Cannes Critics’ Week Unveils Armenian Focus for Prestigious ‘Next Step Studio’ Program
The Cannes Film Festival’s celebrated Critics’ Week (Semaine de la Critique) has officially announced the focus of its upcoming "Next Step Studio" program, signaling a significant cultural bridge between the world’s most prestigious cinematic stage and the burgeoning Armenian film industry. The 2027 edition of the workshop will spotlight Armenia, selecting four promising local directors—Armik Israyelyan, Raffi Movsisyan, Sona Khachatryan, and Naira Sargsyan—to embark on a rigorous professional development journey that culminates in the creation of four original short films.
This initiative is not merely a training workshop; it is an ambitious cross-border collaboration designed to integrate Armenian storytelling into the global auteur circuit. With the full backing of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia, the project aims to place Yerevan at the heart of international cinematic discourse.
The Roadmap: From Yerevan to the Croisette
The mechanics of the Next Step Studio program are designed to foster high-level mentorship and creative synergy. Each of the four selected Armenian filmmakers will be paired with an established international director. This collaborative duo will then engage in an intensive developmental process, leading to a production phase scheduled for March 2027 in the Armenian capital, Yerevan.
The mandates for these productions are strict: the films must be written in the Armenian language and must utilize an entirely Armenian cast and crew. By enforcing these parameters, the organizers ensure that the projects remain authentic to their cultural roots while benefiting from the global expertise brought in by the international mentors. Upon completion, the films are slated for a high-profile world premiere at the 2027 Critics’ Week in Cannes, providing the directors with an unparalleled platform to launch their careers on the international stage.
A Rigorous Selection Process
The path to selection was far from simple. Following an open call for applications within Armenia, the Next Step Studio committee received 25 high-quality submissions, reflecting the depth of talent currently operating within the Armenian film ecosystem.
After a thorough vetting process, the committee narrowed the pool to a shortlist of 12 projects. The final selection took place on July 16 at the historic House of Cinema in Yerevan. The jury, comprised of Juliette Canon (Short Film Coordinator and Next Step Coordinator at Critics’ Week), acclaimed French producer Dominique Welinski, and prominent Armenian producer Artyom Baghdasaryan, conducted face-to-face interviews to assess not only the technical prowess of the candidates but their creative vision and potential for long-term growth.
The official unveiling of the filmmaker pairings is scheduled for August 19, during the closing ceremony of the CineLink industry program at the Sarajevo Film Festival. This announcement is expected to be a milestone moment, effectively signaling the start of the pre-production phase.
Profiles of the Selected Visionaries
The four filmmakers selected represent a diverse cross-section of the Armenian creative landscape, ranging from experienced festival veterans to emerging voices with strong academic backgrounds.
Armik Israyelyan: The Multimedia Storyteller
An alumna of the prestigious KinoEyes European Film Masters program, Israyelyan brings a robust technical background to the program. Her studies at the American University of Armenia and her professional tenure as a videographer and media creator at UCRAFT have given her a unique visual language. Her recent short film, The List, earned the top prize at the Unica Annual Film Festival, cementing her reputation as a filmmaker to watch. Having participated in various Erasmus+ film projects, she is well-positioned to navigate the collaborative nature of the Next Step Studio.
Raffi Movsisyan: The Cinematic Curator
Movsisyan’s career is defined by his deep institutional knowledge of the industry. A graduate of the Yerevan State Institute of Theater and Cinema, he served as a coordinator for Armenian film programs at the renowned Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival for five years. His experience extends into the policy sector, having served as an advisor to the Minister of Culture (2018–2019). Beyond his administrative achievements, Movsisyan is a talented storyteller who has hosted cultural programs on Channel One and Bun TV. His directorial debut, Homecoming, premiered at the Krakow International Film Festival in 2021, and he has successfully produced three animated features.
Sona Khachatryan: The Intellectual Narrative Specialist
Khachatryan brings an academic rigor to the program that is rare in the industry. With a master’s degree in Turkish Studies from Sabanci University and an MA in International Relations from Yerevan State University, her perspective is informed by a decade of work in Armenian-Turkish civil society projects. Her transition into cinema is bolstered by her experience as a writing consultant at the American University of Armenia and her service on the executive board of the European Writing Centers Association. Her inclusion reflects the program’s desire for narrative depth and intellectual complexity.
Naira Sargsyan: The Master of Sound and Structure
A 2017 graduate of the Feature Film Directing department at the Yerevan State Institute of Theater and Cinematography, Sargsyan is perhaps the most formally trained in the nuances of cinema language. Her Ph.D. thesis, which focused on the role of sound in film structure, highlights her meticulous approach to filmmaking. Her career includes roles as an assistant director for Armenian public television and as a casting assistant for Maria Saakyan’s critically acclaimed Mayak. Her directorial portfolio includes the 2020 film General Cleaning and the 2025 short The Eternal Red, proving her consistency and growth as an auteur.
Implications for Armenian Cinema
The Next Step Studio program is part of a broader strategy by the Cannes Critics’ Week to decentralize the film industry and identify new hubs of creative activity. This year, for instance, the program has focused on Indonesia—a testament to the organization’s commitment to global representation.
By bringing the focus to Armenia in 2027, the program does more than just promote four individuals; it institutionalizes the exchange of knowledge. The Armenian Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports has recognized that the growth of the national film industry requires more than just domestic funding; it requires an active, sustained dialogue with the European film market.
For the four selected directors, the implications are life-changing. Exposure at Critics’ Week is a "golden ticket" in the industry, often leading to distribution deals, representation by top-tier talent agencies, and easier access to European co-production funding for future feature-length projects.
Looking Ahead: Building a Sustainable Ecosystem
The decision to film entirely in the Armenian language with local crews is a strategic choice. It serves to professionalize local production standards by forcing a collaboration between local technicians and international mentors. This "learning-by-doing" model ensures that the benefits of the project extend beyond the four directors to the Armenian film crew members who will be on set in March 2027.
As the international film community turns its eyes toward Yerevan, the success of these four projects will likely serve as a benchmark for future iterations of the program. With the support of the Armenian government and the curatorial expertise of the Cannes Critics’ Week, the 2027 showcase promises to be a watershed moment for Armenian cinema, proving that the country’s artistic heritage is not only alive but ready to compete on the world’s most demanding stages.
The anticipation surrounding the announcement at the Sarajevo Film Festival in August highlights the importance of these initiatives. In a globalized world where cinema is often dominated by a few major markets, programs like Next Step Studio act as essential conduits for cultural expression, ensuring that the unique stories of Armenia find their way into the global consciousness.
