TEZETA

Ethiopia's isolationism protected its empire from colonization for centuries. The only 'white' people allowed into the nation were Armenians, owing to their Oriental Orthodox religious connection and their lacking of a nation to pose a colonial threat. When Emperor Haile Selassie adopted forty Armenian orphans to become Ethiopia's first imperial band, and subsequently the creator's of Ethiopia's first national anthem, the stage was set. This laid the foundation for a unique cultural and national confluence that included forming a big band jazz culture that helped shape the Ethiopian jazz movement.

  • Aramazt Kalayjian
    Director
  • Garegin Papoyan
    Director
  • Aramazt Kalayjian
    Writer
  • Aramazt Kalayjian
    Producer
  • Vahan Khatchatryan
    Producer
  • Marie Claire Andrea
    Producer
  • Andranik Sahakyan
    Director of Cinematography
  • Shahé Ouzounian
    Executive Producer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Feature
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 40 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    May 31, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    180,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    Ethiopia
  • Language:
    Amharic, Armenian, English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Aramazt Kalayjian, Garegin Papoyan

Aramazt is a New-York born designer and filmmaker of Syrian-Armenian descent. He has received awards from GDUSA Magazine, Westchester Business Institute for Computer Art, as well as recognition from Print Magazine and shortlisted by Digital Communications Awards 2015 with his infographic design for OSCE’s Mélange Removal Programme.

Aramazt Kalayjian’s most recent accomplishment is producing and directing a feature-length documentary entitled, “TEZETA: MEMORIES”.

His latest position was as Creative Director at multi-million dollar photo-editing and creative community mobile application, PicsArt, who was named one of Forbes’ “2015’s hottest startups”. In 2019, Kalayjian curated acclaimed fine art exhibition of the final works of Felix Yeghiazarian, titled “// Between Cycles,” at the Martiros Saryan Museum in Yerevan, Armenia. Kalayjian currently resides and works from Yerevan, Armenia.

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Director Statement

I live to create, I love to create.