Shota Rustaveli Theatre and Film University
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Shota Rustaveli Theater and Georgia State Film University (TAFU) is one of the oldest universities in the
Caucasus The Caucasus () or Caucasia (), is a region between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, mainly comprising Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and parts of Southern Russia. The Caucasus Mountains, including the Greater Caucasus range, have historically ...
and
Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...
. The Theater and Film University has dedicated solely to the visual and performing arts. The chief founder of the University was a well-known
Georgian Georgian may refer to: Common meanings * Anything related to, or originating from Georgia (country) ** Georgians, an indigenous Caucasian ethnic group ** Georgian language, a Kartvelian language spoken by Georgians **Georgian scripts, three scrip ...
theater actor and director,
Lado Meskhishvili Lado or LADO may refer to: Places * Lado, Burkina Faso, a town in Burkina Faso * Lado, South Sudan, a town in South Sudan, formerly the seat of the Lado Enclave, and Equatoria province * Lado Enclave of the Congo Free State, in modern South Sudan ...


History

The first attempt to create a drama school in Georgia related to School Dramas in the Seminaries of Telavi (1782) and Tbilisi (1855), where by law it was possible to play “a comedy or any other conspicuous play once a week.” In 1880, the Statute of the Dramatic Society provided for it to “hold theater classes and temporary courses to prepare and train artists." In 1912, Lado Meskhishivili attempted to establish drama courses and set up regulations. In 1918, Giorgi Jabadari founded a studio and brought to it internationally acclaimed actors such as V. Anjaparidze, U. Chkheidze, A. Vasadze and Sh. Ghambashidze. In 1922, a Drama Studio established under the leadership of A. Pagava, which according to the Resolution of the Council of People's Commissars dated October 10, 1922 (Protocol N 31), became the basis of the "Institute of Performing Arts." Studio participants enrolled to the second year. An additional enlistment for courses also announced. The first rector of the Institute was Akaki Paghava, the Artistic Director was
Kote Marjanishvili Konstantine "Kote" Marjanishvili ( ka, კონსტანტინე (კოტე) მარჯანიშვილი), also known by the Russified name Konstantin Aleksandrovich Mardzhanov (russian: Константи́н Алекса́н ...
, and the teachers were prominent scientists: I. Javakhishvili, D. Uznadze, G. Chubinashvili, A. Shanidze, G. Akhvlediani, A. Natishvili. The theater Directors were A. Akhmeteli, M. Koreli, and the writers K. Gamsakhurdia, G. Robakidze, N. Shiukashvili. In 1924, the first 21 graduated from the Institute. Among the graduates were: A. Khorava, V. Godziashvili, S. Takaishvili, T. Tsulukidze, M. Mrevlishvili, P. Kobakhidze, P. Kandelaki, P. Murghulia, G.Kuprashvili, N. Shengelaia, S.Chelidze, and others. In 1927, the Institute ceased to function. New studios formed at the studio of the Rustaveli Theater in 1927-1935, which together with Sandro Akhmeteli was led by Akaki Vasadze, and later in 1935-1939 by Akaki Khorava. The Training Program of the Studio and the level of graduate specialists is equivalent to other modern colleges. The Studio has trained actors for the theaters of Batumi, Abkhazia, Ossetia, Checheno-Ingushetia. The Rustaveli Theater Studio taught 152 actors between 1927, and 1939. A Studio was also established also in the Marjanishvili theater, where D. Janelidze had worked. In 1933, A. Paghava built “Higher Courses of Performing Arts." Film Actor’s Courses founded at the 'State Film Industry.' On September 1, 1939, by resolution of the Government in the Akaki Khorava and Akaki Pagava initiative, the Theater Institute was reestablished by the Rustaveli Theater and other Studios. The rector was A. Khorava and the deputy minister A. Paghava. After A. Khorava the rectors were: D. Aleksidze, M. Kveselava, L. Kiknadze, I. Tavadze, E. Gugushvili, G. Zhordania, G. Lortkipanidze, G. Margvelashvili, N. Chkhaidze, G. Margvelashvili. In 1992, the Theater Institute was renamed as the State Theater and Film Institute. In 2002, the Institute was transformed into a university.


