Akhvlediani Erlom

Erlom S. Akhvlediani (November 23, 1933, Tbilisi – March 20, 2012, Tbilisi) was a writer and screenwriter. He graduated from the Faculty of History at Tbilisi State University (1957) and the Advanced Courses for Scriptwriters and Directors in Moscow (1964). He worked in the Society for the Protection of Cultural Monuments (1959–1961), as the senior editor of the Artistic Television Films Department at the Georgian Television and Radio Committee (1967–1968), and as the chief editor at the Georgian Television Film Studio (1979–1987). He was a member of the Writers’ Creative Union (1971–1972) and served as a supervisor of the screenplay group at the Georgian State University of Theatre and Cinema (1982–1987 and 1995–1999).

He began his literary career in 1958. His works include short stories such as "The Tale of the Lazy Mouse" (1971), "Vano and Niko" (1986), and "Old and New" (2003), among others. His novel "Mosquito in the City" [Kogho Kalakshi] (2010) won the "Saba" literary prize for the best novel of the year (2011). His works have been translated and published in Russian, Armenian, Czech, German, Hungarian, and Arabic.

Akhvlediani worked in cinema. Author of screenplays for films: "April" (dir. O. Ioseliani, 1962), "Nameless Fortress" (based on a short story by G. Rcheulishvili, director K. Ghlonti, 1968), "Pirosmani" (co-wrote with G. Shengelaia, dir. G. Shengelaia, 1969), "Common Wall" (director N. Managadze, 1972), "The Story of Ivane Kotorashvili" (co-wrote with D. Javakhishvili, based on a story by Vazha-Pshavela, director N. Managadze, 1974), "Amaghleba" (co-wrote with D. Javakhishvili, 1977), "Bata Kekia" (based on L. Khiacheli’s novel, 1980, director L. Gordeladze), "The Way Home" (co-wrote with R. Kveselava, director A. Rekhviashvili, 1981), "Three Hot Summer Days" (co-wrote with D. Javakhishvili, director M. Kokochashvili, 1981), "The Young Composer’s Journey" (based on O. Chkheidze’s novel “Boriaki”, director G. Shengelaia, 1984), "Hey, Maestro!" (co-write with D. Javakhishvili, director N. Managadze, 1987), "License" (animation, director Sh. Chavchavadze, 1989), "Noe" (co-wrote with D. Javakhishvili, director N. Managadze, 1990), "Ertatsminda" (director Z. Tutberidze, 1994), "The Autumn of Humanity" (documentary, director G. Chubabria, 1995); "The Foolish Pomegranate Tree" (director P. Mesaroshi, 1999), "White Flower and White Butterfly" (animation, director M. Kukhianidze, 2012) and others.

Appeared in films: "Three Hot Summer Days" (director M. Kokochashvili, 1981), "White Night" (director D. Tsintsadze, 1984), "Souvenir" (director V. Ablotia, 1986), "Weekday" (director G. Revishvili, 1989), and "Return" (director D. Tsintsadze, 1990).

Literature: კაცი, რომელმაც თავი დაკარგა და სხვა ამბები, თბ., 2007.

M. Kereselidze