Bonding through images

The programs I joined have enabled me to affirm a large part of my identity. Growing up with AGBU gave me the opportunity to delve into the heart of Armenian culture, which has deeply nurtured my love for it.

After completing a Master's degree in Cinema and Audiovisual Studies and after in the Images Class at the FEMIS School, Hovig quickly began his career as a director of photography, working on fiction and documentary projects, and more recently on advertising movies, music videos and TV shows. Hovig has been involved with AGBU since his childhood, when he took part in the French Colonie de Vacances, and has continued his commitment through several programs, including Arménie, Terre de Vie, where he has put his film-making experience to good use.

How did you get involved with AGBU?

My involvement with AGBU began when I was very young, with my participation in the UGAB France Colonie de Vacances, where I was first a participant alongside many members of my family, including my cousins, then a counselor, and finally assistant director to Herminé Duzian, who put her trust in me to help with the logistics and organization of the camp for several summers. During my university studies, I also had the opportunity to take part in the volunteer service program Arménie, Terre de Vie on three editions, both as a volunteer and as the video manager.

Why were you drawn to the organization? 

I have unforgettable memories of the Colonie de Vacances, where I forged deep friendships with the other participants and reconnected with my Armenian roots in the heart of the Haute-Savoie mountains. We looked forward to getting together every summer, because it was a timeless moment when we could share a common culture, speak Armenian, discover activities such as traditional Armenian singing and dancing, but also the spirit of solidarity. As a counselor and assistant director, these experiences have given me a sense of responsibility and commitment. I think it's all these things that attracted me and pushed me to keep a link with the organization. The various programs run by AGBU are driven by a harmonious blend of family spirit and friendship, which makes them very rewarding from both a personal and professional point of view. The shared passion of its members and sympathizers for Armenian culture and our commitment to defend our identity have been the driving forces behind all my AGBU experiences.

Can you please describe your academic and professional background? 

I began my higher education with an audiovisual BTS at the Lycée SUGER, before going on to study at the Sorbonne Nouvelle, where I graduated a Bachelor and a Master's degree in Cinema and Audiovisual. I then joined the renowned FEMIS School, specializing in Images, from which I graduated in 2020. After that, I was lucky enough to launch my career by taking part in a number of professional projects, including short films (Assoiffé by Lisa Sallustio, Bellus by Alexis Pazoumian), meta cinema (Jour de gloire by Jeanne Frenkel and Cosme Castro) and music videos (Sous mon bob by Philippe Katerine, Aspiration by Zaho de Sagazan).

Can you share with us some of your achievements and future plans? 

Recently, I've been focusing mainly on fiction projects for television. I started the year with Factice, a new 6-part TV show directed by Julie Rohart for Universal Plus channel. The show follows a mother who returns to her life as a forger and will be broadcast early next year. I'm currently finishing Zonz, another show directed by Marine Maugrain Legagneur and Marine Colomies for France TV Slash channel. This 8-episode project looks at the prison environment for teenagers. Among my future projects, I'd like to be able to return to Armenia to continue my documentary or fiction work, but perhaps more for a more personal project. 

How has the organization played a role in your career?

My first experiences of filmmaking began during my years at the Colonie de Vacances. My love for images and movies led me to make short videos illustrating life at the camp. These videos were used to promote the program. Thanks to the trust and encouragement of the organization, I continued to pursue this passion every summer, particularly as part of the Arménie, Terre de Vie program. As the editions progressed, I honed my skills by exploring the beginnings of documentary practice through these short films. These films have also been a wonderful way of conveying Armenian culture and heritage through images, and the links that AGBU creates between the diaspora and local populations. During my last participation in the program in 2019, I felt the need to embark on a more personal project. In 2020, I directed Storgetnya, a short documentary set in the Avan salt mine near Yerevan. The documentary follows the journey of men and women two hundred and thirty meters underground in the Avan salt mine, an underground clinic renowned for its medical benefits. I loved telling the story of people who meet and evolve in a timeless space. Sharing time with them allowed me to understand them better and to be able to convey their stories as faithfully as possible. This project received financial and logistical support from UGAB France. The film was a great success in France and abroad, and I was lucky enough to be able to show it in several countries, sharing the story of this salt mine in Poland, Japan, Egypt and many other countries. Finally, UGAB France has supported me throughout my studies with thePerforming Arts Department scholarship program, enabling me to fund part of my studies.

How has your involvement with AGBU shaped who you are with your family, friends, career?

The programs I joined have enabled me to affirm a large part of my identity. Growing up with AGBU gave me the opportunity to delve into the heart of Armenian culture, which has deeply nurtured my love for it. Helping to renovate schools in Armenian villages, meeting village children, talking to families and listening to their stories, particularly about the wars in Artsakh, as well as participating in the development and fulfilment of young people in the diaspora through the camps, are all experiences that have shaped my personality, my community involvement and my artistic choices. Finally, thanks to AGBU, I have made lifelong friendships with people I would probably never have met in any other context. 

What is one thing about AGBU that you wish people knew? 

AGBU is a great organization with members from all over the world who are committed, dedicated and united in common causes. But above all, it is an organization committed to young people, both from Armenia and the diaspora. Every year, it supports numerous artists and exciting projects through scholarships and support funds, as well as students from all over the world through leadership and scholarship programs.

On a personal note, what is your favorite Armenian tradition, recipe, or holiday?

There's one holiday that fascinates me that I haven't yet had the chance to celebrate, and that's Trndez. It's a tradition that consists of building a huge bonfire and jumping over it on the night of February 13. It's a pagan festival that has remained in our traditions and celebrates the cult of fire and the sun, to celebrate the arrival of spring. It's a great evening of traditional song and dance.

Take a look at Hovig Hagopian work: 

Arte channel:
Chico, Enzo Lorenzo
⁠Les corneilles blanches, Denis Liakhov
Intelligence, Jeanne Frenkel and Cosme Castro
Jour de gloire, Jeanne Frenkel and Cosme Castro

Canal + channel:
Assoiffé, Lisa Sallustio

Coming soon:
Factice, Julie Rohart (TV show in 6 episodes): Universal Plus channel
Zonz, Marine Maugrain Legagneur and Marine Colomies (TV show in 8 episodes): France TV Slash channel