Chaghig Arzoumanian is an Armenian-American director, producer, and screenwriter. She is best known for her critically acclaimed drama, The Cut (2014).
Chaghig was born in Yerevan, Armenia, in 1972. She studied film and television production at the State Institute of Theater and Cinematography in Yerevan. She also earned a degree in Political Science and International Relations at the University of Yerevan.
At the age of 24, Chaghig moved to Los Angeles in search of a better life. After a few years of working in the film industry as an assistant director and production assistant, she made her directorial debut in 2001 with the short film “The Red Journey”.
In 2004, Chaghig wrote and directed her feature film debut, “The Cut”. The film was an international success, winning the Grand Jury Prize at the Seattle International Film Festival and the Special Jury Prize at the San Francisco International Film Festival.
Chaghig’s second feature film, “The Lark” (2008), was an official selection at the Toronto International Film Festival and the San Francisco International Film Festival. The film was critically acclaimed, and won the Best Director Award at the San Francisco International Film Festival.
In 2010, Chaghig wrote and directed her third feature film, “The Time That Remains”. The film was an official selection at the Cannes Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival. The film was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival and the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
Chaghig’s most recent film, “A Tale of Love and Darkness” (2015), was based on the novel by Amos Oz and stars Natalie Portman. The film was an official selection at the Cannes Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival.
Chaghig is currently in pre-production for her fifth feature film, “The Promise”, which is set to be released in 2017. She also teaches filmmaking at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Chaghig Arzoumanian is one of the most acclaimed Armenian-American filmmakers today. Through her films, she has explored themes of identity, displacement, and the search for home. Her work has earned her international acclaim, and has continued to tell stories of the Armenian experience to a global audience.
