ArmenՅԱՆs: Bridging Armenia and Hollywood: Sev Ohanian on Sinners, My Big Armenian Family, and His Upcoming Film Featuring a Strong Armenian Female Lead

Sev Ohanian is an Armenian-American producer, filmmaker, and the founder of Proximity Media.

He became widely known in 2008 for his “My Big Fat Armenian Family” series, inspired by the humorous aspects of Armenian culture. But Sev says his aim isn’t to rely on simple stereotypes, but to portray Armenians as complex, fully realized people.

Ohanian has produced a range of Hollywood films, most of them thrillers with mysterious endings. Film lovers are likely familiar with movies produced or written by Sev, including Searching, Run, Judas and the Black Messiah, and Missing. He also produced Sinners, an American horror film that premiered this April. The movie stars Michael B. Jordan in dual roles as Stack and Smoke, along with Omar Benson Miller as Cornbread, Hailee Steinfeld, Jayme Lawson, and others. Recently, Sev was included in Variety’s “41 Under 40: The New Leaders Class of 2025” list. NEWS.am STYLE spoke with Sev for the column ArmenՅԱՆs: From the first steps to the big world of Cinema and More.

“Sinners premiered in New York City, followed by screenings in Mexico City and London, each met with an outpouring of enthusiasm. Now in theaters across the U.S. and in countries around the world, the film has sparked conversations and resonated deeply with audiences. We believed in this story from the start, but seeing it connect so strongly across cultures has been profoundly rewarding,” Sev says.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Sev Ohanian moved to Los Angeles at a young age. As part of the Armenian diaspora, he always wanted to create a film about the Armenian community.

“When I was about 17, I started making little YouTube videos—no big plan, just something funny for my friends. To my surprise, they took off, getting shared widely by Armenians around the world. The cast was just my friends and my sister, no crew—only me. As they gained popularity, I realized I could turn them into a full movie, which became My Big Fat Armenian Family. It follows two Armenian parents—both played by the same actor—and their teenage, Americanized kids as they navigate life together. I made it for $800, wearing every hat from writer and producer to makeup artist. When it came out, the Armenian community rallied around it, and that support was the start of my career,” Ohanian recalls.

According to him, My Big Fat Armenian Family is mostly based on his own life—

“Luckily, my parents are not like the ones in the movie, and I’d like to think I’m actually a better son than the character Narbeh,” he jokes. “It tells the story of growing up Armenian-American in a very traditional family—where you love each other, but sometimes it's hard to understand one another.”

Collaboration and Notable Work

Sev studied at the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts, where he met three of his most important collaborators: his wife and producing partner Natalie Qasabian, writing partner Aneesh Chaganty, and filmmaker Ryan Coogler, who has been nominated for two Academy Awards, a Golden Globe, and a Grammy. Together, they’ve worked on Searching, Run, and Missing.

He also has a long collaborative history with actor Michael B. Jordan, the lead in Sinners. Michael has starred in the Creed trilogy, Black Panther, Fantastic Four, and more.

Armenian Traditions—in Life and in Film

“I owe so much of my career to my parents,” Sev says. “They always prioritized providing for my sister and me—stressing education, but also giving us a childhood full of travel and new experiences. We’d just pick a place and go. In My Big Fat Armenian Family, the family’s trips to Palm Springs were directly inspired by those memories.”

Sev, do you pass these traditions on to your son?

“Of course. We speak Armenian to him as much as we can and raise him with a strong sense of family and culture—we even sing Armenian songs together. Growing up in America, it’s crucial to preserve our heritage, or we risk losing it. That’s why telling Armenian stories through my films is such a long-term goal for me. My plan is to continue building my career in Hollywood so that, when the time is right, I can share those stories on a larger scale. When I started, there were very few Armenian actors or filmmakers in the industry. I started from zero. But I believe it’s possible, and I’m hopeful we’re getting closer.”

Family History

Your family moved to the U.S. from Germany, right? Can you tell us more about that?

“My parents grew up in Iran. My ancestors moved there at some point. After the Iranian Revolution, my parents emigrated to Germany as refugees. I was born there two years later, and then we moved to America. I’m so lucky to have my parents. It’s a classic immigrant success story—coming to the U.S. with no money, and over three decades working tirelessly to build careers, support their family, and give my sister and me every opportunity. I’m so proud of them.”

Future Armenian Characters on Screen

Any upcoming projects with Armenian characters?

“Yes! I’m developing a heist movie—but instead of stealing money or jewels… It deals with immigration. One of the leads is a headstrong Armenian woman. My goal is to bring this to the screen and showcase Armenian culture on a global stage, with Armenians portrayed as cool, brave, and fun. That’s the kind of storytelling that excites me.”

So, it is important for you to portray Armenians in non-stereotypical ways?

"Absolutely — no question. I can’t stand seeing Armenians portrayed as a joke. That said, I’m not against showing Armenians in negative or even classically ‘stereotypical’ ways, as long as the character has real humanity. It’s not easy to pull that off, but when it works, it’s powerful — some of the best characters in cinema could fit that description."

On the Movie “Run”

Let’s talk about Run, starring Sarah Paulson. How did that idea come to you?

After Searching—our first movie, told entirely on computer screens, about a father looking for his missing daughter—was a success, we wanted to make something with real cameras. Run is about how love, when taken too far, can become harmful. It’s the story of a girl and her mother—where the mother’s care crosses into control, and the daughter, even with a disability, realizes she can live her own life. We were committed to casting a young actor who actually uses a wheelchair, and we luckily found a phenomenal actress Kiera Allen who blew us away. And for the mother, we’d always admired Sarah Paulson. The role was psychologically complex, and she delivered a beautiful, layered performance.

On Anora and Armenian Actors

The film Anora, featuring Vache Tovmasyan and Karen Karagulyan, received 5 Academy Awards, including Best Picture. What do you think made it so successful?

"It’s a beautifully made film. I’ll be honest—when I first heard there were Armenian characters, I was nervous they might just be punchlines. But I ended up loving it. Sean Baker and his team gave us two Armenian characters who felt real, human, and relatable. In fact, I think Vache and Karen gave the best performances in the film. I’m so proud of them, and I can’t wait for the chance to work with them someday. They truly honored all of us—and they stole the show."

Visits to Armenia

You’ve been to Armenia twice. Tell us about those experiences.

"The first time was in 2003, with my parents and sister. Nothing compares to that moment of stepping out of the airport and instantly feeling at home. That trip was all about sightseeing—monuments, streets, people—and the food was incredible. I went back in 2016 to teach a two-week filmmaking class at the TUMO Center, and I was blown away by the students. They were so talented and inspiring."

Do you plan to visit again soon?

"Absolutely. I can’t wait to come back! My parents will be visiting in a few months. I wish I could join them, but work is keeping me busy."

Is that because you’re working on new projects?

"Yes. There’s the Armenian-themed movie I mentioned earlier, which I hope we can start in the next year or so. There’s a ton of other ones in development. And a few projects of mine recently were released: 3 TV projects aired on Disney+ and Hulu: Marvel’s Ironheart, Marvel’s Eyes of Wakanda and a docuseries called Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time."

By Syune Arakelyan
Photos provided by Sev Ohanian