History
Admission to the Film and Television program at the Shota Rustaveli State University of Theatre and Cinema began in 1972 with a major in Film Studies, and two years later, two groups were added with a major in Film Directing. It was on the basis of these three groups that the Faculty of Film and Television was established in 1974. The initiators of its creation were the then-rector of the university, Professor Eteri Gugushvili, Doctor of Arts, and the Vice-Rector, Professor, Doctor of Arts Vasily Kiknadze, director of the “Georgian Film” studio, film director Rezo Chekheidze, and director Tengiz Abuladze.
The Faculty of Film and Television was headed by Professor, during its formation period from 1972 to 1980, Art historian Olga Tabukashvili, while in 1980, film scholar and Doctor of Arts Gogi Dolidze was appointed dean. At that time, the faculty had two departments: the Department of Cinematic Art, headed by film director and Professor Rezo Chekheidze, and the Department of Film Studies, headed by Doctor of Arts and Professor Olga (Lala) Tabukashvili. Later, the Department of Television Arts was added, headed by Professor Zviad Dolidze, a Doctor of Arts.
From the 1980s to 2004, the faculty offered educational programs in the specializations of artistic, documentary, and animated film; television directing; sound directing; film and television cinematography; and film studies.
Since 2004, the Film Studies major has been separated from the Faculty of Film and Television and has joined the Faculty of Arts, Media, and Management.
Over the years, directors Lana Ghogoberidze, Eldar Shengelaia, Giorgi Shengelaia, and Otar Ioseliani taught at the Faculty of Film and Television, Irakli Kvirikadze, Gia Chubabria, Iosif Chkhaidze, Ramaz Khotivari, Gela Kandela, Rezo Esadze, Levan Zakareishvili, Omar Gvasalia, Buba Khotivari, Levan Tutberidze, Lado Sulakvelidze, Dato (Teimuraz) Sikharulidze and others; Film scholars: Gogi Dolidze, Olga Tabukashvili, Irina Kuchukhidze, Nati Amirejibi, Eteri Okujava, Lela Ochiauri, Gogi Gakharia. Screenwriters Erlom Akhvlediani, David Agiashvili; Cinematographers: Levan Paatashvili, Gia Gersamia, Aleksandre Mgebришვილი, Irakli Onofriშvili, Mikheil Mednikov, Nugzarr Nozadze, Mikheil Maghalašvili, Davit Gujabiძe, Sound Director Gari Kunțev and others.
Through the efforts of Professor Gogi Dolidze, in August 1988, the “Silektma” society (International Association of Film and Television Schools), operating under the auspices of UNESCO, the Georgian Film School was accepted as an associate member, and in 1990 as a full member, which allowed the faculty's students and teachers to establish active collaborations with film schools in various countries.
The Film and Television Faculty educated now well-known directors: Temur Babluani, Nana Georgeadze, Aleko Tsabadze, Dito Tsintsadze, Tato Kotetishvili, Levan Tuthberidze, and Davit Janelidze, David Sikharulidze, David Taqaishvili, Lado Sulakvelidze, Zaza Urushadze, Giorgi Ovashvili, Zaza Khalvashi, Ketevan Machavariani, Rusudan Pirveli, Margo Zubashvili, and others; cinematographers: Giorgi Beridze, Giorgi Shvelidze, Goga Devdariani and others.
From 1993 to 2004, the Pro-Rector for the Film and Television Department was Gogi Dolidze – a film scholar, professor, and Doctor of Arts.
Deans of the Film and Television Faculty:
1993-1997 Zurab Managadze – Film scholar, Doctor of Arts
1997-2000: Giorgi Ghvaladze – Film scholar, Doctor of Arts
2000-2003: Neli Germeshvili – Film scholar
2003-2006 Maya Levanidze – Film scholar, Associate Professor, Doctor of Arts
2006-2014 Dato Janelidze – Film Director, Professor
2014-2022 Otar Litvinizhvili – Film Director, Associate Professor
The Head of the Quality Management Service from 2007 to 2021 was Tinatin Chabukiani – Associate Professor, Doctor of Arts.
In 2003-2004, a student film studio was established at the university, based on the faculty, headed by Zurab Ortawadze.
In 2020, the educational television station “TAFU.TV” was established, headed by Professor Aleksandre Vakhhtangovi, Doctor of Arts, and since 2024 by Gvantsa Tsiklauri.
The Faculty of Film and Television continues to actively implement various local and international projects (summer and winter film schools), as well as master classes and workshops, in which students actively participate.
Since 2006, the “Amiran” Tbilisi International Student Film Festival has been held, and since 2019, the annual “Golden Horn” film award.
In 2024, the “Film Forum” was established, which brings together a local scientific conference, masterclasses, and workshops.
Since 2023, the Dean of the Faculty of Film and Television has been David Janelidze, a full professor and film director.
Since 2022, the Head of the Quality Assurance Service is Maia Levanidze, a film scholar, Associate Professor, and Doctor of Arts.
Throughout its history, the works of numerous Film and Television faculty students have won significant awards at local and international film festivals.
Awards Received
2010 Zurab Demetrashvili (Assoc. Prof. L. Tutinberidze Group) - International Film Festival “Amiran” Jury Special Prize “Dream on the Laskala”.
