Jivan Avetisyan

Jivan Avetisyan (Ջիվան Ավետիսյան) is an Armenian film director who was born in Gyumri, raised in Stepanakert, Artsakh and lives in Yerevan, Armenia.

Jivan was a member of Berlinale Talents 2020 and simultaneously selected to become a subject of a documentary by Deutsche Welle. His filmography includes over ten documentaries including Karabakh a Hidden Treasure, short films including Broken Childhood, and three feature films, Tevanik, The Last Inhabitant, and Gate to Heaven.

In 2024, he became a member of the European Film Academy.

Early life
Jivan Avetisyan who grew up in Artsakh has always been captivated by the world of cinema. Jivan's fascination with film began when he was a little boy growing up in Khachmach, a village on the outskirts of Stepanakert. In fact, Jivan's lifelong dream of creating a film in Khachmach was realized in 2015, The Last Inhabitant.

As a child, he grew up during one of the most violent conflicts in the Caucasus and understands well the brutal consequences of war. Although his own childhood was stripped of playful mischief, he was instead laden with a responsibility to protect family and friends. He did not abandon his dream, and passion for filmmaking. His deep dream of storytelling, chronicling history and putting Artsakh on the world map has been realized through the art of filmmaking.

Education
Jivan served in a “Mandatory” military service in the Defense Army of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh from 1999 to 2001.

Career
Jivan's filmmaking career began as the Lighting Engineer at the Stepanakert Drama Theatre after Vahram Papazyan in 1996–97. From 1998 to 1999 was a lighting engineer and then director at Artsakh Public TV. In 2003 he worked his way up to becoming the film and program director at the TV company “Yerkir Media”. Jivan's passion for the art of filmmaking continued, and since 2009, he then served as the main director of “Yerkir Media”.

Jivan Avetisyan serves as the executive director of The Fish eye Art Cultural Foundation. Since its inception in 2014, the foundation has created three feature films: Tevanik, The Last Inhabitant, and Gate to Heaven. Jivan also founded LifeTree Pictures LLC in 2022.

The first feature film, Tevanik, has been recognized in over twenty international film festivals claiming over twenty awards including Best Feature Film. It also is now streaming on Amazon Prime.

The 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. It also won the Audience Award for "Best Independent Film". Finally, the film was licensed by HBO Eastern Europe and now is streaming on Amazon Prime. The Last Inhabitant featured Homayoun Ershadi known for his debut role in Taste of Cherry, which won the Palme d'Or at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival, and Hollywood movies like The Kite Runner and Zero Dark Thirty.

The third feature film, Gate to Heaven, featured well-known actor, Richard Sammel known for Hollywood Films, Casino Royale, and Inglorious Basterds. He is best known for his role as Thomas Eichhorst on the FX television series The Strain (2014–2017). Gate to Heaven was selected for European Work in Progress Cologne. Selected at the Moscow IFF, however, later removed due to the Artsakh War. The film was also selected in the Official Program of Las Cruces IF, Salento IFF, and Ontario IFF; Global Music Award - Silver Medal /Outstanding Achievement “Regarding the Controversial and Critical Acclaimed Film.” Gate to Heaven's composer Michele Josia's second recognition comes as a finalist for "Best Score of the Month " at the TMA – American Tracks Music Award.

In December 2020, Cinema for Peace Foundation in Berlin hosted a unique Virtual Screening of Gate to Heaven and Conference for Peace on Nagorno Karabakh. Our creative team served as panelists and discussed topics such as the response of the international community, the role of civil society organizations in peacekeeping, and the role of filmmakers, human rights experts, and EU politicians.

Jivan has participated in multiple international film festivals including Golden Apricot and Shanghai International Film Festival. Jivan's films have also won in “Best Feature Film” category.

Jivan is currently developing three feature films, Revival, Black List, and Angels 2020, the animated film Baa’bel and the 8-part mini TV series The Stateless Diplomat.

Accomplishments

 * The Armenian National Committee of America Eastern Region (ANCA-ER) honored Jivan with the ANCA Eastern Region Freedom Award at its 16th Annual Gala in Detroit.
 * Jivan was also awarded a gold medal by the municipality of Nea Smyrni, Athens.
 * Special award of Haykyan Awards of the Youth Foundation of Armenia was awarded.