Voyeur

My name is Vache Kechichian and I'm a 22-year-old independent filmmaker from Melbourne, Australia. While persuing screen studies at Monash University, I co-founded my production company "Kechichian Studios" with my brother and business partner Narek Kechichian. Together, we produced my graduate film "Voyeur", which I am proud to have nominated for Best Cinematography at AUYFF.

What inspired you and your work?

I created my film ""Voyeur"" with a determined focus on themes of media corruption, unethical journalism, and violence. I was inspired by the online behaviour and media reaction which surrounded various global wars, conflicts, and human rights crises; primarily designing an allegory for the online reactions that surrounded the 2020-2025 Armenia/Azerbaijan conflicts.

Moreover, I spent time reflecting on the ideas of voyeurism that were explored by acclaimed writer Susan Sontag, as well as the current discourse surrounding graphic photography. It was particularly her questions about the ethics of war journalism that most intrigued me.

During production, I aimed to create visual imagery that not only emphasised the dark yet vibrant elements of the neo-noir genre, but also maintained the raw and gritty feel of a documentary. My crew and I shot the film in mostly dark landscapes with handheld takes to balance stylistic and raw composition. I drew inspiration from the aesthetics of David Fincher and the Safdie brothers while still upholding my own voice. I wanted to place the audience in the middle of the corruption while upholding this fever dream feeling.