Film is my passion, and storytelling is my forte. For over a decade, I have been sharing the stories of Artsakh through the art of filmmaking, crafting narratives from both individual and collective experiences. While creating films has its challenges, it has allowed my team and me to grow both personally and professionally. I have pursued my dream of producing films that feature top-tier Armenian talent and include an international cast in my lineup.

By collaborating with talented artists and technicians from around the world, I seek to create films that bring deeper understanding of universal themes of courage, resilience, peace, and hope. As I continue on this journey, I am also committed to using the power of film to give the voiceless a voice and place Artsakh on the world map. 

I was an eye-witness to the Artsakh 2020 war, and I spent 38 days documenting the war crimes committed against the Armenian population of Artsakh. During this time, I met some of the most determined individuals who came to the battlefield on a mission to save lives. I received much of my inspiration from these patriotic people, who would do anything to save their homeland, to create my next film project Angels 2020.

A mission to save lives in a war where it is easier to destroy than to heal.

Angels 2020 is a poignant true story drawn from the memories and personal accounts of thirty doctors caught in the vortex of a devastating war. This war forces them to question their reality, their understanding of the world, and perhaps even their beliefs. Some of these doctors are veterans of the first Artsakh war, returning to the front lines after thirty years. Others have come from distant corners of the world, united by a common mission to gather and send vital medicines and supplies. Despite their different dreams and destinies, they are bound by one purpose: to save lives.

Angels 2020 is more than a story about doctors; it’s about countless men and young soldiers with broken destinies. Their stories are told through four main characters. The film uses powerful images of blood and white coats to depict war, as well as the woman as an embodiment of anchored humanity. The female doctors represent Mother Earth, who suffers the loss of her sons, husbands, and brothers.

The 44-day Artsakh War claimed the lives of many young people, victims of the latest munitions. For the doctors, their reality turned into a hellscape, witnessing too much death and suffering. Their existence became a nightmare.

Angels 2020 is structured into four distinct parts, each telling a separate story, yet intertwined and complementing each other. These narratives come together to form a powerful testament to the resilience and humanity of those who strive to heal amidst the horrors of war.

In the heart of battle, a hot-headed military doctor survives an intense conflict, while his stubborn, self-sacrificing, and patriotic son faces various trials, confronting his deepest fears and coping with the heartbreaking loss of a friend. Meanwhile, a commander returns to his ancestral village to join the liberation struggle, and a physician and his team bravely rescue hundreds from the clutches of death as they navigate a treacherous path. The stories of these “angels" stand as a testament to courage and sacrifice endured during the darkest chapters of the conflict, as their diverse dreams and destinies unite in the singular mission of saving lives.

Angels 2020 consists of four distinct stories, although separate, are united by a single theme. A central narrative thread runs through the film, connecting some characters by referencing the First Artsakh War and linking their pasts to the present.

• The film employs a visual style dominated by scenes that evoke a sense of disorientation, akin to viewing unfocused clouds or fragmented reflections of light. The imagery often appears distorted and elusive, creating a sense of constant but unclear presence.
• Through these cinematic techniques, we convey physiological anxiety to the audience. Flickering lights, distorted visuals in open fields, and blurred scenes behind plastic barriers intensify the feelings of anxiety, discomfort, and tension, mirroring the oppressive nature of war.
• Scenes are set in claustrophobic environments, such as a hospital-turned-school basement and a narrow dugout. Visuals include blood and mud combined with the harsh sounds of artillery, creating an immersive experience.
• Close-up shots are frequently used to capture the raw intensity: hands wiping blood and mud, the act of chewing, doctors’ hands during surgery, and soldiers’ dirty, scratched hands opening rations.
• External scenes feature wheezing, explosions, and soil blowouts, creating a visceral impression that the very sky is collapsing. This powerful, immersive style underpins the film’s thematic elements.

• The film will feature several allegories that powerfully convey themes of young lives cut short and the persistence of life. For example, we will depict a scene where only a leg and an arm are buried, while a conversation about life continues in the background.

