In 2000, he received "Man Of The Year" award from the The Armenian
National Committee of America--Western Region.
For his first full length feature film "The Forgotten Genocide," he
interviewed over 400 surviving witnesses. The film encompasses 20 years
of research and contacting people scattered far and wide. Her was
rewarded with two Emmy's for his effort.
Was born in Kharpert-Mezpeh in Armenian when it was still a Soviet
state. His parents moved him to Fresno, California when he was an
infant. The family then moved to Los Angeles when he was a
teenager.
Undergraduate degree is from The University of California Berkeley.
Holds a doctorate in International Relations from Harvard.
In 1979 he founded the Armenian Film Foundation to document Armenian
culture and to promote Armenian youths worldwide to be proud of their
heritage.
Has been making documentaries for 50 years.
Has lived in Thousand Oaks, California for 37 years
Survived the onslaught by Turks on Armenians in 1915 because his
parents placed him, then an infant, in a well.