Soleiman Minassian, a veteran cinematographer of cinema, passed away in London at the age of 95. He was born in Rasht in 1931. He was the older brother of Hrand Minassian. Minassian’s distinguished career included cinematography for several landmark works, such as Brick and Mirror, The House Is Black, and the documentary The Hills of Marlik. He also served as the cinematographer for Saint Thaddeus Monastery, a documentary directed by Arby Ovanessian. For his cinematography on Tolo (Sunrise), Minassian received a Gold Plaque at the first Film Festival. He also won the award for Best Color Cinematography at the third Sepas Film Festival in 1971.
Soleiman Minassian’s passing marks the loss of a distinguished figure whose work contributed to the development and artistic recognition of cinematography. Throughout his career, he participated in projects that became important parts of cinematic heritage, working across narrative films and documentaries that explored the country’s culture, society, and history. During the formative decades of modern cinema, cinematographers played a vital role in shaping the visual language of filmmaking. Through their understanding of light, composition, camera movement, and visual storytelling, they helped directors translate complex ideas and emotions into compelling images.
