A Hollywood producer behind some of the past decade’s most acclaimed independent films says bringing his latest project to Armenia was more meaningful than any international premiere or awards ceremony.
Armenian-American producer and screenwriter Sev Ohanian traveled to Yerevan for the 23rd Golden Apricot International Film Festival, where Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” screened before Armenian audiences for the first time. He described during an exclusive interview with The Armenian Report the experience as “a dream come true,” reflecting on his Armenian roots, his path through Hollywood and the family journey that led him to the Oscars.
“It’s literally a dream come true,” Ohanian said. “I’ve been fortunate to screen my movies around the world, but bringing both my first film and my newest film to Golden Apricot is something I’ve dreamed about for years.”
The feeling began before he even left the airport.
“My plane landed at 1:20 a.m., and I was the only one clapping,” he said with a smile. “It always feels like you’re coming home.”
Although Ohanian has become one of Hollywood’s most successful Armenian filmmakers, he acknowledged that embracing his heritage publicly took time.
Before attending film school, he made “My Big Fat Armenian Family”, a comedy inspired by his own upbringing. But once classes began, he rarely mentioned the project, believing classmates would not understand its Armenian humor or cultural references.
That changed after filmmaker Ryan Coogler watched the film.
“He not only understood it — he loved it,” Ohanian said. “He saw his own family in my movie.”
The experience reshaped his perspective on storytelling.
Today, Ohanian said he speaks proudly about his Armenian background throughout Hollywood and believes stories rooted in a specific culture often connect most deeply with audiences around the world.
He also believes Armenian filmmakers deserve greater international recognition.
Ohanian praised director Gor Kirakosian for consistently producing ambitious films despite working with budgets far smaller than those available in Hollywood.
“That Armenian work ethic — creating despite limited resources — is something we’ve demonstrated for centuries,” he said. “Hollywood could probably learn a little more from us.”
Asked which Armenian film has had the greatest impact on him, Ohanian named Atom Egoyan’s Calendar.
“I think about that movie every time I come to Armenia,” he said.
While discussing “Sinners”, Ohanian explained that the filmmakers deliberately avoided copying modern vampire stories, instead drawing inspiration from classics such as Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot. One of the team’s original ideas was giving the vampires two sets of fangs, creating a more primal look unique to the film.
The production also featured several Armenian connections behind the scenes.
While reviewing the crew list during camera tests, Ohanian noticed the surname of the film’s lead caterer, Chris Koeroghlian. Curious, he immediately introduced himself.
Although Koeroghlian no longer speaks Armenian, he proudly traces his heritage through his grandfather. Ohanian said the crew repeatedly encouraged him to bring Armenian flavors to the production, eventually serving lahmajun-inspired pizza to the cast and crew.
“A happy, well-fed crew makes a good movie,” Ohanian said.
Another Armenian, Warner Bros. attorney Talin, also worked on the production’s legal team.
Family remains at the center of Ohanian’s success.
He and his wife, filmmaker Natalie Qasabian, are raising their 3-year-old son, Auden, in both Armenian and English. Their son will soon begin attending an Armenian preschool in Los Angeles, and Ohanian said preserving the language and culture is one of his family’s highest priorities.
“We’re going to make him feel at home with our culture,” he said. “The rest will be up to him.”
His own parents were never far from his thoughts during this year’s Academy Awards.
Although “Sinners” earned multiple Oscars, Ohanian said the awards themselves were not what made the night unforgettable.
Instead, he remembered standing on the red carpet alongside his wife, sister, mother and father, reflecting on his parents’ decision to immigrate to the United States more than three decades ago.
“My parents came to America with almost nothing,” he said.
“They worked hard, built a life and gave my sister and me every opportunity.”
As he recalled the moment, Ohanian struggled to hold back tears.
“Everything else was just the cherry on top,” he said.
Oscar night also became an unexpected gathering of Armenians working across the film industry.
Ohanian celebrated alongside fellow Armenian nominees, winners and Academy executives, saying the community naturally found one another throughout the evening.
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