Education

Graduates of the Shota Rustaveli Theater and the State Film University graduates have had a defining effect on the cultural development and the character of twentieth-century Georgian theater. In 2005 the Shota Rustaveli Theater and Georgian State Film University was joined by the Ekvtime Takaishvili State University of Culture and Arts. The University trains actors of drama and film, musical theater, puppetry, marionettes, and pantomime, directors of drama, film, and television, cinematographers, theater and film critics, art historians, specialists of television and other media, choreographers, managers of tourism and experts in the cultural-educational sector. Students have gained international success and the highest awards in various film and theater festivals and competitions. The University has the D. Aleksidze theater, a scientific library, laboratories, and an educational, scientific institute, which prepares encyclopedias of Georgian theater and cinema. The University has faculties of Drama, Film, and Television, Humanities, Social Sciences and Management and Georgian Folk Music and Dance, where over a thousand students study for Bachelor, Master, and Doctoral degrees. The University played a huge role in training specialists of theater and cinema for the entire Caucasus Region. The University brought together professionals for Russian, Armenian, Azerbaijani, Abkhazian, Ossetian, Ingush, Chechen and other theaters. Some now famous theaters founded by the training and diploma performances of the University (such as the Cinema Actors Theater, Meskhetian Theater, Theater Metekhi, Akhmeteli Theater, Theater of Saingilo, Pantomime Theater, and others). The University maintains creative and scientific relations with other universities in different countries. The University traditionally trains specialists who make a significant contribution to the development of Georgian Regional Theaters. The University publishes a newspaper "Duruji." In 2005-2009, its publishing house issued a paper “Culture," which was a joint publication of three art universities. The “Centaur” publishing house produces textbooks, manuals, scientific works and monographs written by professors of the University and also a journal, "Art Science Studies." The University locates in two buildings: the first building at Rustaveli Ave. N 19-23, the second building at David Agmashenebeli Ave. N40.


Academic programs

The Education programs in Shota Rustaveli Theater and Georgia State Film University implement through two certified programs and three Bachelor programs.


Drama Faculty

The history of the Faculty closely links with the history of the University, which established in 1923 as Institute of Performing Arts by the studio founded in 1922 by Akaki Paghava. The studio members enrolled in the Institute's second year. Among the first graduates of the institute in 1924 were A. Khorava, V. Godziashvili, T. Tsulukidze, S. Takaishvili and M. Mrevlishvili. The professors were Akaki Paghava, Kote Marjanishvili, Mikheil Koreli, Sandro Akhmeteli and Niko Shiukashvili. Kote Marjanishvili was the artistic director of the Institute. Instead of faculties, there were studios of drama and opera, and also schools of opera choir, plasticity, and rhythmic gymnastics. Lectures got delivered by I. Javakhishvili, D. Uznadze, G. Chubinashvili, A. Shanidze and others. In 1926, the institute ceased to function. In 1927-39 only the Rustaveli Theater Studio was working. In September 1939, the studios of Rustaveli and Marjanishvili Theaters merged with the studio of Film Fabric and the theater Institute has been restored. The members of these studios were accepted in the second, third and fourth courses of the studio. In 1940, the Faculty of Drama Direction established in the Theater Institute. Over the years, the department of actor's mastery and drama course was led by Akaki Khorava. In 1956, the Institute expanded again, Music Department added to the Drama Faculty. In 1970, the Puppet Theater Actors specialization joined the Drama Faculty. Its founders were Shota Tsutsqiridze and Givi Sarchimelidze. Since 1969, the Pantomime Theater Actor’s specialty became he part of the Drama Faculty, in 1978, the Pantomime Theater Actor specialization founded under the guidance of Amiran Shalikashvili Over the years, the department of actor's skills and stage direction was headed by D. Alexsidze, K. Pataridze. Since 1973, the department divided, the head of Actor's department became Dmitry Alexsidze, and the head of Stage Direction department - Micheil Tumanishvili. Since 1997 the department was headed G. Jordania. At different times the Department of Acting got led by L. Mirtskhulava, Sh. Gatserelia; the Department of Stage Speech was led by Maliko Mrevlishvili and Babulia Nikolaishvili; Heads of the Department of Stage Movement were Constantine (Kotso) Badridze and Yuri Zaretski. At the Drama Faculty, worked: A. Vasadze, G. Tovstonogov, D. Aleksidze, A. Mikeladze, K. Pataridze, V. Kushitashvili, M. Tumanishvili, A. Dvalishvili, and others. The older generation of directors formed the core methodological principles of education, which in its essence bases on K. Stanislavski system as a foundation for training actors. M. Tumanishvili, who was a student of G. Tovstonogov, developed training methodology, conducted bold experiments that subsequently would make it easier for graduates which would help to adjust and adapt to the new theater groups. Thus was created the renowned Film Actors Theater. In subsequent years on the faculty worked: Shalva Gatserelia, Gaioz Jirdania, Medea Kuchukhidze, Akvsenti Gamsakhurdia, Anzor Kutateladze, Levan Mirtskhulava, Nana Demetrashvili, Konstantine Surmava, Temur Abashidze; head of stage speech department Leila Kapanadze, head of stage movement department Natela Ionatamishvili, masters of artistic reading Zinaida Kverenchkhiladze and Guram Sagaradze and others.


