Glendale’s Armenian Film Fest goes big for year four

A project of the Armenian Film Society (AFS), the Fourth Armenian Film Festival will be held in Glendale from September 17 to 20 with an opening reception on September 16. The AFS has many initiatives to promote and support young filmmakers and to create a networking platform.

Armen and Mary Karaoghlanian lead the AFS. Beginning as a small event at Abril Books in Glendale, the organization has grown into a year-round platform that champions Armenian films and unites Armenian filmmakers.

“My wife and I founded Armenian Film Society in 2015,” says Karaoghlanian, “with the mission of championing Armenian films and filmmakers and creating a space where our community could come together through cinema. Los Angeles is home to one of the largest Armenian communities outside Armenia. Still, there was no organization consistently presenting Armenian films and connecting Armenian filmmakers with audiences and the broader industry.”

The Karaoghlanians began by organizing screenings and conversations in 2023, often building each event one at a time. Since then, their work has grown to include premieres, educational programs, industry conversations, filmmaker support, and, of course, the Armenian Film Festival.

They have collaborated with organizations such as the Academy Museum, American Cinematheque, Vidiots, and many others and expanded their footprint into London in 2024. What started as a local initiative has become an international platform, but the mission remains the same.

Inspiration

“The idea developed naturally after years of organizing individual screenings and events,” says Karaoghlanian. “We saw how strongly audiences responded to these experiences, but we wanted to create an annual destination where filmmakers, audiences, and industry professionals could spend several days together.”

Many famous actors and directors attend the film festival. This year’s special guests include Oscar-nominated filmmaker Reed Van Dyk, Hiam Abbass, Karren Karagulian, Arseni Khachaturan, Inna Sahakyan, and Oscar winners Natalie Musteata and Alexandre Singh.

Filmmakers from around the world submit their work through FilmFreeway, and AFS also actively seeks and invites select films.

‘We have been inspired by the women filmmakers.’ – Armen Karaoglhanian

“The Armenian Film Festival is designed to create connections beyond the screenings themselves,” says Karaolaghlanian. “Audiences have opportunities to watch films with the artists who made them, participate in conversations and Q&As, and engage with work they might not otherwise encounter. For filmmakers, the festival provides a platform to meet one another, connect with producers and other industry professionals, and build relationships that can continue long after the festival ends. We also organize mixers, intimate conversations, workshops, and special events where those connections can happen naturally.”

“Our goal is not to screen a film and move on. We want every filmmaker to feel welcome in a community and every audience member to feel they are participating in a larger cultural conversation.”

AFS also has organized events promoting women filmmakers. Women have not always received the same visibility, resources, or opportunities as men.

“We have been inspired by the women filmmakers we have met through our work,” Karaoglhanian said, “as well as by the women within our own community who have helped build and sustain AFS.

Adding a gala last year was an important step in the festival’s growth because it allowed them to celebrate Armenian cinema and honor filmmakers in a more formal setting. But they don’t plan to have a gala every year,

There have been successes and challenges during the last few years, including some memorable moments.

“It’s been a joy watching our audience grow. Last year, we doubled attendance to more than 3,000 attendees. It’s been such an honor to welcome filmmakers like Ryan Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Howard Kazanjian, and Anahid Nazarian, among others. Still, some of our greatest joys have come from watching filmmakers experience their work with a full audience, sometimes for the first time, and seeing conversations continue in the lobby long after a screening ends.”

The challenges are largely connected to growth. Producing a festival at this level requires significant funding, so AFS is often trying to meet growing expectations with limited resources. Those challenges have also pushed AFS to become more ambitious, resourceful, and intentional about what they’re building.

“The immediate focus is continuing to grow the festival in Los Angeles while expanding its international presence,” continued Karaoghlanian. “We want the festival to remain an essential destination for filmmakers, a place where significant films premiere, meaningful industry relationships form, and new filmmakers are discovered.

The Armenian Film Society operates year-round, organizing screenings, premieres, retrospectives, filmmaker conversations, workshops, educational programs, and community gatherings. They plan to make some exciting announcements in the near future.

DEETS

• Armenian Film Society
• September 17-20, 2026; AMC The Americana at Brand
• Opening reception on September 16 at Glenmark Hotel Rooftop