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Exclusive: Alex Hedison is returning to the screen in Natalie Shirinian’s directorial debut feature Ponchik following her own directorial debut Alok.

Hedison will star alongside Angela Sarafyan in the film that brings more perspective to Armenian storytelling.

Ponchik highlights the complexities of Armenians. Hedison takes on the role of a scholar, while Sarafyan portrays an aspiring writer.

“It’s exciting for me to support Natalie’s vision as writer/director on this incredible project. Her immense talent combined with an unwavering commitment to center stories about our Armenian community made it an immediate yes,” Hedison said in a statement. “I can’t wait to jump in and help bring this meaningful story to life.”

The film delves into the life of a 30-year-old first-generation Armenian American (played by Sarafyan), residing in the neighborhood of Little Armenia, Los Angeles, with her immigrant parents. She grapples with the intricate interplay between her traditional Armenian heritage,...

Exclusive: Emmy-winning producer and film exec Ryan Harrington has signed on as an executive producer of Alok, the Oscar-contending short film directed by Alex Hedison that won the Audience Award at NewFest earlier this month.

Harrington, whose credits include Feras Fayyad’s film The Cave and the IDA Award-winning film A Place at the Table, joins Jodie Foster as a fellow EP of Alok, which centers on the gender non-confirming writer, humanist and media personality Alok Vaid-Menon.

For an exclusive look at the documentary, watch the clip below.

“Filmmaker Alex Hedison (she/they) delivers a compelling portrait of her friend, Alok Vaid-Menon (they/them), the internationally acclaimed, non-binary, author, poet, comedian, and public speaker,” notes a release about the film. “This thought-provoking short documentary explores the limitless expression of self, challenges societal norms, and inspires viewers to embrace personal freedom beyond the binaries that divide us.”

Harrington said in a statement,...

Exclusive: Angela Sarafyan (Westworld) will exec produce and star in Ponchik, a semi-autobiographical dramedy marking the narrative feature debut of writer-director Natalie Shirinian.

Set to go into production next spring, the film delves into the life of a 30-year-old first-generation Armenian American (Sarafyan) residing in the neighborhood of Little Armenia, Los Angeles with her immigrant parents. Over the course of the film, our protagonist grapples with the intricate interplay between her traditional Armenian heritage, her familial ties, and her own authentic identity. Tensions rise as she finds herself at odds with her mother. As the story unfolds, viewers are drawn into the world of creativity and introspection, witnessing the journey towards self-realization and fulfillment of aspirations, all while navigating the intricate dynamics of the mother-daughter relationship.

Elizabeth Baudouin and Shirnian will serve as producers of the project, which was a finalist at the 2023 Academy-qualifying Flickers’ Rhode Island Film Festival Screenplay Competition.

Alex Hedison was around three-quarters of the way through capturing the 40 hours of footage she would eventually collect of celebrated nonbinary Indian American performance artist, scholar and writer Alok Vaid-Menon when it finally became clear what angle her short doc Alok should take.

“At the time where I was trying to figure out what is it I’m trying to say, at that point, I probably had about 30 hours. I’d gone with them to South Africa. I followed them on tour in Namibia and different places in the U.S.,” Hedison tells The Hollywood Reporter. “Not only have they lived a very full life, but there are so many different directions to go with Alok. They’re brilliant. They’re a third-generation PhD student. They’re an incredible speaker, writer, poet, artist, performer, fashion designer.”

The lightbulb moment would arrive during their very last sit-down, when the writer and...