Conversations with Margarita Beglaryan

Today we’d like to introduce you to Margarita Beglaryan.

Hi Margarita, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a filmmaker and visual storyteller originally from Yerevan, Armenia, currently based in Los Angeles. My journey began with drawing, observing people, and creating stories from a very young age- I was only five years old. Growing up in a creative family connected to television, I was constantly surrounded by storytelling and visual culture, which naturally shaped the way I see the world. I also attended a Waldorf school, where I explored a wide range of artistic disciplines that later became the foundation of my multidisciplinary approach to filmmaking and animation.

As a teenager, I started experimenting with filmmaking and documentary storytelling, creating projects focused on human experiences and emotion. One of my early films explored the lives of children with special needs, and that experience deeply influenced the kind of stories I wanted to tell moving forward- intimate, emotional, and human-centered stories that create genuine connection.

I later studied at the Yerevan State Institute of Theatre and Cinematography, where I trained in screenwriting, acting, directing, and animation. During that period, I worked across advertising, live-action, and stop-motion productions, gaining hands-on experience in different forms of visual storytelling and learning how to adapt creatively across mediums.

Driven by a desire to expand my knowledge in animation and CG, I moved to Los Angeles and earned my Master’s degree in 3D Animation and VFX from the New York Film Academy. That chapter of my life pushed me far beyond my comfort zone, both creatively and personally. While studying, I focused on storyboarding, previsualization, CG design and animation while exploring the intersection of 2D, 3D, stop motion, and hybrid animation techniques. During this time, I also became a recipient of the Women in Animation Scholarship and later joined the WIA mentorship program as a Visual Development mentee, experiences that played an important role in my artistic growth.

One of the most meaningful milestones in my journey has been completing my directorial debut, The Last Dance. The film was developed between Armenia and Los Angeles over two years with almost no budget and a team of two. Created entirely through hand-drawn frame-by-frame animation, the project became a true labor of love and a reminder that even with limited resources, passion and persistence can bring a story to life. The film is currently beginning its festival journey and has already been selected for several festival shortlists, which has been incredibly encouraging as an independent filmmaker.

Today, I work as a 3D Animation Technical Assistant at the New York Film Academy while continuing to develop my own films and collaborate on both independent and industry projects. I still consider myself at the beginning of my journey, but every challenge along the way has strengthened my belief in the importance of authentic storytelling. More than anything, I want my work to make people feel something real-because in a rapidly changing industry, I believe human emotion and honest storytelling will always matter most.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, and honestly, I think that’s true for many artists and independent filmmakers. A big part of my journey has been learning how to continue creating even during uncertainty, financial pressure, and constant change.

One of the biggest challenges was moving from Armenia to Los Angeles and starting over in a completely new environment. Beyond adapting to a new culture and industry, I also had to overcome the language barrier – English is actually my fourth language. The experience pushed me far outside my comfort zone, both creatively and personally. Like many emerging artists, I faced periods of self-doubt, rejection, instability, and the pressure of trying to build a career in a highly competitive industry while still learning and growing.

Along the way, I realized how important it is to find the right environment and surround yourself with inspiring, supportive, and experienced people – mentors who truly believe in you, encourage your growth, and share valuable knowledge about the industry. Unfortunately, I also encountered people who tried to discourage me, break down my confidence, or make me question my abilities. What was especially disappointing was experiencing that kind of negativity from someone I once viewed as a mentor, particularly from another woman in the industry.

That experience made me realize how important it is for women to support and uplift one another, especially in creative industries where the journey can already feel challenging and uncertain. I truly believe we need more kindness, respect, encouragement, and genuine support toward each other – not only among women, but throughout the industry as a whole. At the end of the day, we are all human, and a supportive environment can make a life-changing difference in someone’s creative journey.
At the same time, those experiences taught me an important lesson: not everyone will understand your vision, and not everyone will support your path – and that’s okay. I want to remind emerging artists and creatives never to let discouragement define their potential. You are often far more capable than you think. Keep learning, keep developing your skills, and most importantly, keep believing in your voice and your work.

I think another challenge many artists are facing right now is the uncertainty within the industry itself. Animation and film are evolving rapidly, especially with the rise of AI and major changes in production pipelines. For emerging artists, it can sometimes feel overwhelming trying to find opportunities and establish yourself during such a transitional moment. But I also believe challenges force you to adapt, grow, and become more intentional about your artistic identity and the stories you want to tell.

