DON ASKARIAN

Don Askarian was born on July 10th 1949 in Stepanakert, Nagorno Karabakh, former Soviet Union. In 1967 he went to Moscow to study history and art. After completing his studies, he worked as an assistant director and film critic. Between 1975-1977, Askarian was imprisoned as a dissident. In 1978, he emigrated from the USSR to West Berlin. For over 40 years, he lived and worked in Germany, The Netherlands, and Armenia, where he founded his own film companies.

A celebrated film director, screenwriter and photographer, Askarian is a prize-winner at several international film festivals. His work has been honored with about three dozen personal retrospectives worldwide, from Germany to Singapore. In 1996, Askarian published his book "The Dangerous Light." His films have been co-produced and broadcast by major TV networks including ARD, WDR, ZDF, Channel 4, 3sat, Arte, and various Belgian, Greek, Swiss, Slovakian, Armenian, and Austrian television stations.

Don Askarian passed away on October 6th 2018 in Berlin.

"Some time will pass until we recognize that Don Askarian is one of the most important filmmakers of our time. His movies will take the time they need. Finally, the films will have their success not through lies and assimilation but with truth."