Aurora's Sunrise

A survivor's journey from bloodshed to the red carpet

The story of how Aurora Mardiganian (1901-94), a survivor of the Armenian genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire (1915-17), became a Hollywood silent film star.

Animation Documentary History

Anzhelika Hakobyan

(Aurora)

Tamara Chalkhifalaqyan

(Aurora's Mother)

Shushan Abrahamyan

(Lusineh)

Sergey Gasparyan

(Hovnan)

Ani Ghazaryan

(Sara)

Rafael Melqonyan

(Martiros)

Hambardzum Ghazanchyan

(Aurora's Father)

Vahagn Tulbenjyan

(Poghos)

Harut Galstyan

(Shepherd)

Vram Meliqyan

(Turkish Soldier #1)

Tigran Baghdasaryan

(Turkish Soldier #2)

Hrant Gishyan

(Wealthy Buyer)

Ashkhen Tsaturyan

(First Aunt)

Nara Sargsyan

(Second Aunt)

Arman Tovmasyan

(Turkish Soldier #3)

Valter Avetisyan

(Turkish Soldier #4)

Miqael Shaqaryan

(Cousin Suren)

Anri Karapetyan

(Cousin Hrant)

Seyran Akopov

(German Officer)

Mikael Frangulyan

(German Soldier #1)

Armen Hovhannisyan

(German Soldier #2)

Tigran Arakelyan

(Kind German Soldier)

Marine Petrosyan

(Kurdish Woman)

Mikayel Aleksanyan

(Kurdish Man)

Apaven Aleksanyan

(Wounded Turkish Soldier)

Gor Hakobyan

(Priest #1)

Arsen Khechoyan

(Priest #2)

Garik Torosyan

(Bandit #1)

Aleksandr Harutyunyan

(Bandit #2)

Armen Machkaryan

(Bey)

Janibek Abrahamyan

(Bride Salesman)

Stella Ter-Hakobyan

(Bey's Young Wife #1)

Lilit Frangulyan

(Bey's Young Wife #2)

Sergey Tovmasyan

(Uncle Ghazar)

Edgar Avetisyan

(Professor Loulajian)

Mayis Chaush

(Fedayi #1)

Grigor Muradyan

(Fedayi #2)

Ruben Ghazaryan

(Fedayi #3)

Mos Zanyan

(Kurdish Soldier #1)

Vladimir Poghosyan

(Kurdish Soldier #2)

Tigran Shamyan

(Armenian Soldier)

Levon Mkrtchyan

(Commander Andranik)

Arkadi Evoyan

(Ellis Island Official)

Anush Vardanyan

(Armenian Old Woman)

Miqayel Martirosyan

(Armenian Old Man)

Arman Gasparyan

(Mr. Stone)

Harutyun Harutyunyan

(American Journalist #1)

Alexandr Baghdasaryan

(American Journalist #2)

Ervin Amiryan

(Henry Gates)

Marianna Jilavdaryan

(Eleanor Gates)

Harut Ghazaryan

(Translator)

Arpine Hovhannisyan

(Actress)

Tigran Amirkhanyan

(Charlie Chaplin)

Khachatur Chobanyan

(William Selig)

Syuzi Sargsyan

(Nun)

Tamara Iskandaryan

(Mrs. Harriman)

Arpi Petrossian

(Aurora (voice))

Ani Toroian

(Aurora's Mother (voice))

Ruben Ghazaryan

(Aurora's Father (voice))

Mher Gabrielyan

(Shepherd (voice))

Artak Shaqaryan

(Turkish Soldier #1 (voice))

Garnik Seyranyan

(Turkish Soldier #2 (voice))

Nvard Ghazaryan

(Aunt #1 (voice))

Ani Voskanyan

(Aunt #2 (voice))

Ashot Khachatryan

(German Officer (voice))

Tengiz Uzoyan

(Kurdish Man (voice))

Varand Bedrossian

(Uncle Ghazar (voice))

Razmik Minassyan

(Professor Loulajian (voice))

George van Eesteren

(Mr. Gates (voice))

Sara Anjargolian

(Mrs. Harriman (voice))

Aurora Mardiganian

(Self (archive footage))

Henry Morgenthau

(Self - Diplomat (archive footage))

Woodrow Wilson

(Self - Politician (archive footage))

Vladimir Lenin

(Self - Politician (archive footage))

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

(Self - Politician (archive footage))

Alexandr Baghdasaryan

(American Journalist #2)