Big Names and Global Footprint at Armenian Film Festival

A meeting with cinematographer Arseni Khachaturan at Lumen Coffee Frogtown/Karmir Film Lab LA near the Los Angeles Riverwalk. Khachaturan is Armenian from Belarus who has worked with noted directors. He said, “Curiosity is essential for learning and growth.” His last movie was “The Drama” with Robert Pattinson and Zendaya, released earlier this year.

The first day of the film screening featured “Atonement,” starring Boyd Holbrook, Hiam Abbass and Oscar winner Kenneth Branagh. The day also featured a question-and-answer with writer/director Reed Van Dyk and Palestinian actress Abbass, who lives in Paris. The movie is produced in the U.S. but includes the story of an Armenian family from Iraq.

On Friday, September 18, there was an opportunity to meet Karren Karagulian, who was honored at the 2025 Armenian Film Festival for his remarkable career and his performance in “Anora,” which won Best Picture at the Academy Awards. Karagulian will next appear alongside Brad Pitt in “The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth,” directed by David Fincher and written by Quentin Tarantino.

Saturday morning there was a screening of “A Woman Today” by Robert Guédiguian, the noted French-Armenian director. Michel Petrossian composed the film’s score.

Susanna Harutyunyan, cofounder of Yerevan’s Golden Apricot International Festival, attended the screening of the short films shown. She talked about the importance of collaboration with AFS.

The festival’s final day featured short films. Director Kristina Davidjans grew up in Estonia. Her short film was called “The Eel.” Davidjans said, “Filmmaking can be a lonely pursuit, even when you are surrounded by people who genuinely want the best for you. Everyone sees things differently, which makes staying true to your own vision all the more difficult. Still, it is worth remembering that your personal conviction, even when other people’s feedback makes you begin to doubt it, can offer audiences something truly unique.” She continued, “And the truth is, the more personal the subject or perspective, the more universal it often becomes. I, too, sometimes lose sight of this amid all the noise.”