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Elena Satine was born in Tbilisi, Georgia and grew up in Sochi. She began her professional career at the tender age of 6 when she appeared on the popular children's variety show "Morning Star." On a spontaneous trip to New York City, the young actress attended an open call for at the Professional Performing Arts School, and got accepted on the spot. After graduating with honors, Elena continued her dramatic studies at the renowned Moscow Art Theater School.

One of the 20th century's greatest masters of cinema Sergei Parajanov was born in Georgia to Armenian parents and it was always unlikely that his work would conform to the strict socialist realism that Soviet authorities preferred. After studying film and music, Parajanov became an assistant director at the Dovzhenko studios in Kyiv, making his directorial debut in 1954, following that with numerous shorts and features, all of which he subsequently dismissed as "garbage". However, in 1964 he was able to make Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors (1965), a rhapsodic celebration of Ukrainian folk culture, and the world discovered a startling and idiosyncratic new talent. He followed this up with the even more innovative The Color of Pomegranates (1969) (which explored the art and poetry of his native Armenia in a series of stunningly beautiful tableaux), but by this stage the authorities had had enough, and Paradjanov spent most of the 1970s in prison on almost certainly rigged charges of "homosexuality and illegal trafficking in religious icons". However, with the coming of perestroika, he was able to make The Legend of Suram Fortress (1985), Ashik Kerib (1988) and The Confession, which survives as Parajanov: The Last Spring (1992), before succumbing to cancer in 1990.

Georgi Daneliya was born on August 25, 1930 in Tbilisi, Georgia. Since 1939 the family lived in Moscow, where Danelia's father was the chief engineer for the Moscow Underground Metro System. Daneliya's father became a decorated WWII General, specializing in construction of underground bunkers for the Soviet Government. His mother was a good chess-player and later worked as a second unit director at Mosfilm. Daneliya's mother's sister Veriko Anjaparidze was married to Mikheil Chiaureli, who was a personal friend of Joseph Stalin. Daneliya first earned his architect's degree from the Moscow Architecture Institute. Then he studied at the Higher Director's Courses at Mosfilm under Mikhail Romm, and graduated in 1959, becoming a film director at the Mosfilm Studios in Moscow.

During the cultural "Thaw" initiated by Nikita Khrushchev Daneliya was at the start of the Soviet "New Wave" in films. He had his first success shared with Igor Talankin. Their film 'Seryozha' (1960) was awarded the Crystal Globe in Karlovy Vary. He then worked with Gennady Shpalikov on a propaganda-free project about life in Moscow. Censorship caused a few obstacles by demanding changes to the plot and the script of 'Walking the Streets of Moscow' (1963). It became a popular lyrical comedy with a title hit song by Andrey Petrov. But soon Nikita Khrushchev was dismissed by Leonid Brezhnev and the "Thaw" ended. Daneliya's brilliant comedy '33' (1965) was labeled as anti-Soviet by the head of KGB Vladimir Semichastny, who wrote in a secret letter to the Central Committee: "anti-Soviet...film '33' is an attempt to discredit everything including the cosmonaut's flight."

Daneliya had to wait for 4 long years until he got a chance to work on his next film. It was titled "Don't Grieve" - 'Ne Goryuy' (1969), starring Vakhtang Kikabidze. His more careful, but masterful comedies 'Gentlemen of Luck' (1972), 'Afonya' (1975), 'Mimino' (1977) continued his successful career. A step beyond the comedy genre was made in his film 'Osenny Marafon' (1979). It's a melodrama about a man in his mid-life crisis, torn between two women, and all three are trapped in the game of lies and personal demands, amidst the stagnant Soviet reality.

His innovative film 'Kin-Dza-Dza' (1986) stands out as a genre of it's own. Everything is different, yet very familiar in this metaphoric film. New type of script with renown stars, new environment for and old tale, new language for ancient wisdom. Daneliya created a universe of allusions; It grows with a passage of time, while getting closer to our future. He presented a fresh view of the human nature, and played with reflections on his own life, the fate of a genius in a rigid society going through inevitable changes.

Danelia is blessed with good friends and highly professional collaborators. His first wife was actress Lyubov Sokolova (1921-2001) who played 370 film roles and is listed in the Guinnes book of Records. Their son Nikolai Daneliya (1958-1985) was a film director before his tragic death. Danelia lives in Moscow and works on his new project, an animation sequel to 'Kin-Dza-Dza'.

Sofiko Chiaureli was born on 21 May 1937 in Tbilisi, Georgian SSR, USSR [now Republic of Georgia]. She was an actress, known for The Color of Pomegranates (1969), Rats ginakhavs, vegar nakhav (1965) and Chveni ezo (1956). She was married to Giorgi Shengelaia and Kote Makharadze. She died on 2 March 2008 in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Levan Bakhia is film director and producer from ex soviet state, Georgia. Founder and CEO of the largest production company in Caucasus region Sarke Studio.

