Dr. J. Michael Hagopian Producer/Director/Writer As a political science and economics professor at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), J. Michael Hagopian was unsatisfied with the quality of educational films that were available for use in his classroom.  Before long, he left his teaching post and picked up a camera to produce and direct quality educational tools on topics ranging from Black history to Nigerian culture. Born in Kharpert-Mezreh, Hagopian's search for his roots and the history of his people have won him critical acclaim, including two nominations for Emmys for the writing and production of The Forgotten Genocide, the first full-length feature film on the Armenian Genocide of 1915.  In all, Hagopian's work encompasses nearly 400 survivor interviews and 20 years of research.

J. Michael Hagopian

In 1979, Hagopian founded the Armenian Film Foundation, a California non-profit organization, to document the Armenian culture and instill pride in Armenian youth worldwide.  Since then, he has been leading the effort to raise funds and create THE WITNESSES trilogy on the Armenian Genocide.  The first film, Voices From the Lake, provides a case study of the Genocide's impact on one community, Hagopian's birthplace.

Germany and the Secret Genocide, the second film of the trilogy, was released in 2003.  This disturbing documentary takes place against the backdrop of World War I when German diplomats and soldiers help to cover up and deny the massacre of Armenians in exchange for Turkey's support in the war.

Caravans Along the Euphrates, is anticipated to be the "crown jewel" of THE WITNESSES project, targeted for release within one year.

His other films have included the well respected Jerusalem - Center of Many Worlds and the first full-color film on the Nile River, which took first place at the Cleveland Film Festival in 1950. His next, Asian Earth, won the Golden Reel Award at the American Film Festival and first place at the Cleveland and Boston film festivals.

Hagopian holds a doctorate in international relations from Harvard University and an undergraduate degree from the University of California at Berkeley.  As a young boy, he emigrated with his parents to Fresno, California.  In his teens, they moved to Los Angeles.