About
Astrig Chandèze-Avakian founded Pazma films in January 2024 in the Normandy region of France after ten years of experience in the field of audiovisual and film production.
French producer of Armenian origin, Astrig Chandèze-Avakian holds a master’s degree in management of cultural and creative activities (Toulouse Business School - France).
Pazma films is dedicated to the production of fictional and documentary films by emerging filmmakers from France and the Mediterranean countries all the way to the Caucasus. We specialise in films that tackle sensitive subjects through intimate or collective narratives. Six projects are currently under development: BEYOND THE LINE by Franco-Cypriot director Jérôme Papaphotiou (feature-length documentary - 1st film), WHERE THE SUN DIES by Franco-Lebanese director Sylvain Adas (1st feature-length documentary), ARA IS LEAVING by Franco-Armenian director Alexis Pazoumian (short fiction), TERRAE MOTUS by Syrian director Ahmad Attar (short fiction - 1st film), BLACK OASIS by Franco-Armenian director Louise Martin Papasian (short documentary) and 101 FACES by Lithuanian-Armenian director Marat Sargsyan (short documentary).
DRIFT by Jérémie Danon and Kiddy Smile, a medium-length documentary and the first film produced by Pazma films, in co-production with the Lyon Biennale and the Nouveau Printemps de Toulouse, is currently in post-production.
In 2020, Astrig Chandèze-Avakian produced the short documentary STORGETNYA by Hovig Hagopian, which had its world premiere at IDFA. It won 9 prizes and was selected for 71 festivals. Between 2020 and 2024, she produced five films for Aeternam films (France): a short fiction film and four documentaries, currently being broadcast or to be broadcast. Previously, she was production manager at Sister Productions (France) between 2015 and 2020.
She produced THE DEVIL AND THE BICYCLE, a short fiction film by Franco-Egyptian director Sharon Hakim, based on the short novel by Lebanese author Tamara Saade. It was selected for 29 festivals and won 17 awards, including the Student Award at the 2025 Clermont-Ferrand Festival and the Grand Prize at the 2025 FIFIB.
Pazma films is a member of the SPI (French union for audiovisual and film production), Unifrance and the Eurodoc network (promotion 2024). Astrig Chandèze-Avakian was part of the Unifrance delegation at the Visions du Réel 2025 festival, showcasing five emerging producers.