• The film’s rhythm pulses with intensity; scenes peak with dramatic developments, while others slow to moments of near suffocation, where everything seems to stop. These quieter moments are filled with heavy psychological weight. For instance, the conversations between Levon and his father post-war are marked by silence and deep emotion, despite the abundance of unspoken words.
• Similarly, the encounter between Mushegh and his son Aram at the war’s frontline is fraught with tension. As they attempt to pull each other from the conflict, their powerlessness against the harsh reality and the looming threat of losing one another weighs heavily on them. They are consumed by uncertainty and helplessness.

The film features four distinct color palettes, each tailored to the emotional tone of its respective act.

First Part

Second Part

Third Part

Fourth Part

Flashback Line

We have successfully secured $39,000 USD for the film's development stage, including seed funding of our partners, Fish Eye Art Cultural Foundation and LifeTree Pictures LLC in Armenia, ARTsakh Arts and Cultural Foundation in the USA and the support of 1.5 M AMD (approx. $3,750 USD) from the National Cinema Center of Armenia (now rebranded as Cinema Foundation of Armenia). Thus, we have completed the development funding.

For the production phase, we are planning to raise 550,000 USD for the Armenian portion of the budget. H. Hovnanian Family Foundation has already confirmed its support with $40,000. We also intend to apply to the National Cinema Center of Armenia for approximately $150,000 to support the production phase.

We are determined to achieve this goal and will be actively pursuing various avenues, including international funding, sales of our previous films and NFTs, investments, and a crowdfunding campaign. Additionally, for the film production phase, we are exploring the possibility of raising $300,000 in collaboration with our international co-producers.

For the crowdfunding campaign, we are striving to reach 100K USD.

Our team is confident and optimistic about our fundraising efforts, and we will leave no stone unturned to make this project a reality, as we have done for all our past projects. We are excited to bring Angels 2020 to life and can't wait to share it with the world.

Jivan Avetisyan is an Armenian international award-winning film director, an alumnus of Berlinale Talents 2020 and MIDPOINT Institute, a participant of CineLink Producers’ Lab 2024 and a member of the European Film Academy. He created more than 10 documentaries and shorts as well as three feature films, Tevanik, The Last Inhabitant, and Gate to Heaven. The team’s fourth feature film, Revival, is in the production stage in parallel to which the team is developing their next feature film, Angels 2020.

Jivan’s three previous feature films, Tevanik (streaming on Amazon Prime and Tube), The Last Inhabitant (acquired by HBO Eastern Europe, broadcast by PBS, and streaming on Amazon Prime and Tubi) and Gate to Heaven (released on SBS Australia and theatrically released with AMC Theatres in the USA) have their own individual global success stories in the international cinematic world.

Avetisyan spent 38 days on the frontline during the brutal 44-day September 2020 war, which ended on November 9, 2020. He also spent a substantial amount of time documenting all the atrocities and war crimes committed against the Armenian population, which included his family. He will integrate these photos and videos into his future film projects, including Angels 2020.

His main purpose is to speak to the world about his own life experience through his films’ characters and stories. He has an important goal to put Artsakh on the map of global consciousness.

If you want to learn more about Jivan’s purpose and experience check out the documentary created by the reputable German international broadcaster Deutsche Welle in the framework of Berlinale Talents 2020, where Jivan was selected amongst 3,400 applicants.

If a child experiences a war, the war never really leaves the child. My generation and I grew up during the most violent conflict in the Caucasus of the 1990s. Unfortunately, I witnessed the continuation of the same Artsakh War in September 2020.

Throughout the 38 days I lived through the battle, all human emotions were destroyed inside me, However, witnessing the doctors’ struggle and their unconditional humanitarian dedication - beyond all imagination - saved an important part of me.

I faced a chaotic reality whose horrors forced me to express my feelings through Angels 2020 despite the immense pain. I believe that talking about pain is important, and I hope my films can help heal wounds by raising questions.