Looking back, I wouldn’t say the struggles disappeared, but they shaped me both as an artist and as a person. They taught me resilience, patience, and the importance of continuing to create even when the path forward isn’t always clear.

Teaching has also become an important and meaningful part of my journey. Working as a Teaching Assistant and teaching private 3D animation classes comes with a great deal of responsibility. You need to be prepared, ready to answer countless questions from students, and able to solve technical and creative challenges during their projects. Sometimes students bring up situations or problems where even I may not immediately have all the answers, but that is actually one of the things I love most about teaching. It constantly pushes me to keep learning, developing my skills, and staying updated with new tools, techniques, and industry changes alongside my students.

Even though teaching can be challenging and demanding, I genuinely enjoy the process because it allows me to grow together with my students. Seeing their progress, helping them overcome creative obstacles, and sharing knowledge with the next generation of artists has become one of the most rewarding parts of my professional journey.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Professionally, I work across animation, film, and visual storytelling, with a strong focus on storyboarding, previsualization, animation, CG design, and character-driven storytelling. I currently work as a 3D Animation Technical Assistant at the New York Film Academy, where I support students and faculty across different stages of the production pipeline. Alongside that, I also teach private 3D animation classes to middle school students, which has been an especially rewarding experience because I genuinely enjoy mentoring and helping younger artists explore their creativity.

Over the past few years, I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with industry professionals on a variety of projects, including an upcoming animated independent short developed alongside artists from DreamWorks Animation. On that project I work as a storyboard artist and animator. I’m also currently working on an upcoming TV show as a CG Artist, while continuing to contribute to projects connected to television and commercial productions both in Los Angeles and back in Armenia. My work also includes independent short films such as 5 Minutes with Dad and Whatever You Desire, where I contributed as a story artist.

Another important part of my creative journey was participating in the Women in Animation Mentorship Program as a Visual Development mentee, where I worked as a story artist and character designer. That experience helped me grow tremendously as a visual storyteller and gave me the opportunity to collaborate with inspiring artists while developing my skills in character-driven storytelling and visual development.

At the same time, I’ve also worked as a Production Designer and Creative Artist on live-action sets, which is another side of filmmaking I truly love. One of my favorite experiences was working as a Production Designer on the short film Mine, which is currently still in post-production. I really enjoyed the collaborative energy of being on set, experimenting creatively in real time, and working closely with different departments to bring a visual world to life.

I think what sets me apart is my ability to move between different mediums and creative environments. I genuinely enjoy both the technical side of animation and the physical, collaborative nature of live-action production. Animation is incredibly rewarding, but it’s also extremely demanding – spending long hours in front of a computer can be mentally and physically exhausting, especially while dealing with health challenges. Since I’ve had certain health issues since childhood, I’ve learned how important it is to take care of yourself physically while working in such intensive creative fields. Being on set comes with its own challenges and exhaustion as well, but I enjoy the balance it brings. For me, combining animation, storytelling, and live-action production creates the perfect creative rhythm.

More than anything, I’m proud of being able to stay multidisciplinary and emotionally connected to my work. Whether I’m storyboarding a scene, animating a character, designing a set, or mentoring students, my goal is always the same – to create meaningful visual storytelling that feels human, cinematic, and emotionally honest.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
One of the most important qualities behind my growth and success has been resilience. Working in animation and film requires a lot of patience, adaptability, and emotional strength because the journey is rarely straightforward. There are constant challenges, rejections, uncertainty, and moments where you have to keep believing in yourself even when things feel difficult.

Another quality that has helped me tremendously is curiosity. I genuinely love learning, exploring new techniques, and pushing myself creatively. Whether it’s animation, production design, or teaching, I always try to stay open to growth and new experiences. I think that mindset has allowed me to move across different mediums and continue evolving as both an artist and a professional.

At the same time, I think empathy and emotional sensitivity play a huge role in my work. I’m very drawn to human stories, emotions, and character-driven storytelling, and I try to bring that perspective into everything I create and every team I work with. Technical skills are incredibly important, but I believe the ability to connect with people, collaborate respectfully, and create work that feels emotionally honest is what truly leaves a lasting impact.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.margobeg.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marrgobeg
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margarita-beglaryan