Mikhail Kalatozishvili Director Date of Birth: 09.05.1959 Country: Georgia

1. Childhood and Early Life
2. Education and Career Beginnings
3. Rise to Prominence
4. Later Career and Legacy
5. Additional Projects

Childhood and Early Life

Mikhail Kalatozishvili was born on May 19, 1959, in Tbilisi, Georgian SSR, to the renowned film director Georgy Kalatozishvili. He was the grandson of the celebrated Soviet director Mikhail Kalatozov.

Education and Career Beginnings

Kalatozishvili studied at the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography in Moscow, where he honed his skills as a director under the tutelage of esteemed filmmaker Yefim Dzigan. After graduating, he worked at the Gruzia-Film studio in his hometown of Tbilisi.

Rise to Prominence

In 1996, Kalatozishvili was appointed as a director at the Lenfilm Studio in Saint Petersburg, Russia. His breakthrough film was "The First After God" (1999), in which he also served as a producer. In 2008, he directed and produced "Wild Field," a critically acclaimed film that won numerous awards.

Later Career and Legacy

Kalatozishvili's untimely demise at the age of 51 on October 12, 2009, was a significant loss to the film industry. He was laid to rest beside his grandfather in the Novodevichy Cemetery in Moscow. His legacy lives on through the films he created and the impact he had on the cinematic landscape.

Additional Projects

Beyond his directorial work, Kalatozishvili was instrumental in organizing the "True Friends" film festival, which took place in the town of Tarusa, Russia, in August 2009. The festival celebrated the location where the film "True Friends" was shot.