We were lucky to catch up with Art Arutyunyan recently and have shared our conversation below.

Art, appreciate you joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

I try to get involved in projects that have a meaning, a story that I connect on a personal level, stories that have universal messaging. My last film PIECES WE LEAVE BEHIND deals with loss and healing. We’ve all experienced loss, life simply isn’t without it. What happens in days, weeks, months after that? Does it get easier, does it feel more distant? When does it become our past and seizes to be our present? I think those are very universal themes. My hope is that the audiences recognise themselves in it. I hope that this film reminds people of beauty in their lives, beauty of our world as a healing force. That to me is the most meaningful part of this film.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I was born and raised in Uzbekistan, Central Asia. I am a writer, director and producer. Originally trained as a fashion designer, I have designed collections for major fashion retailers before transitioning to film production.

My scripts have been optioned and produced, and won the London International Screenwriting Competition, placed quarterfinalist at ScreenCraft and landed in the top 10% at the Academy Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting. Some of my films as a writer / director / producer have played in multiple film festivals worldwide and placed as finalists. As a writer/director, my projects have been distributed worldwide on VOD, cable, DVD/Blu-Ray & various streaming apps. Art’s film ‘Funeral’ is part of the Film Fund’s auteur collection.

I tend to gravitate to stories that combine character-driven narratives with strong visual context. I want to tell stories of underdogs and outcasts, stories of triumph over adversity, unforeseen courage and resilience.

Currently, I develop TV pilots, series and feature film projects that range in genre and format.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I believe our government can do much more in supporting filmmakers, specifically provide more funds and technical support to producers, writers and directors. Film is an integral part of our cultural evolution, so it’s only logical for the administrations to invest in film productions. Filmmakers and other artists need space and time to create art, and not be distracted by side gigs and day jobs. And for that they need some type of a baseline funding, a financial program that helps them while they’re creating. It bugs me when some people say that artists (even unknown artists) don’t contribute to the economy or our evolution as species. Quite the contrary, artists reflect the world and its state in the given moment in time, and it’s a type of a message to the future generations about how the world was.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding thing about being able to make films is that I can share my point of views, express my vision for the world and express my creativity along with my collaborators. As a team we contribute to film history, and that is the most rewarding part of what we do as filmmakers. Being a part of an art form that is consumed by many and not just the elite. But the most rewarding part of what we do is when the film finds its audience. When people say it was either beautifully shot or had a compelling storyline. We do it for the viewers, we want our films to be watched and cause a reaction. So, when that happens… It’s the most rewarding part of our work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://artarutyunyan.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/art_arutyunyan/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArtArutyunyan525/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/art-arutyunyan-aa100278