Ara Sahiner was born in 1953, in Istanbul, Turkey, to Armenian parents. He studied Business Administration at the American University in Istanbul. He emigrated to Paris, France in 1972. In 1984, he moved to Boston and studied Filmmaking at Boston University. After graduation with a M.S. degree he worked for a variety of Boston media companies as a freelance film/video editor and production person. In 1992, he became Senior Producer for Harvard-Smithsonian Science Media Group.

There he produced approximately 90 hours of original educational programming geared toward an audience of science teachers.

In 1996 he co-designed and originated the Annenberg/ CPB Channel (which broadcasts educational programming via satellite, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to schools, colleges and communities). From 1996 to 2000 he acted as the Executive Producer of the channel. Programs he produced won many national and international media and education awards.

Mr. Sahiner's most recent film, between father & son, marks a step in his career towards independent production and a more personal narrative in filmmaking. He presently lives in Paris.