MIKHEIL KALATOZOV (KALATOZISHVILI)
Mikheil Kalatozov (Kalatozishvili) was a Georgian filmmaker who remains the only filmmaker in Soviet and Post-soviet cinema to have won the Palme D’or –the main prize at the Cannes film festival. He received the award for the war drama The Cranes Are Flying in 1958. Born in 1903 in Tbilisi, Georgia, Mikheil Kalatozsihvili (later Kalatozov) studied economics before deciding to seek work in cinema. He began his film career at the height of the silent film era, trying out several occupations in the industry: He started as a chauffeur at the Georgian Film Studio, then glued the film rolls together, after which he became an editor, starred in several movies as an actor, worked as a cameraman, a second director, and eventually became an independent filmmaker. His directorial debut was Salt for Svanetia (Jim Svante), filmed in 1930, which became a milestone in both his career and in the history of Georgian and Soviet cinema. “If we had known that this picture existed back in 1964, maybe cinema would have been different now”- this is how Martin Scorsese reacted to Mikhail Kalatozov’s (Kalatozishvili) I Am Cuba, after discovering it in the mid-1990s. The Hollywood master claimed the film to be a genuine hidden treasure, referring to Kalatozov’s storytelling technique and unique cinematic language, adding that “it puts to shame anything we’re doing today”.
SERGEI PARAJANOV [English Version]
Sergei Parajanov (სერგო ფარაჯანოვი, 1924 - 1990) is considered as one of the 20th century’s greatest masters of cinema. His free cinematic forms, expressive power and originality of visual compositions still continue to impress filmmakers today. Learn more about artist with ATINATI’s latest video.
ELDAR SHENGELAIA
Eldar Shengelaia (1933) is a Georgian film director. As the Georgian society named he is “People’s artist”. Older son of a star of Georgian film – Nato Vachnadze and film director Nikoloz Shengelaia. Graduated from State Cinema Institute of the Union (Moscow), faculty of film director. (S. Yutkevich workshop,1958). He gained widespread recognition with the films: “TETRI KARAVANI” (1964); “UNUSUAL EXHIBITION” (1968); “ECCENTRICS” (1973); “SAMANISHVILI’S STEPMOTHER” (1977) by the scenario of David Kldiashvili story; “BLUE MOUNTAINS”(1983); Eldar Shengelaia is named as a classic film director at Cannes film festival for two films: “Tetri Karavani” and “Blue Mountains”. The director reflected the adventures of the heroes using delicate humor.
BEGINNING - BY DEA KULUMBEGASHVILI
“This film is a revelation, a moment of authentic cinema that fills the screen with flames.”- Italian filmmaker, Lucas Guadanino on “Beginning”. Guadanino served as a jury president at San Sebastián International Film Festival 2020, where Kulumbegashvili's debut feature got the Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay & and Best Actress awards, making her the first filmmaker from Georgia to have won several major prizes of A List film festival. "Beginning" was initially premiered at Toronto International Film Festival, winning the FIPRESCI Prize. Following San Sebastian triumph it also received awards at Trieste, Singapore and other festivals. The idea of the film came from Kulumbegashvili's real life experience and relashions the her relatives and family friends: “I was thinking about how your beliefs and personal decisions can change your position in the society, where you grew up and consider your home. I had the same questions about my own life, about alienation, what it means to go far from your place and come back after awhile.- she says. “Beginning” – a festival favorite debut drama by Dea Kulumbegashvili.
PARAJANOV
Sergei Parajanov (1924 - 1990) is considered as one of the 20th century's greatest masters of cinema. His free cinematic forms, expressive power and originality of visual compositions still continue to impress filmmakers today.