I believe art can impact and bring change. Cinema is my way of fighting. Through my films, I fight against evil and call for peace. Today, we live in a world divided into pieces, and no one is safe from war. There is war everywhere. The message of my films is that each of us should try to stop that war, whatever it may be. Now my challenge is bigger than ever, as only three years after the 2020 Artsakh War, 120,000 ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh, including my own family members, have had to leave their ancestral home.

Meanwhile, here are some noteworthy references from various media outlets!

• Zartonk Media (USA) refers to Jivan Avetisyan’s path of work.
• Britflicks (UK) coverage about the start of the work on Jivan Avetisyan's 4th feature film, Revival.
• Jivan Avetisyan's Interview and Gate to Heaven Film Review by Cineuropa.
• Moscow International Film Festival “Pulls Nagorno-Karabakh Drama Over Violence Worries” by Moscow Times.
• Variety's article about the European Film Academy's new 709 members and its 2024 annual intake.
• Article on Screen Daily: Sarajevo selects 15 participants for the CineLink Producers’ Lab

Born in Gyumri, raised in Artsakh, and based in Yerevan, Armenia, Jivan co-founded the Fish Eye Art Cultural Foundation in 2014, where he serves as CEO. In 2021, he also founded the commercial production company LifeTree Pictures LLC. Avetisyan is developing several projects simultaneously, including Angels 2020, which will be his fifth feature film.

Anna Margaryan is a historian who began her journey into the cinematic world with Jivan Avetisyan’s fourth feature film, Revival, where she served as Artistic Producer. Working alongside Avetisyan’s team, Anna conducted in-depth research to develop the concept for Angels 2020. She wrote her first script for the film, drawing on her expertise in contemporary history to approach the topic as both a witness and documentarian, while also integrating verifiable historical data into her creative process.

Viken Attarian is an experienced technology executive who has lived, studied, worked, and lectured across several countries on three continents. He received the HM Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 for his contributions and services to Canada and has worked with Canada’s top aerospace, telecommunications, and IT innovation companies. A human rights activist and expert in long-term grassroots policy initiatives, Attarian’s published works include essays and poems in a modern Armenian poetry anthology. He continues to serve in advisory and international jury roles for various projects and organizations in business, academia, government policy, and literature. Notably, he was the first project manager for the TUMO Center, where he collaborated with Sam and Sylva Simonians to bring the project to fruition.

Attarian is also an instrumental creative and story consultant for the upcoming films Revival and Angels 2020, and has played a key role in developing all of Avetisyan’s forthcoming film projects.

Yerevan-based Narine Voskanyan is a film director, scriptwriter, and the Creative Director of the Fish Eye Art Cultural Foundation. Over the past few years, Voskanyan has collaborated with director Jivan Avetisyan on several films. She is the co-scriptwriter for Revival, which is currently in production, and will serve as a script consultant for the upcoming film Angels 2020.

Adrineh Mirzayan’s multicultural upbringing led her to a distinguished career in the hospitality industry, where she excels as a leading executive in luxury brand hotels. As a grandchild of Armenian Genocide survivors on both her paternal and maternal sides, Mirzayan is dedicated to raising awareness about Armenian culture and causes worldwide.

Her foray into the film industry began in 2014 with Jivan Avetisyan’s international award-winning film Tevanik. She then served as Executive Producer for Avetisyan’s subsequent feature films: The Last Inhabitant, Gate to Heaven, and Revival. Her upcoming film projects include Black List and Angels 2020.

Masis Baghdasaryan is a co-founder of the Fish Eye Art Cultural Foundation and has served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees since its inception in 2014. Baghdasaryan has produced three of the Foundation’s films and co-wrote The Last Inhabitant. He is also involved in the feature film Revival, which is currently in production, and Black List, which is in development. He will serve as a producer for Angels 2020 through the Fish Eye Art Cultural Foundation.

