In 1920 cameraman A. Lamberg filmed the first shots of a documentary on the territory of Soviet Armenia.
In 1923 the first film studio «Armenkino» was established in Yerevan. At first only documentaries were filmed here. In 1924 under the direction of I. Kraslavskiy the first full-length documentary film «Soviet Armenia» was filmed and showed on the television. In future, more often short documentaries were filmed (produced). The most significant movies of that period are: «Counry Nairi» (1930, director – H. Beknazaryan) and «Country of Happiness»” (1940, directors - L. Isahakyan, G. Balasanyan).
In 1933 as a part of «Armenkino» was established a section «Armkinochronicle».
During World War II many Armenian documentation officers went to (joined the) front-line forces. During these years were filmed «For the front» (1941), «Armenia’s children in Patriotic War» (1944), «General Baghramyan» (1945), «The return of Taman division». In 1945 was filmed one of the best full-length documentary movies in the history of Armenian cinematography – «Homeland» (Directors: G. Balasanyan, H. Zargaryan, L. Isahakyan, Artistic Director: A. Dovzhensko). During the first post-war decade mostly were filmed documentaries about the reconstruction of the country.
In 1959 «Armkinochronicle» left «Armenkino» and continued to operate as «Yerevan chronicle documentaries film studio». The production of documentaries was increased in 1960. Next to the representatives of the older generation, directors: V. Haykazyan, G. Balasanyan, J. Zhamgaryan, L. Isahakyan, R. Frangulyan, and cameramen: G. Aslanyan, G. Aramyan, G. Sanamyan and others were working directors of the young generation: A. Vahuni, R. Gevorgyants, A. Peleshyan, A. Shahbazyan, S. Poshotyan, P. Malayan, and cameramen: B. Hovsepyan, Yu. Babakhanyan, M. Vardanov, E. Matevosyan, and others.
In 1970 L. Petrosyan and R. Mardanyan started working as operators.
Since 1977 «Yerevan chronicle documentaries film studio» was called «Armenian film studio of chronicle documentaries».
In 1982 «Armenian film studio of chronicle documentaries» joined the «Armenfilm» film studio and started to operate as «Creative association of documentaries». In the beginning of 1980 Armenian Documentary was replenished with new creative power of the new generation, at the film studio came to work directors G. Stepanyan, D. Safaryan, L. Mkrtchyan, A. Mnatsakanyan, H. Khachatryan, G. Harutyunyan, H. Hakobyan, cameraman A. Khachatryan, and others. During those years cameramen M. Shahbazyan, A. Mirakyan and Sh. Vardanyan switched from fiction film production to documentary. Later on they acted as directors.
In 1990 «Creative association of documentaries» was taken out from «Armenfilm» film studio and continued functioning independently as « Armenian film studio of documentaries », and later as «Film studio of documentaries «Hayk»» non commercial organization.
From the very first days of Artsakh movement, and later during the Karabagh war Armenian documentary film makers reflected in their works the most important happenings (of that period) of the newest history of Armenian people. The films «Masters of Artsakh» (director A. Mnatsakanyan, cameraman A. Khachatryan), «Theatrical Square» (director G. Harutyunyan, cameraman Sh. Vardanyan), «Curfew» (director L. Mkrtchyan, cameraman Sh. Vardanyan), «Artsakh E=mc2» (director A. Manaryan, cameraman K. Ekmekjyan (Kalafatis)). When Armenian documentary film makers went to front, they produced many films from which stand out full-length film «Shushi. Return from captivity» (director B. Hovsepyan, cameramen L. Petrosyan, B. Hovsepyan), «Flights to War» (director G. Stepanyan, operator L. Petrosyan), cycle of news reels «Artsakh Diary» etc.
When the Republic of Armenia became independent, documentaries’ film studio «Hayk» remained devoted to filming documentaries and passed on to the filming tape important events and happenings of Armenian nation and people, produced a number of great movies promoting the education of the growing up generation in the spirit of the national traditions, strengthening the patriotic spirit, as well as propagandizing the role and importance of Armenia in the world’s culture.
Throughout the last couple of years cameraman A. Movsesyan and director V. Kevorkov, as well as young directors A. Gasparyan, A. Movsesyan, D. Stepanyan, cameramen V. Terteryan, M. Khachatryan and others were collaborating with «Hayk» film studio.