Edwin Avaness
Edwin Avaness | |
|---|---|
| Add a Photo | |
| Born | July 4, 1971 Tehran, Iran |
| Nationality | American |
| Citizenship | United States of America |
| Alma mater |
|
| Occupation | Film Producer |
| Years active | 1995–present |
Edwin Avaness (born July 4, 1971) is an accomplished award winning American independent film producer.
Biography
Edwin Avaness was born in Tehran to Armenian parents. He attended Melkonian Educational Institute, an Armenian boarding school of high academic standard, in Nicosia, Cyprus. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Film and Digital Media productions at University of California, Santa Cruz, and his Master of Arts Degree from Northwestern University's School of Communication - The Department of Radio/Television/Film.
He joined the executive board of Arpa Foundation for Film, Music & Art in 1998 to 2001[1]. The annual humanitarian honor, in conjunction with the Arpa International Film Festival in Hollywood, is co-created by Mr. Avaness, where filmmakers are awarded for their work that has contributed to the fight for social conscience and human rights issues. Among the past recipients of this award are documentary films Screamers (2006), Darfur Now (2007), Children of War (2009), Aghet - Ein Völkermord (2010), and in 2017 Academy Award-winning screenwriter-director Terry George for The Promise (2016 film)|The Promise (2016). Mr. Avaness also serves as a board member of Armin T. Wegner Society of USA[2], where the society revives the legacy of this 20th Century humanist through his work.
After co-producing his first feature film, My Dark Days (2001), Mr. Avaness produced and co-directed the feature film The Journey (2002)[3] which was awarded the Audience Award at the Milan International Film Festival in 2002. He next produced Tabriz: Images from the Forgotten World (2006)[4], a docudrama which received popular reception and awards in international festivals such as Bangkok Int'l Film Festival.
Mr. Avaness later established EOS Entertainment which is developing and producing content to mainstream audiences. Projects such as the documentary Epic Denied: Depriving the Forty Days of Musa Dagh[5] which covers the trials and tribulations of Hollywood's multiple attempts to produce an epic movie based on Franz Werfel's bestseller novel.
As a joined venture with other production companies, he has produced Virginity (2014) a film about human rights issues, which deals with women struggling in their social and cultural environments and facing unforeseeable crises. Damn Foreigners (2015) a feature film based on a true story which questions prejudice elements within the justice system of the United States. Zoya (2016), a vividly poetic avant-garde story about abduction, unlawful imprisonment, and execution of human rights' activists in countries with corrupt governments. Furthermore, he has produced Ali Atshani’s 1st Born (2019) which is notable for being the first joint feature film co-production between Iran and Hollywood, with such cast as Val Kilmer[6], Tom Berenger[7], William Baldwin[8], Denise Richard[7], Taylor Cole[9], Dominique Swain, Robert Knepper[10] and Greg Grunberg[9]. And most recently Loteria (2022), which is about a young Iranian man who’s plan is to cross over the boarder illegally from Mexico to the United States in pursuit of a better life.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Credited as | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | My Dark Days | co-producer | |
| 2002 | The Journey | producer | |
| 2006 | Tabriz: Images from the Forgotten World | producer | |
| 2014 | Virginity | producer | |
| 2015 | Damn Foreigners | producer | |
| 2016 | Zoya | producer | |
| 2019 | 1st Born | producer | |
| 2022 | Lotería | producer |
Honors & Awards
- The Audience Award for the feature film The Journey (2002), Milan International Film Festival[11][12]
- U.S. House of Representatives Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition
- Certificate of Recognition from State of California Assembly and Senate
- City of Los Angeles Mayor’s Certificate of Appreciation
- The New Photography Exhibition, Fine Art Award at Los Angeles County Fair
- Best Feature Film Damn Foreigners (2015) Canada International Film Festival
- Best Social Denunciation Film Zoya (2016) International Euro Film Festival
- Film of Social Conscience Virginity (2014) Long Island Film Festival
References
- ↑ Harutinian, Barbara (1 May 2001). "2nd Annual Armenian Festival Brings Attention to New Directors". Hye Sharzhoom.
- ↑ "Armin T. Wegner Society of USA – Armin T. Wegner Society of USA". Retrieved 2022-07-08.
- ↑ Willis, John Willis (2005). Screen World, Volume 55 (1st ed.). New York: Applause Theatre & Cinema Books. p. 190. ISBN 1-55783-638-8.
- ↑ "10th Annual Arpa International Film Festival and Gala Awards Banquet". Asbarez. 7 December 2007.
- ↑ Torosyan, Lilly (5 October 2012). "New Documentary on 'The Forty Days of Musa Dagh' and Hollywood". Armenian Weekly.
- ↑ Couch, Aaron (15 August 2017). "Val Kilmer to Star in Iranian-American Comedy '1st Born' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 N'Duka, Amanda (13 September 2017). "'1st Born' Rounds Out Its Cast". Deadline.
- ↑ N'Duka, Amanda (23 August 2017). "William Baldwin & Jay Abdo Join In Comedy Film '1st Born'". Deadline.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 N'Duka, Amanda (8 September 2017). "Greg Grunberg, Taylor Cole Cast In '1st Born'". Deadline.
- ↑ McNary, Dave (30 August 2017). "Film News Roundup: Robert Knepper, Armin Amiri to Star in '1st Born'". Variety.
- ↑ Carter, Ryan (July 5, 2003). "New film to be released locally". Glendale News-Press. Retrieved 2003-05-07.
- ↑ "WINNERS 3rd EDITION - 2002". MIFF Awards.
External links
This article "Edwin Avaness" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical. Articles taken from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be accessed on Wikipedia's Draft Namespace.