Germany. Wiesbaden – Special Jury Prize; Prize for Best Documentary Film.
2010 Giorgi Kobalia (Rezo Esadze's group) — at the “Amiran” International Festival, the film “Useless Plant” won the prize for Best Feature Film.
2010 - Baku. Prize for Best Feature Film.
2010 _ Wiesbaden. Second place.
2010 Nika Gugushvili (Prof. D. Janelidze's group) - At the “Amiran” International Festival, the film “Crows Hunter” won the prize for Best Editing.
2010 Ani Cherkezishvili (Gia Chubabrias Group) - 08.08.08 Best Documentary Film in Wiesbaden
5. 2011 Natia Nikolashvili (Assoc. Prof. V. Sulkvelidze's Group) Animated Film “Land of the Rising Sun” won the Topaz Prize for Best Film at the Batumi International Festival.
2011 Germany. Wiesbaden International Festival - Second Place.
2011 Kazakhstan. Almaty International Festival - Special Jury Prize.
2011 Nino Chkhaidze (Assoc. Prof. V. Sulkvelidze's Group) _ at the Batumi International Festival, “Tofuzi” received a diploma for Best Screenplay and Idea.
In 2011, at the VGIK International Festival in Moscow, a diploma was awarded to the university's program.
2012 სოსო 2012 Soso Bliazi's film “Most Precious” (Prof. R. Borashvili's group): Ljubljana. Student Film Festival – three prizes: for Best Film, for Directing, and for Best Actor.
2012 Almaty, “Shaken's Star” International Film Festival Prize for Best Feature Film in the Student Film Nomination.
2012 2012. The bachelor's film “Turn on the Faucets” by Giorgi Tavartkiladze (Assoc. Prof. R. Borashvili's group) won at the Krakow International Youth Festival.
2012 Margalita Zubashvili (Assoc. Prof. T. Chabukiani's group) _ in Poland. Łódź. At the International Festival, the film “Olympia” won a prize.
2012. International Festival “Amiran” won the Jury Prize “Student Critics' Choice”.
2012. Georgia. Human Rights Youth Short Film Competition _ won second place.
2012 Vakhtang Janashvili (Prof. David Janelidze's Group) _ “From Monday to Monday” _ Special Jury Prize: Amiran International Festival
2012 Nika Gugushvili (Prof. David Janelidze's group) “Crows' Hunter” — Diploma at the International Festival in Beijing.
2013 Zurab Demetrashvili (Assoc. Prof. Levan Tuthberidze's group) - “The Crossroads” Portugal _ Grand Prix; TBC Baknali 20/12 received awards for Best Director. Screenplay; Artist, Cinematographer.
2013 “Amiran” Special Jury Prize for “Crossroads”
2013 Akaki Chirekadze (Assoc. Prof. T. Chabukiani's Group) _ In Tbilisi. “International Festival of Documentary and TV Programs” Film “07.06.2012” Prize for “Successful Debut”.
2013 Levan Sikharulidze (Assoc. Prof. Levan Tutberidze's group“I Think There Was a Sea Here” — For Best Cinematography: International “Amiran” Festival.
2014 Vakhtang Janashvili (Prof. David Janelidze's group) - “From Monday to Monday” — Festival Diploma in Minsk.
2014 Guram Bakradze (Prof. David Janelidze's group) _ Prize for Best Director: International Festival “Amiran”
2014 Zurab Demetrashvili (Assoc. Prof. Levan Tutberidze's group- “The Crossroads” Prize for Best Cinematography at the Tel Aviv International Film Festival.
2014 Salome Vefevazde (Prof. D. Janelidze's group) – “Me, Isisni and Father” – Grand Prize at the Bulgarian Short Film Festival "New
2014 Diploma at the Chișinău International Festival for the University of Theatre and Cinema program.
2020- Saba Kareli (Prof. D. Janelidze's group) - Khanandeli Prize for “Portrait of a Father in an Interior”;
Prize – Telavi Short Film Festival
2021 – Levan Chkhoniya (Prof. D. Janelidze's Group) Best Documentary Film “Lazare” – Amiran Film Festival
2022 – Levan Chkhoniya (Prof. D. Janelidze's Group) Best Direction – “Whisper” at the Amiran Film Festival; Batumi International Short Film Festival “Lemoni” Special Mention from the Jury
2022 – Miranda Namicheishvili LemOn – Batumi International Short Film Festival – Zaza Khalvashi Special Prize.
2023 – Levan Chkhoniya “Whisper” Golden Pomegranate Film Festival – Best Art Direction; Tbilisi International Student Film Festival – Best Direction; Chișinău International Student Film Festival CLASSFEST – Best Cinematography
2023 – Miranda Namicheishvili Prize for “Most Original Film” – at the Munich International Student Film Festival. Golden Pomegranate Film Award – Best Actress and Grand Prix
2023 – Saba Bodokia (Prof. D. Janelidze's Group) Best Director Prize – Telavi Short Film Festival
2024 – Levan Chkhoniya – “Gulistkma” Golden Pleiades Film Festival – Best Sound; Best Director
Two major international summer schools:
2013 Project “Tbilisi from Dawn to Dusk” with the Łódź Film School
2014 Project “Urban Novels” with the Munich Film School (the project will conclude in December 2014).