Synopsis of the Film:

Richard Hagopian, a legendary Armenian-American musician, pioneered one of the most fruitful genres of Armenian cultural folk music and the joyous, dance-filled events that his band was notorious for holding: Kef Time. But times change, and the once sold-out shows faded into history. Echoes of Kef Time dives into Richard’s quest to pass on the music to his grandchildren, Phillip and Andrew, before it’s too late and tracks them against the rich cultural backdrop of the music and the community as they attempt to honor his legacy and revive the tradition for another generation of Armenian-Americans.

Director:

Avo John Kambourian was born and raised in the Armenian community of Los Angeles. At the age of 10, he picked up a Mini-DV camera and cast his friends in comedic short films, but what intrigued him more was when his parents brought home a computer, allowing him to edit short films. In 2012, he earned his BA in Communication at UC San Diego. In 2017, he released a documentary series called, Echoes of Survival, about artists whose work has been influenced by their cultural identity as Armenians in America as a result of the Armenian Genocide, the series won an Audience Award at the Pomegranate Film Festival in Toronto and was also screened at festivals in Los Angeles and New York City. His goals are to hone the skills he has acquired on the field, as well as expand his network, by collaborating with fellow filmmakers to tell stories that aim to be both thought provoking and cutting edge.