Babluani Teimuraz

Teimraz (Temur) Babluani (b. 20 March 1984, Choluri Village, Lentekhi Municipality) is a Georgian film director, actor, producer and holder of the Shota Rustaveli State Prize (1995).

He studied at the Faculty of Law in 1967-69 in Georgia and in 1971-72 he studied Art History. He graduated from the film faculty at Shota Rustaveli Theatre and Film State University in 1979. He directed such films as Motatseba [Abduction] (short film, in 1975), Beghurebis Gadafrena [Migration of Sparrows] (1980), Dzmebi [Brothers] (1982), Udzinarta Mze (Son of the Sleepless, 1990; it received the “Silver Bear” at Berlin International Film Festival and the “Golden Eagle” award at Tbilisi Film Festival in 1992. In Russia, the film received two Nika Awards presented by the Russian Academy of Cinema Arts and Science and won Grand Prize at Kinotavr Film Festival), and Memkvidreoba [Inheritance] (in 2006 with his son, G. Babluani).

Babluani is also a scriptwriter for all of his films. As an actor, he performed one of the main roles in the TV adaptation of “La Cucaracha." He plays in R. Chkheidze’s movies: Rhimilis Bichebi (plays Malkhaz, 1969), Mshobliuro Chemo Mitsav! (plays eagle handler, 1980), The Life of Don Quixote and Sancho (minor role, 1989). He also performs in G. Babluani’s movie “Thirteen” (2005, France). Since 1991, he has been one of the co-founders and artistic director of “Adam and Eve” film studio.

Currently, Babluani lives and works in France. He is the author of the novel “Mze, Mtvare da Puris Kana: Manushka Melodeba” (2018) [„მზე, მთვარე და პურის ყანა (მანუშაკა მელოდება)“], which was translated and published in French and Russian languages. English translation will be available in 2025. He received the Saba Literary Award for Best Debut Novel in 2019.

M. Kereselidze