Born in Armenia, Tamara Stepanyan studied filmmaking at the Lebanese American University and documentary filmmaking at the National Film School of Denmark. She now lives in France and is considered the new voice of contemporary Armenian film. Her feature-length film Embers had its premiere at the Busan International Film Festival. Those from the Shore was named Best Documentary at the Boston Film Festival and the Amiens International Film Festival. Village of Women was selected for more than 30 festivals and received nine international awards and an Étoile de la Scam. My Armenian Phantoms had its premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival in the Forum Specials.