Yelena Avetisyan was born and raised in Stepanakert, Artsakh. She studied Applied Mathematics and later began her career in the film industry as an administrator for Jivan Avetisyan’s first feature film, Tevanik. She subsequently became the Financial Director for his films The Last Inhabitant and Gate to Heaven. Yelena also served as a Line Producer for the director’s latest film, Revival. She will now be a Producer for Angels 2020 on behalf of LifeTree Pictures LLC.

Passionate about the film industry, Astghik Hakobyan began working with Jivan Avetisyan during the post-production stage of his third feature film, Gate to Heaven, assisting with its crowdfunding campaign. Hakobyan is currently serving as an Assistant Producer for Avetisyan’s feature films Revival and Angels 2020.

Our goal is to recreate that terrible reality and convey to the world through language of art, because no one can depict the tragedies of war better than a nation that continues to struggler its existence in its homeland, living in the same nightmare for decades. Through this film, we aim to engage the audience with simple yet effective cinematic techniques while simultaneously highlighting the aftermath of war. The film’s purpose is to raise global awareness to prevent war and promote peace.

Every scene in the movie will be based on true stories. We will experience the war from four perspectives, each through a different set of eyes.

Through Angels 2020, we aim to touch the hearts of audiences worldwide, encouraging each viewer to appreciate the importance of peace and not to remain indifferent to man-made disasters occurring in small corners of the world. Our production team is dedicated to conveying a message that preaches one of the most essential universal values: PEACE. We also seek to tell the stories of the heroic exploits of both our soldiers and doctors on the battlefield.

A great film is successful in any language as long as it possesses all the essential creative components, including writing, editing, directing, acting, and production. These elements give the film longevity, allowing is to thrice through participation in film festivals and screenings both in Armenia and worldwide, especially among Armenian communities.

The relevance of the film’s story suggests that it has the potential to be screened at leading European and international film festivals. With the support of potential co-producers, we will be able to distribute the film in cinemas and Video on Demand (VoD) platforms, as we have done with our previous films.

With Angels 2020, we intend to increase our audience, by cooperating with all global VoD platforms, and we are continuously establishing contacts with all of them. In our previous films, we have successfully negotiated with HBO Europe, Amazon Prime, UniversCine, SBS World and Vimeo. For theatrical screenings, we have established a successful track record with Cinémas Guzzo in Canada, Pacific Theaters in California and the AMC cinema chain in the USA. We plan to capitalize on these existing distribution channels and enhance them further. In the USA, we have had initial success with a PBS station in New York and intend to expand into the entire national PBS network.

1. What is the project about?

It is a feature film about four different destinies during a war, united by one mission: to save lives in a conflict, where it is easier to kill many rather than to save even one.

2. When will the film production begin?

We are considering starting the production of the film in the spring of 2025.

3. When will the movie be released?

The release date is earmarked for January, 2027. It will be announced.

4. Is there any big-name talent in the film?

Of course! We are going to create the film together with talented and well-known Armenian actors and actresses. Additionally, we expect that renowned international actors will join us as well.

5. How is the budget determined? 

The budget is determined based on our past practices in producing previous films. Additionally, each producer provides a cost analysis from their respective country based on the production’s needs. These analyses are then considered when creating the budget.

6. When will my perks be available?

It depends on the perk you selected. You can always check the delivery date in the appropriate section of the page. However, once the film is completed in 2027, all perks will be available and delivered.

7. How will I get my digital download?

When the time arrives, we will e-mail you a link to download the film.

8. When will the DVDs be shipped and/or become available?

For the previous film DVDs, we will deliver them within approximately 6 months after purchasing and claiming the perk. Revival’s DVD will be delivered upon the film’s completion, and the same applies to Angels 2020.

9. Can I follow the process by email and/or Social Media

Of course, you can get in touch with us by letting us know your email. Additionally, you can follow the "Fish eye Art" Cultural Foundation's page on Facebook, and Instagram to keep up with our updates. For more information, please visit Fish Eye Art's website. You can also follow the film director's Social Media pages on Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn.

© The main photo Credit: Eric Grigorian