- Director
Vardges Manukyan was born on 20 June 1989 in Yerevan, Armenia. Vardges is a cinematographer and director, known for The End (2013), The Path of Our Dream (2017) and The Snow Maiden (2018).- Producer
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Actor
Armen has been in the movie industry since age 16. He started as a mechanic of shooting equipment, moving on to a director of photography, and then to a director of a picture.
2003 - 2012, he has been the executive director of "Paradise Producers' center" and the executive producer of all the projects produced by that company.
In 2012 he created his own group Producer's center KINOOSTROV .In the same year he established a "Foundation of Development and Support of Cinema"(FDSCinema) in Armenia.- Laura Vartanyan was born on 21 October 1942 in Garin, Armenia, USSR. She was an actress, known for The First Swallow (1975), Baghdasare bazhanvum e knojits (1977) and Mardn Olimposits (1976). She died on 7 December 1994 in New York, USA.
- Producer
- Writer
- Actor
From 1986 to 1994 attended the Electrotechnical Engineering Department of the Yerevan State Polytechnic Institute. From 1987 to 1989 he served in the Soviet Army.
From 1991 to 1994 he played in the Major League of the «Club of the Merry and Inventive» (CMI) in the Yerevan Medical Institute (YMI) team. YMI was a team with a distinctive, meticulous, refined and lambent sense of humor and twice became a champion of the Major League in 1992 and 1994. The team played its final season in 1994. Founder of Sharm Holding (1991) and its general director (1991-2013). From 2005 to 2009 project manager of Yerevan magazine. From 2006 to 2011 Supervisor of "Arts Management" course in the Yerevan State Institute of Theatre and Cinema. Member of International Academy of Radio and Television. Starting from 2013 he is the chairman of the Council of Public TV and Radio Company of Armenia. From 2018 to the present President of the National Film Academy of Armenia.