Film and TV Faculty

Film and TV Faculty of Shota Rustaveli Theater and Film State University established in 1972. Despite resistance from the
USSR State Committee for Cinematography Goskino USSR (russian: link=Yes, Госкино СССР) is the abbreviated name for the USSR State Committee for Cinematography (Государственный комитет по кинематографии СССР) in the Soviet Union. It w ...
, the attempts of prominent Georgian filmmakers -
Rezo Chkheidze Revaz "Rezo" Chkheidze ( ka, რევაზ "რეზო" ჩხეიძე; 8 December 1926 – 3 May 2015) was a Georgian film director, People's Artist of the USSR, best known for his Soviet-era drama films, including his 1964 World ...
,
Tengiz Abuladze Tengiz Abuladze ( ka, თენგიზ აბულაძე; 31 January 1924 – 6 March 1994) was a Georgian film director, screenwriter, theatre teacher and People's Artist of the USSR. He is regarded as one of the best Soviet directors. ...
,
Lana Gogoberidze Lana Gogoberidze ( ka, ლანა ღოღობერიძე) (born October 13, 1928, Tbilisi) is a Georgian film director and politician. Educated at Tbilisi State University and Moscow State University of Cinematography, Gogoberidze heade ...
,
Eldar Shengelaia Eldar Shengelaia ( ka, ელდარ შენგელაია; russian: Эльда́р Никола́евич Шенгела́я; born 26 January 1933) is a Georgian and Soviet film director and screenwriter who directed ten films between ...
,
Otar Ioseliani Otar Iosseliani ( ka, ოთარ იოსელიანი, born 2 February 1934) is a Georgian-born film director. He was born in the Georgian capital city of Tbilisi, where he studied at the Tbilisi State Conservatoire and graduated in 1952 ...
was successful, and the Faculty of Filmmaking established at the Theater Institute. The first two groups of film directors got headed by
Tengiz Abuladze Tengiz Abuladze ( ka, თენგიზ აბულაძე; 31 January 1924 – 6 March 1994) was a Georgian film director, screenwriter, theatre teacher and People's Artist of the USSR. He is regarded as one of the best Soviet directors. ...
, Irakli Kvirikadze,
Lana Gogoberidze Lana Gogoberidze ( ka, ლანა ღოღობერიძე) (born October 13, 1928, Tbilisi) is a Georgian film director and politician. Educated at Tbilisi State University and Moscow State University of Cinematography, Gogoberidze heade ...
and Omar Gvasalia. The first graduation of students included
Temur Babluani Temur Babluani ( ka, თემურ ბაბლუანი) (born 20 March 1948) is a Georgian film director, script writer, and actor. Bebluani was born in the mountainous Svanetian village of Chaguri in the Georgian SSR. He graduated from ...
,
Nana Jorjadze Nana Jorjadze ( ka, ნანა ჯორჯაძე; born 24 August 1948) is an Academy Award nominated film director, scriptwriter and actress. Jorjadze was born in Tbilisi, and graduated first from a local musical school (1966), and then from ...
,
Nana Janelidze Nana Janelidze ( ka, ნანა ჯანელიძე, born 7 August 1955) is a Georgian film director and screenwriter. Biography Janelidze was born on 7 August 1955 in Tbilisi. She studied at Shota Rustaveli Theatre and Film University un ...
, Guram Petriashvili,
Goderdzi Chokheli Goderdzi Chokheli ( ka, გოდერძი ჩოხელი) (2 October 1954 – 16 November 2007) was a Georgian novelist, scriptwriter, and film director. Goderdzi Chokheli was born on 2 October 1954 in the village Chokhi of Dusheti regi ...
. In 1982 Chokheli’s film "Easter" won Grand Prix at the
International Short Film Festival Oberhausen The International Short Film Festival Oberhausen, founded in 1954, is one of the oldest short film festivals in the world. Held in Oberhausen, it is one of the major international platforms for the short form. The festival holds an International C ...
. Notable professors include Eldar Shengelaya,
Giorgi Shengelaia Giorgi Shengelaia ( ka, გიორგი შენგელაია; russian: Гео́ргий Никола́евич Шенгела́я; 11 May 1937 – 17 February 2020) was a Georgian and Soviet film director. He directed 14 films since 196 ...
,
Otar Ioseliani Otar Iosseliani ( ka, ოთარ იოსელიანი, born 2 February 1934) is a Georgian-born film director. He was born in the Georgian capital city of Tbilisi, where he studied at the Tbilisi State Conservatoire and graduated in 1952 ...
, Rezo Esadze, Soso Chkhaidze, Gela Kandelaki. Famous directors who were former students at the University:
Dito Tsintsadze Dito Tsintsadze ( ka, დიტო ცინცაძე; born 2 March 1957) is a Georgian film director and screenwriter. He has directed thirteen films since 1988. His film '' Lost Killers'' was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the ...
, Tato Kotetishvili, Aleko Tsabadze, Levan Tutberidze, David Janelidze, David Sikharulidze, David Takaishvili, Lado Sulakvelidze.


