Biography
Karen Ghazaryan was born on 25 April, 1970 in Yerevan, the Republic of Armenia. From early childhood Karen stood out for his charisma, acting skills, creativity and quick wit, as well as organizational skills. However, destiny took him to the Armenian National Agrarian University. His career jump-started from the Club of the Merry and Inventive (KVN), when he and his team-mates started paving the way through television, starting with entertaining projects and ending up with the feature film Mer Baky/ Our Yard (1996), which had two sequels and became ultimately popular with Armenian audience. Since 1993 up to this day Ghazaryan has been the chairman of KVN association in Armenia. He initiated the creation of such popular teams as "New Armenians" and "Armenian Project". From 2008 to 2014 he appeared as a professor of "Creative Studies" and "Methods of Promotion" at Russian-Armenian State (Slavonic) University. He is the general director of "Sharm Holding" LLC - leading show-business and advertising agency in Armenia, which was founded back in 1991. The company collaborates with major film production companies, TV channels (Armenia TV, Public TV Company of Armenia, Fashion TV, Russian STS Television network, MIR TV and others), governmental structures (Yerevan City Hall, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Diaspora), funds ("Hayastan" All-Armenian Fund, "Lusabac", "Masnakic em" / "I participate" charity fund of which Karen is a co-founder) and cultural centers. His company and Karen personally have created many productions in collaboration with many renowned Armenian and Russian artists and directors, such as Vigen Chaldranyan (Alter Ego), Rodion Nahapetov (My Big Armenian Wedding), Saida Medvedeva (100; Water), Mher Mkrtchyan (Battle and Life), Gor Kirakosyan (Ticket to Vegas; Knight's Move), Vahik Pirhamzei (Three Weeks in Yerevan), David and Robert Sahakyants (Anahit) and many others. Since 2007 Karen Ghazaryan is the founder and general director of "Prime Commercial" LLC - advertising agency providing a wide range of advertising and marketing services. The agency is the affiliate of MindShare and JWT, world advertising network agencies. He is also the member of jury in a number of international festivals, such as White Square creativity festival, annually held in Belarus and "Popok" International Advertising Festival. At present Karen Ghazaryan is predominantly occupied by his job as a producer. Throughout the past 10 years he created over 13 productions, including feature films (The Line; Roots; Four Buddies and the Bride; Alter Ego; the Knight's Move; An Interrupted Flight; Half Moon Bay), documentaries (As Long as I live; Anna Hedvig Büll - The Last Prayer), Animated movies (Anahit) and miniseries (My Big Armenian Wedding). He also appeared as the producer of several TV projects, as well as the musical Love Bridge. Karen Ghazaryan has a number of awards for his contribution in Armenian culture. In 2010 the RA Ministry of Culture awarded him with a Golden Medal for his significant contribution in the development of Armenian culture. In 2015 he received a Gratitude medal, which is a state award given for personal contribution and dedicated work in social, economic, scientific, educational or cultural field. Karen Ghazaryan earned this award for his immense support in the organization and coordination of the events of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
