French-Armenian film director Arnaud Khayadjanian’s last film called “We Are Our Mountains”, tells about Artsakh. It was included in the “Armenian Panorama” program of “Golden Apricot”. Arnaud Khayadjanian was recognized as the best Diaspora filmmaker in “Golden Apricot” with this film.
“Aravot” asked the filmmaker how much importance that prize has for him. “I have already won an award in 2016 (Best Armenian Documentary). But this time is very special because it’s my first movie in the Armenian language. And I am also very proud because it is not my personal victory it is a victory for Artsakh and its people”, said Arnaud.
We asked whether why he decided to shoot a film specifically about Artsakh. Arnaud responded: “In 2016 I was invited to Stepanakert to screen my previous movie. This trip to Artsakh had been a personal and artistic revelation. I was deeply moved by the beauty of souls and landscapes. Despite the conflict, I met some very courageous and optimistic people. So I decided to make a documentary to show Artsakh under a modern and positive image. The main audience for this movie is international spectators. I want to show them that behind the political conflict there are human beings looking for love, peace, and freedom”.
In response to the remark about screening the film in a number of towns in France, Arnaud said: “Yes my documentary was screened in several cities like Décines, Villeurbanne, Valence or Sarcelles. In France, the people don’t know anything about Artsakh. So I was very surprised to see how they were curious and interested in this topic. French spectators were very moved par the characters and landscapes of Artsakh. I think it is because the people from Artsakh are very brave, precious and exciting”.
We asked Arnaud Khayadjanian what his next project would be, what he planned to shoot in the future. “My new project about Artsakh is a feature movie. It will be a drama with Armenian actors. Hopefully, we will shoot it in September 2019. It is a French-Armenian co-production. My producers are Serge Avedikian, Mikayel Dovlatyan, and Martin Salmon. It tells universal stories that take place in Artsakh. In my movie, the political conflict will stay in the background of the story. I want to focus on the everyday life, on human struggles, dreams, feelings, and relationships. My project is a hyperlinked movie. I like to say it’s like a mosaic that tells the crossed stories of eight characters”, said our interlocutor.
Asked what connects him with Armenia besides the Armenian surname, the filmmaker said: “As a French movie director with Armenian origins I think it’s my destiny to explore, respect and pay tribute to my roots. American writer Philip Roth once said: “To be alive is to be made of memories.” Pier Paolo Pasolini, the Italian filmmaker once said, “History is the passion of the sons to understand their fathers.” I totally agree with these quotes. I also think it is important to talk about Armenia’s current and modern topics like everyday struggles, the recent revolution, the women’s empowerment, and the youth’s creativity… Even if I was born in France, I feel deeply attached to Armenia and its people. To understand who I am, I must understand where I come from”.
Let us add that Arnaud Khayadjanian shot the “Lost Horizons” short film in 2012, which was screened at 22 international film festivals. It won the Best Actor prize in Mulhouse and the Best Movie award in Fenacies International Festival. In 2014, he adapted a French play into a short film entitled “Bad Girl”. “Bad Girl” has been selected in 23 international festivals including Oscar Qualifying Uppsala and it won both Vimeo Prize and Jury Prize in Sundance Channel Contest.
In 2015, Arnaud Khayadjanian released “Stony Paths”, a feature documentary inspired by the story of his Armenian great-grandparents. The film was honored by the French critics and was selected in 24 international festivals. “Stony Paths” received the Jury Prize from Ismailia Film Festival in Egypt, the Best Documentary Prize in Yerevan Film Festival, and it was broadcasted on Armenian Shant TV. In January 2017, Arnaud Khayadjanian shot his short film “Deaf Hearts” produced by TV channel Arte and Envie de Tempête.
Arnaud has shot the following films: “Lost Horizons” (2012), “Bad Girl” (2014), “Stony Paths” (2015), “We are Our Mountains” (2017), and “Deaf Hearts” (2017).
Gohar HAKOBYAN
