Biography

Jivan Avetisyan, a Berlinale Talents 2020 member, is an international award-winning Armenian film who was born in Gyumri, raised in Artsakh and lives in Yerevan, Armenia. Jivan graduated from Yerevan State University of Theatre and Cinematography in 2007.

His filmmaking career began in 1997 as the Lighting Engineer at the Stepanakert Drama Theatre after V. Papazyan and 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 he then served as the main director of ‘Yerkir Media’’. As a child, Jivan Avetisyan grew up during one of the most violent conflicts in the caucuses, and he understands well the brutal consequences of war. Although his own childhood was stripped of playful mischief, instead was laden with the responsibility to protect his family and friends, Jivan did not abandon his dream and passion for filmmaking. Jivan Avetisyan serves as the Executive Director of "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. His filmography also includes approximately ten documentaries including Karabakh a Hidden Treasure, and short films including Broken Childhood. He is currently working on the full-length feature films, Revival and Black List, the TV mini-series, The Stateless Diplomat, and the animated film, Baa’bel.