Humanities, Social Sciences, Business, and Management Faculty

The Humanities, Social Sciences, Business and Management Faculty is the biggest faculty of the University regarding some educational programs as well as the number of students. The priority here is to study History and Theory of Art, including theater, film, visual arts and architecture. At the same time, the faculty pays particular attention to the development of the specialties that do not belong to the humanitarian sphere but directly link to Arts and Culture. These include journalism – with the focus on culture as well as cultural tourism and arts management. In addition to its specializations, the Faculty provides a comprehensive education for the entire university teaching disciplines required for an extensive education in the fields of Arts.


Georgian Folk Music and Choreography Faculty

The Georgian folk music and dance Faculty is the newest addition to the Arts department. In 2007, the university's drama department poklorisa and traditional Georgian art, Georgian folk and liturgical dance team dirizhorebisa Directors and Choreographers Georgian specialties have been added. Bandmaster of Georgian upbringing laid the foundation for Anzor Erkomashvili, Gomar hopes Badri Toidze the choreographer took responsibility to care Ucha Dvalishvili, lauz Chanishvili, B. Svanidze. Georgian folk music and dance of March 6, 2013, and got separated from her drama pkakultets Georgian folk music, and dance was created by the Faculty of Arts.


See also

*
List of modern universities in Europe (1801–1945) The list of modern universities in Europe (1801–1940) contains all universities that were founded in Europe after the French Revolution and before the end of World War II. Universities are regarded as comprising all institutions of higher ed ...


Notable alumni


References

{{authority control Universities in Georgia (country) Education in Tbilisi Buildings and structures in Tbilisi