AIWA-SF Thrive: Emily Mkrtichian

THRIVE is an AIWA-SF April project dedicated to highlighting Armenians who are doing amazing things in their personal and professional lives to better themselves and those around them.  These individuals are inspiring, dynamic, innovative and interesting. Today we feature Emily Mkrtichian.

Name: Emily Mkrtichian, Filmmaker and Writer

Emily Mkrtichian has been making films for nearly six years now. Her journey as a filmmaker actually began when she went to Armenia for the first time, and was lucky enough to do an internship at Yerevan’s first documentary film studio. Taking on themes of culture, memory, identity and place, she has since made films that have been broadcast on European TV channels and screened at film festivals around the world.

Here is what Emily had to say about the following:

What is your hope for the future? Stories from this region (Armenia), especially stories about strong Armenian women, are not always brought to the world stage as role models and people to admire or learn from, and I want to change that. I think creating a bond between Armenia and the diaspora, and Armenia and the rest of the world by way of inspiring, meaningful stories means a brighter, more inclusive future for us all. Not just in the form of bringing aid to those less fortunate, but being open to the lessons of those who have had different and often difficult experiences, what they can teach us about life and perseverance.

Why are you passionate about your activities? It’s a real privilege to be able to mix my passion – telling meaningful, creative stories – with my roots. For example, I am currently making a documentary film about the women who are working to remove landmines from Artsakh. Their strength and courage inspires me everyday and I am lucky to be able to tell their story to the world.

What does being an Armenian professional mean to you? I have always been fascinated with the ways that our history and culture take shape and shape us. I make films to explore how these influences play out in modern life, and create truly strong, courageous, individuals whose stories deserve to be heard around the world. This allows me to explore my culture and my roots while also honing my craft, becoming a better storyteller, and hopefully make an impact in my global community.

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About AIWA-SF:

The Armenian International Women’s Association is a dynamic global 501(c)3 dedicated to empowerment, education and enrichment. Through many projects and initiatives,  AIWA is dedicated to inspiring, empowering and connecting Armenian women worldwide.

AIWA-SF is an affiliate chapter of the Armenian International Women’s Association,  the EIN #: 04-3113182. Donations marked for AIWA-SF are routed to the affiliate chapter.

To get involved with the AIWA-SF affiliate, please visit http://www.aiwasanfrancisco.com or send an email to aiwasanfrancisco@gmail.com. We are grateful for all donations. To help us promote progress, contributions can be mailed to: AIWA-SF 15559 Union Ave #227 Los Gatos CA 95032