Oscar-winning producer Sev Ohanian reflects on success, Armenian identity and making films that matter
Armenian-American producer and screenwriter Sev Ohanian has been making films since 2010. Through the language of cinema, he tells compelling stories not only about individuals but also about ethnic minorities and his fellow Armenians, exploring different cultures and subcultures while conveying a simple yet powerful message: everyone deserves a place under the same sky.
Blending elements of comedy, drama and thriller, his films have earned numerous prestigious awards. His latest production, Sinners, went on to win both Academy Award and Golden Globe honors.
Ohanian was recently in Yerevan to attend the Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival, where he was presented with the festival’s Master Award, which he described as one of the most meaningful honors he has received.
Armenpress spoke with the Oscar-winning producer during his visit.
– You visited Armenia years ago. You had already received major recognition at the time, but this time your film has won both a Golden Globe and an Academy Award. Have you returned with an even greater sense of responsibility and pride?
– What matters most to me is that young people who dream of making films can see that someone has actually achieved this. I want them to see that I’m proud to be Armenian. Whenever I have the opportunity, I talk about my Armenian heritage. I stay closely connected with Armenian organizations because I want to use those connections to do meaningful work.
I also want the studios I work with-Warner Bros., Universal and Sony-to know that I’m Armenian. When we wanted to screen one of my films at the Golden Apricot festival, Warner Bros. initially requested a substantial licensing fee. I called the president of the company and told him, “This is an Armenian film festival. Everything should be done free of charge.” He replied, “Oh, I didn’t realize it was for you-for Armenia.” They understood how much it meant to me.
My goal is to keep growing in my career while making sure Armenians everywhere know that if I’ve been able to succeed in this industry, they can succeed too.
In fact, the only reason I’ve been able to become a film producer is because I’m Armenian. The Armenian people embraced me. They bought tickets to my film, watched it and applauded it. Their support made me stronger and gave me the confidence to keep moving forward.
– Would it be fair to say that cinema is one of the most powerful ways to reach people?
– Absolutely. When someone experiences a great story through a film, it becomes part of who they are. The past few years have been difficult for Armenians. I’m not a politician or a leader, so I can’t solve those problems. But I can make films that show the world how intelligent we are, how proud we are and what kind of people we are. That’s my job, and little by little, that’s exactly what I’m trying to do.
— Renowned French-Armenian actor Simon Abkarian is also attending the festival. Through many of the characters he has portrayed, he has drawn attention to the Armenian experience and introduced international audiences to our history and challenges. Do you think this is something characteristic of smaller nations?
– I think our greatest strength is that we’re a small nation with such a rich history. It brings us closer together. One of my closest friends and collaborators is Indian and lives in the United States. There are millions of Indians around the world. If I told him I’d met another Indian a few days ago, he probably wouldn’t care-it wouldn’t mean much to him. But when someone tells me they’ve met an Armenian who’s, say, a chef, I immediately get excited. I want to find that person and spend time with them because it feels like discovering a brother or a sister. We may be a small nation, but that’s exactly why we’re able to support one another in ways that are truly special.
– In your first feature, My Big Fat Armenian Family, you portrayed many of the qualities that define Armenians-our close family bonds, our care for one another and our sense of community. Do you think Armenians living in Armenia and those in the diaspora are very different from each other?
– I think they should be different. We screened that film at the festival today. I made it 18 years ago, and people from different generations came to see it. Many of them said Armenian families in the United States and in Armenia are actually very similar.
In the U.S., we’re immigrants and a minority. Young people often face the challenge of assimilation. They want to speak English and live like everyone else around them. But in many ways, it’s the same here in Armenia. Children today want different things. They don’t necessarily want to live the way their parents did. That’s something universal.
– How are you trying to pass on the values that matter most to you to your son, Aren?
– He’s only three years old, so he’s still very young. I speak Armenian with him and spend as much time with him as I can. We still don’t let him watch films. Instead, we’re doing everything we can to nurture his imagination. We’re especially excited because in three weeks he’ll be starting an Armenian preschool.
I’m also looking forward to the day I can bring him to Armenia. When our plane landed in Yerevan, I realized how much I wanted him to grow up just a little so we could come here together as a family.
— I’ve heard there were plenty of funny moments while filming My Big Fat Armenian Family. Could you share one of them?
– I made that film before I went to film school. I didn’t really know what I was doing-I just knew I had a good story to tell. On the first day of filming, we started at nine in the morning and wrapped at four the next morning. My sister, who appeared in the film, was 16 at the time, and my friend was 17.
In the final scene, everyone is standing in the street looking devastated. The father is shouting, the mother is crying, everyone is screaming. We had just finished filming and were about to leave when we saw three police cars pull up. I walked over to explain that we were shooting a movie, but the officers drew their guns and told us to step away. We were stunned.
It turned out the neighbors had no idea we were making a film. It was just me with a small camera, and we were all yelling in Armenian, so they thought something terrible was happening. They were genuinely frightened.
It had already been an incredibly long day, and the police told us we weren’t allowed to come back. But the next day we returned anyway-this time filming only during daylight hours. It was a frightening experience. I remember thinking that maybe God was trying to tell me filmmaking wasn’t the right path for me. But I decided to keep going.
– You’ve said before that there were times when you seriously considered walking away from filmmaking-that each project might be your last-but you always kept going. It reminded me of Charles Aznavour, who also spoke about repeatedly wanting to give up before ultimately succeeding. One thing has always intrigued me. You’ve often said that other people’s opinions matter a great deal to you. When you’re writing a screenplay, you share it with many people and ask for their feedback. Doesn’t that ever distract you from your original vision?
– I’ve always wanted to make films that people around the world would watch. I don’t make films just for myself-I make them for the world. I work in comedy and thriller, so I need to know whether a joke is actually funny or whether a scene is genuinely frightening.
That feedback helps me make the film better. I’m not asking people to tell me what to do. I’m trying to understand how my work affects an audience. If I see that it’s connecting with people, then I know I’m on the right path.
– When you watch your own films, do you ever find yourself wishing you could change something?
– Every single time. But I think that’s perfectly natural.
– When we last spoke, you mentioned that you were working on two new projects, one of which features an Armenian woman as its central character. How are those projects progressing?
– In Hollywood, everything moves very slowly. I don’t like talking too much about projects before their time because I want everything to happen when it’s supposed to. Those two projects-especially the ones centered on Armenian stories-mean a great deal to me, and I want to do everything I can to give them the best possible chance of succeeding.
My wife, Natalie, who is also a producer, and I are working on them together. I hope that in a few years we’ll be able to see the results of all that work.
– Thank you once again for your time. We’re proud of you.
