Kokochashvili Merab

Merab Kokochashvili (b. March 21, 1935, Tbilisi), film director, screenwriter, People's Artist of Georgia (1983), winner of the Shota Rustaveli State Prize (1987). He graduated from the Faculty of Stage Design of All-Union State Institute of Cinematography in Moscow (G. Shirokov's Workshop, 1960).

He has directed feature films: Khmeli Tsipeli (Dry Beech) (based on the story by Vazha-Pshavela, 1957, Silver medal at the “International Festival of Youth and Students”, 1960), Ardadegebze (On Vacation) (1962), Mikha (based on the story Mususi by M. Javakhishvili, 1965), Didi Mtsvane Veli (The Great Green Field) (1967, Prize for Directing, Film Festival “Prometheus”, Yerevan, 1968), Tskheli Zapkhulis Sami Dghe (Three Days of a Hot Summer) (1981), Gza Mshvidobisa, Jako! (Have a Safe Trip, Jako!) (Based on N. Dumbadze's novel Nu Geshinia, Deda (Don't Be Afraid, Mother), 1973), Mtsvervali (The Peak) (1976), Nutsas Skola (Nutsa's School) (2000), Variation on the theme of Othello (2003), Usui (2005), Ghvinis Akvani (The Cradle of Wine) (2011). Documentary films: Mtsvervali (The Peak) (1973), Gza (The Road) (1983, Shota Rustaveli State Prize, 1987), Penomeni (Phenomenon) (1992), Sakartvelo Anosia, Sakartvelo Vanosia (Georgia is Ano's, Georgia is Vanos’) (1996), Dagvianebuli Kadishi (Belated Kaddish) (2002), Tu Dagivitsko Ierushalaim! (I Won’t Forget You, Jerusalem!) (2006), Kartveli Mamlukebi Egvipteshi (Georgian Mamluks in Egypt) (2007), Ivane Javakhishvili (2016) and the feature-documentary film Sakhli Sikharulisa (House of Joy) (2008). Kokochashvili, as an actor, has appeared in the films: Giorgi Saakadze (Little Paata Saakadze, directed by M. Chiaureli, 1942–1943), Ar Idardo! (Don’t Worry!) (Lieutenant Ishkhneli, directed by G. Danelia, 1969), Mtsvervali (The Peak) (Temuri).

Kokochashvili was the secretary of the Union of Cinematographers (1976-1996), the artistic director of the Georgian Television Film Studio (1976-2005), the head of the scientific-research laboratory of the language and structure of cinema at Tbilisi State University (1992–2006), and the director of the Georgian Cinema Development Center (from 2015).

 

Literature: მერაბ კოკოჩაშვილი. კრ., თბ., 2005.

 

M. Kereselidze