Born in Armenia, Eric Nazarian, a film production graduate from the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts, earned a B.A. in Film Production.
His first feature film, "The Blue Hour", is a collection of four stories about working-class lives near the Los Angeles River, starring Alyssa Milano, Clarence Williams III, and Emily Rios. The film premiered at the 55th San Sebastian International Film Festival, where it was nominated for the Altadis-New Director's Award.
"The Blue Hour" was also showcased at the 25th Torino Film Festival in the Official Selection, earning the title "Film of the Day" by the European Network of Young Cinema. In the United States, it premiered at the 10th Arpa International Film Festival, where Nazarian received the Best Director award.
The film received further accolades at the 5th Golden Apricot International Film Festival, including the Golden Apricot for Best Film in the Armenian Panorama, the Ecumenical Jury Award, and the Prime Minister's Award.
Nazarian was awarded the prestigious Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for his screenplay, "Giants". In 2010, he created "Bolis", a short film about a descendant of a Genocide survivor in Istanbul, as part of the European Union's Capital of Culture Program.
Nazarian also adapted Chris Bohjalian's critically acclaimed novel, "The Sandcastle Girls", which he is set to produce and direct. Additionally, his adaptation of Milton Rokeach's "The Three Christs of Ypsilanti", titled "Three Christs", premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, starring Richard Gere, Peter Dinklage, Julianna Margulies, and Walton Goggins.
