Your trusted source

Famous Armenian cinematographer, Honored Worker of Art Levon Atoyants celebrated his 90th birthday anniversary on Wednesday, September 9.

At the proposal of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and by the decree of President Armen Sarkissian, the merited artist was awarded with the First Degree Medal for Services to the Homeland.

Armenia’s Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Arayik Harutyunyan and his deputy Ara Khzmalyan granted him the medal along with a monetary reward on Wednesday evening, the ministry’s press service said.

Expressing gratitude for the award and appreciation, Atoyants said: “For 90 years of my life, I can finally see changes. This is the first time I have received attention at the state level and awards.”

The cinematographer also joked that he is starting the main rehearsal for his 100th birthday anniversary.

Congratulating Atoyants on his birthday and highly appreciating his merit in the history of Armenian cinema and his personality as an intellectual, Harutyunyan stressed that several generations of young professionals acquired professional skills thanks to his efforts and unconditional dedication.

Born in Tbilisi in 1930, Levon Atoyants started his career as a cinematographer at the Hayfilm studio in 1956. He has shot more than 30 feature films, including "The Spring of Heghnar", "The Soldier and the Elephant", "Eastern Dentist", "The Big Win", to name a few.