Between imagination and empathy

You are a multifaceted artist: actress, writer, director, producer… Would you tell us about your background, and in particular your relationship with the world of animation? 

Perhaps before I tell my story, I will name my relationship with the world of animation – love.

When I was at the Drama University, studying directing and acting, in the harsh years of the ’90s, Armenia was at war. We lived through winters without electricity, heating, transport and even telephones, not to mention the death that surrounded us. I never wanted to be anything besides an actress, but sometimes life shows you roads you never imagined. It was then, locked up at home with only candles for light, that I started to write my first book – a fantasy novel called The Inhabitants of Ankimure. In later years it received the Orange Book Award in Armenia and was published with my illustrations. From being an actress and writer, I also became a screenwriter, then a producer- writing and producing films, both fiction and animation. Thankfully, my natural curiosity was of great help too. 

So it was a long way before I directed my first animation The Song of Flying Leaves. I joke that my relationship with acting is passion and that writing books and making animation is love. And now, after the 2020 war in Armenia, after coming across so many wars, I have returned to creating my own stories through imagination towards empathy, and I think of animation as my perfect world.

How did the film The Song of Flying Leaves come about, and how has it been received so far? 

From the first animation I produced, I wanted to make one as a director too, but circumstances made me delay it, because it was easier to postpone my project, than those of others. 

“Once upon a time”, a miracle happened. A famous Ukrainian feature film director of Armenian origin, Roman Balayan, who has always been one of my favourite directors, suggested that I make a film based on a short fiction script he had written. That was the beginning of The Song of Flying Leaves, a short animated film that I co-wrote, directed, produced and voiced. This time I couldn’t put it off… Incredibly amazing artists collaborated with me – an Armenian prodigy composer Miqayel Voskanyan, one of the most talented artist-illustrators in Armenia- artist Anna Hakopian, and many others. It was also the first Armenian-Iranian animation co-production between my company Hoshkee Film and Iranian Hoorakhsh Studios, with Ashkan and Arman Rahgozars as co-producers. I am very grateful to the Iranian partner: believing in the story, they confirmed their participation even before the Armenian national funding was confirmed. 

The story reflects on the friendship between a father and a child, a teacher and a student, and what it can bring. The story also considers the relationship between man and nature, and the idea that even a child can become a “father” to nature. I dedicated this film to my father. The Song of Flying Leaves had its world premiere at the Kaboom Animation Festival in 2023, and has since been confirmed at over 70 festivals, winning 13 awards, including the Armenian National Film Academy’s Anahit Award for Best Animated Film; the Golden Apricot as Best Short Film at Armenia’s most famous Golden Apricot IFF, and the Audience Award in the Horizons competition at Paris IAFF. It also became the first Armenian short film to be acquired by international sales (Network Ireland Television). 

What kind of projects would you like to realise in the future in the animation field?

I am currently developing a feature film and several short projects. One of the shorts is a war story with the working title Love Land. The other is a children’s Christmas story, The Wonder-full Night. 

I have to admit that I am a bit scared to be working only on a war story.  I was too close to the war, I saw a lot of pain around me. That’s why I decided to make a joyful and funny film for children about friendship based on my published book. And finally, I am developing a feature animation, The Wind of Legends, inspired by Armenian legends. Humanity is losing its way, sorry to say it like this, but we are facing such injustice in the world towards those who are not strong enough – country to country, human to human, humanity to nature… In order not to feel as helpless as I sometimes do, I want to bring little drops of my own solutions – this time to call upon myths and legends again, as they are like lanterns from the origin. Not to mention the rich heritage of Armenian culture that needs to be brought to light for the world.

In terms of industry, I always long to do co-productions, even short ones, not only because a co-production is a great help, sometimes a vital help, but also because a co-production itself is proof of what unity can bring. It is equally important for me to contribute to the development of the Armenian animation industry, which has incredible potential. 

Finally, I would like to come back to your first question. There is something that is no different for a writer/director, an actress or a producer. As a creator, I long to explore the connection between imagination and empathy. Because I believe that imagination must serve empathy. Maybe that’s why it’s never been difficult for me to move from one to the other or to combine them, because the goal is the same.