BERLIN (Panorama.am) — Don Askarian, a renowned international filmmaker and photographer from Artsakh, died in Berlin on 6 October at the age of 69. He was the brother of sculptor and painter Robert Askarian.
In a Facebook post, the Artsakh Ministry of Culture, Youth Affairs and Tourism extended its condolences to Askarian’s family.
Born in 1949 in Stepanakert, Askarian studied art and history in Moscow beginning in 1967. He worked as an assistant director and film critic for a year after his study but was imprisoned between 1975 and 1977. In 1978 he emigrated from the Soviet Union to West Berlin, living and working in the country for some 20 years. He founded his own film company, Margarita Woskanian Film Production, in Germany in 1982.
Askarian returned to his homeland after Armenia’s independence in 1992.
His first film was “The Bear” (direction, scripts, costumes and scenery), based on Chekhov’s story (1983-1984). From 1985-1988 he made “Komitas,” which won several prizes at international film festivals.
In 1995 he founded the production and distribution companies — Don Film in Armenia and in 1998 Askarian Film in Germany.
