Variety has exclusively released a new clip from Armenian director Hayk Matevosyan’s debut film, Lullaby to the Mountains. The film had its Asian premiere at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) and is the only film in Armenia to be screened.
This meditative work is executive produced by Hungarian author Béla Tarr and made its world premiere in the International First Feature Competition at Sheffield Doctorfest 2025.
The film unfolds in 15 dreamlike chapters chronicling a ghostly journey through Armenia’s rugged highlands. Shot entirely on location in Armenia, the wordless story follows a nameless character as he journeys through ancient monasteries, mountain landscapes, and crypts, blurring the lines between reality and dreams.
In an interview with Variety, Matevosyan describes the project as a meditation on collective memory and loss. The director explains the importance of premiering at IFFI, citing the centuries-old historical ties between Armenian and Indian cultures.
“What makes this Asian premiere so special is the deep connection between Armenian and Indian cultures that goes back centuries,” Matevosyan says. “Although the Armenian community has lived in cities such as Kolkata and Chennai in India for a long time, the connection has always been mutual.”
The filmmakers characterize the work as exploring themes of forced migration and cultural memory. “For me, ‘Lullaby for the Mountains’ is about ghosts floating through the earth, collective memories, the silent traces of lives gone and lives yet to come,” he says.
Tarr’s involvement stems from Matevosyan’s participation in the 2019 Locarno Spring Academy Director Training, where he produced a short film under the guidance of the legendary director. This collaboration proved transformative in the young filmmaker’s approach.
“Spending time with him really changed the way I approached filmmaking,” Matevosyan recalls. “He opened my eyes to a whole new way of thinking about image, atmosphere, landscape, and character.”
The coach highlighted Tarr’s unconventional teaching philosophy, saying, “He hates the words ‘teach’ and ‘educate’ and always says he’s not here to educate, but to liberate us.”
During the creation of the residency short, Tarr showed Caspar David Friedrich’s Matevosyan paintings without commentary. “That’s when I started thinking about cinematic images like paintings, and not just tools for a story or plot,” says the director.
As executive producer, Tarr reviewed multiple cuts and encouraged bold aesthetic choices. This support influenced Matevosyan’s decision to eliminate voice-over narration completely, allowing soundscapes and visuals to independently tell the story.
“I think what Vera ultimately gave me was the courage to go and make my debut film without thinking about any of the rules of cinema, and I’m very grateful for that,” Matevosyan says.
The filmmaker holds a degree in directing from UCLA and has participated in numerous prestigious programs including Bernale Talent, Sarajevo Talent, IFFR Sessions, BFC Workshop in the Peruvian Amazon under the guidance of Werner Herzog, and Locarno Spring Academy.
His work has been screened at major film festivals including Locarno, Slamdance DIG, LA Film Festival, Atlanta Film Festival, AGBU Films at Lincoln Center, and the Werner Herzog Foundation. Matevosyan also directed the music video “Lives” for System of a Down member Daron Malakian.
“Lullaby to the Mountains” is produced by Louisa Elanosyan and Matevosyan through their production company Dolly Bell Films. The cast includes Ashot Matevosyan, Vera Gochikyan, Sargis Moshinyan, Louisa Elanosyan, and Haik Moshinyan. Matevosyan served as screenwriter, director, cinematographer, and editor on the Armenian-American co-production.
Watch the clip here:
