Armenian Panorama

Born on December 26, 1955 in Yerevan, Armenia. Having earned a Masters both in Film Direction as well as Theatre, at the beginning of his career he directed and often starred in several feature length and short films as well as a myriad of well-known plays. Since then he has gone on to direct fifteen films which have garnered him more than twenty-five prestigious, international awards, among them the Gold Award at the World Film Festival in Houston, Texas in 1994. Most recently he was honored by the President of the Republic of Armenia with the Movses Khorenatsi award. In 2006 he was awarded the Anahit Lifetime Achievement Award by the Cinematographers’ Guild of Armenia. Among the most prominent of his work are two trilogies. The first, comprised of short films, include April, an acclaimed film with the Armenian Genocide as its subject; Depart, I Must Depart, about the incessant need to search for truth in places which are not our own; and Homeward I Shall Go, a film about the subsequent need to return home (or back into the self)- the only place where truth resides. These were followed by The Voice in the wilderness, Lord Have Mercy (Kyrie Eleison) and Symphony of Silence, which became the first film to be presented to the Academy Awards for Best Foreign Film by Armenia. The Priestess, his latest work of art, which had its World Premiere at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, marks the first Armenian-American co-production in film history. Chaldranian is known for his peculiar tendency to play more than one role in the creation of his films: he is often the writer, the art director, costume designer, star and producer of the films he directs. Currently, having just completed The Priestess, he has several projects awaiting his attention, one of which is of most value to him- a film about the Armenian Genocide- as, in the year 2015, its 100th anniversary is to be commemorated. With a profound feeling of debt to his roots and his ancestry, his land and its people- and in masterfully wielding his brush to paint his themes in a language which all people can understand and accept as their own- Chaldranian continues to create art which defies boundaries of culture and challenges us to hope, to love and do kindness unto others unconditionally.

Born in 1961 in Yerevan. She has graduated from the Fine-Art college after Panos Terlemezyan. From 1980 has worked at “Hayfilm” studio as the artist of cartoon films, then as a director. She was the scenographist of a number of performances in various theatres. Since 2000 has been working at the Television. In 2005 she got award at “Golden Apricot” film festival for the film “The Road”.

Born on May 30, in 1950 in Yerevan. In 1970 entered Armenian Pedagogical Institute after Khachatur Abovyan, the faculty of culture, department of directoring (master: Laert Vagharshyan). In 1974 graduated from the institute and left for the city Ijevan, where between 1974-1979 has organized 14 performances. Between 1979-1988 he worked at “Haykfilm” studio, first as a director assistant, then as a second director. In 1982 he left for Moscow for a probation period at director Ilya Frez. Since 1988 works at “Hayk” film studio. Has shot more than 30 documentary films: “Armenia in occupation”, “Monte”, “Without comments”, “My motherland Armenia”, “The people of the forgotthen Island” etc. He is the authour of a number of TV programs. In 2006 at “Golden Apricot” International Film Festival competition program “Armenian Panorama” his film “The people of the forgotten Island” won the first prize. In the same year at “Kinoshok” International Film Festival of the city Anapa the same film was awarded the first prize in the “Films without Prints” program. In 2006 Romania’s ECO-ETNO-FOLK FILM festival the film “Syunik” from the “My motherland Armenia” film-series won a diplom. Now at “Hayk” film studio is being shot the film “Eternal flight, Hrant Dink”.

Born on July 22, 1975 in Yerevan. In 2001, he graduated from the Kh. Abovyan Pedagogical Institute’s Cultural Faculty’s Film Directing Program (D. Kesayants Studio.) He has worked as a creator/director with “Internews.” He co-founded 2P Studios (1997). He has made over 25 TV-films and over 60 socially conscious ads. His first documentary, “The End” won the second prize at the Saratov Film Festival and he won best director at the “I Am”. His film, “Under the Open Sky” has participated in many festivals and won about 18 awards. His highest awards were received at the Golden Apricot, I Am, and Lavr (Moscow). In Yekateriburg, he earned best cinematography, and at Viborg he won the Sava Kulish medal. His latest works are the documentary “Hello, Fellini” and the TV documentary, “Aram Khachaturyan – More Than Love”. He has trained in Russian State Institute of Cinematography, Moscow State University, and at the company “Internews” in Moscow.

Born in Montevideo(Uruguay), he graduated from “Sagrada Familia”, and majored in English Language at ACUEU. He was also trained as social worker at the Wellfare Minister. He has lived in Buenos Aires (Argentina) since 1978. As an actor he formed himself at the Independent Theater with professors such as Roberto Duran, Agustin Alezzo and Carlos Fernandes.. He has interpreted texts by Chekhov, Shakespeare, Odets, Lorca, Borges among others. He devotes his time to investigation on arts and culture and has taken different courses and seminars around the world. He permanently lectures and writes for different media such “Diario Armenia” from Buenos Aires and others. Actually he is working in two topics “History of Armenian Cinema” and “The Danish presence during the Armenian Genocide” to come out soon.