Filmography

Explore a comprehensive list of Sarine Arslanian’s film projects, along with the films she has contributed to, fuelled by a passion for telling heartfelt stories that challenge mentalities, bridge gaps, inspire action and promote healing.

Homecoming (in Post-Production) — director

Embodying the essence of Armenian dance, Shakeh Major Tchilingirian gracefully narrates a story of exile and homecoming through a solo dance performance, giving voice to a collective grief and yearning which can be hard to express through words. The movements connect her with roots going back to time immemorial; a shared essence extending beyond culture, time and space.

Fire Speaks (2024) — co-director

In this 70 minute documentary bridging ancestral wisdom with contemporary living, Mark Elmy — an Englishman and Mayan spiritual guide in Guatemala — shares ancient Mayan teachings on how to interact with fire during ceremonies, work with the sacred calendar and align with our life purpose. This is a film by Kairi Kivirähk and Sarine Arslanian.

Won the Merit Award from the LA-based Awareness Festival 2024.

Fallin’, a dance film (2021) — first assistant director

In this short dance film by Valentina Beatriz, two dancers are magnetically attracted to and repelled by each other, embodying the dynamics of addictive attachment and co-dependency, conventionally understood as the experience of falling in love.

Won the MONGBRA Award from the Auroville Film Festival 2024.

Who are the Mayans of today? (2019) — script editor and translator

Just like plants, human beings are only as strong as their root system. Kairi Kivirähk’s student film (44 min) takes us on a holistic journey to the heart of ancestral Mayan wisdom and medicine.

RWANDArt (2016) — director and producer

Through dance, music, fashion and art, Sarine Arslanian’s first feature film RWANDArt (52 min) explores Rwanda’s growing creative scene by introducing young and driven local artists who are taking the industry to the next level.

Nominated for the Prize of the Flemish Commission for Unesco in 2018.

The Reality of the Ciliwung People (2014) — director, researcher, videographer, editor

A 30 minute public policy film exploring the social and economic dynamics of life in the slum areas of Bukit Duri (Jakarta, Indonesia). Areas which have been overlooked in the relocation strategy implemented by the government as a measure for flood prevention. This documentary was realised as part of Sarine’s research project for the Center for Public Policy Transformation.

CONNECTING STRINGS: Armenian Spirit in Music (2012) — director and editor

A 10 minute ethnographic student film exploring the ways in which music is used by the Armenian youth in London to express and share their identity and cultural heritage in a British context. This short documentary was realised as part of the SE555 Visual Anthropology Project at the University of Kent (UK).

Won the Hugh Brody Runner Up prize.