Biography

Born in Armenia and raised in Los Angeles, Eric Nazarian is a graduate of the University of Southern California's (USC) School of Cinematic Arts where he earned a B.A. in Film Production.

"The Blue Hour," his first feature film as writer-director, is composed of four stories about working-class lives near the Los Angeles River, starring Alyssa Milano, Clarence Williams III, and Emily Rios. The film's World Premiere took place at the 55th San Sebastian International Film Festival and was nominated for the Altadis-New Director's Award. "The Blue Hour" went to screen at the 25th Torino Film Festival in the Official Selection and was named "Film of the Day" by the European Network of Young Cinema. The film premiered in the U.S. at the 10th Arpa International Film Festival where Nazarian was presented with the Best Director award. At the 5th Golden Apricot International Film Festival, "The Blue Hour" received the Golden Apricot for Best Film in the Armenian Panorama, the Ecumenical Jury Award and the Prime Minister's Award.

Nazarian received the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences® prestigious Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting for his screenplay, "Giants." In 2010, Nazarian made "Bolis," a short film about a descendant of a Genocide survivor in Istanbul as part of the European Union's Capital of Culture Program. Nazarian adapted Chris Bohjalian's New York Times bestselling, critically acclaimed novel, "The Sandcastle Girls" that he is also attached to produce and direct. "Three Christs," his adaptation of Milton Rokeach's "The Three Christs of Ypsilanti" with director Jon Avnet premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), starring Richard Gere, Peter Dinklage, Julianna Margulies and Walton Goggins.
- IMDb mini biography by: M. Kazaz

[on Do Not Forget Me Istanbul (2010)] I grew up with the images of 'Old Bolis' [Bolis = Istanbul in Armenian] in my mind; the Bolis of 'Ara Guler', Siamanto, Daniel Varoujan, Orhan Pamuk and Udi Hrant. I wanted to go with an open mind yet I was haunted by the demons of the [Armenian] genocide. [2013]