Since 1998, he has been producing and directing commercials. In 2011, Bakhia made his directorial and writing debut with a feature film - 247°F.

Levan was born on 12th of August, 1979, in Tbilisi, Georgia. He Graduated from European School of Management in 2000. On his 3rd year of collage, in 1998 he founded the advertising agency - Sarke. Part of Sarke Group Companies, Sarke Studio is today considered not only being the largest production and rental company in the territory, but also as the company responsible for developing the production industry in the country overall.

Vladimir Korneev was born in 1987 in Manglisi, Georgian SSR, USSR [now Republic of Georgia]. He is an actor, known for Kundschafter des Friedens (2017), Hagen (2024) and Tell: Das Musical (2012).

'Tengiz Abuladze' studied theatrical direction af the Chota Rustaveli Theatre Institute in Tbilisi, Georgia, and film- making at the VGIK Cinematography Institute, graduating in 1953, when he joined Georgia Film Studios as a director. He made documentaries before making his feature debut in 1958. His best-known work in the West is the trilogy Vedreba (1967), The Wishing Tree (1976) and 0093754, the latter being one of the first films to be released in the post-glasnost era, and one of the most controversial, thanks to its allegorical portrait of a small town under Stalinist terror (Stalin, like Abuladze, hailing originally from Georgia). It was a huge success in the Soviet Union, and achieved reasonable distribution abroad, almost unheard of for a Georgian film.

Levan Gabriadze was born on 16 November 1969 in Tbilisi, Georgian SSR, USSR [now Republic of Georgia]. He is a director and actor, known for Unfriended (2014), Rezo (2018) and Kin-dza-dza! (1986).

Katie Melua was born on 16 September 1984 in Kutaisi, Georgian SSR, USSR [now Republic of Georgia]. She is a music artist and actress, known for Miss Potter (2006), The Tourist (2010) and Just Like Heaven (2005). She was previously married to James Toseland.

Dover Koshashvili was born on 8 December 1966 in Georgian SSR, USSR [now Republic of Georgia]. He is an actor and director, known for Late Marriage (2001), Im Hukim (1999) and Infiltration (2010).

Irakli Rodonaya was born on 4 July 1981 in Gagra, Abkhaz ASSR, Georgian SSR, USSR [now Abkhazia]. He is a producer and actor, known for Brighton 4th (2021), Stavka na lyubov (2016) and Bez granits (2015).

Alexander Atanesyan was born on 12 October 1953 in Tbilisi, Georgian SSR, USSR [now Republic of Georgia]. He is a director and producer, known for About Fate (2022), Bastards (2006) and Blizkiy vrag (2010). He has been married to Evgeniya Trofimova since 2001.

Ksenia Lavrentieva is a British actress, voice-over artist and TV personality of Eurasian descent. Known for her numerous appearances on British/US television, as well as having played Nadia Dansky on HBO's Strike Back. Born in the former communist state of Georgia, Tbilisi, to a renowned dissident Georgian artist and one of Russia's revered actresses. Her first years were spent in Taganrog Bay a port city in Rostov on the shores of the Azov Sea - southern Russia. The separation of her parents prompted a move to Moscow with her mother, followed by an unsettlingly candid immersion in the confused, though highly creative atmosphere that pervaded in the Russian capital at the time. A few years later, the newly re-composed Lavrentieva family moved to London. When asked about this period in her life, Ksenia only refers to it as a time where "we pretty much existed upon the fringes, moving regularly and rarely settling in one place". However, she does admit that whilst it was a time of constant upheaval, it perhaps also represents, in many ways, a time from which she now draws a great deal of inspiration. Ksenia has worked and traveled on both sides of the Atlantic in film, television and commercials, working with creatives as diverse as David Cronenberg to Dr. Dre.

Vakhtang Konstantinovich Kikabidze, an actor, singer, songwriter, screenwriter, and producer, was born in Tbilisi, Soviet Georgia on July 19, 1938. He was also a politician who served in the Parliament of Georgia from 2020 until his death.

He was awarded the USSR State Prize, the Orders of King Vakhtang Gorgasali, Nikolai Wondermonger, and Prince Yaroslav the Wise, as well as Knight Cross of St. Konstantin the Great. He won different international song concourses and film festivals.

In 1999 in Moscow, he received a star on the "Star Square". In cinematography, he created a number of eminent actors who became very popular. His last film, Fortuna (2000), was made in 2000.

As scriptwriter and producer, he made two feature films: "Bud' Zdorov, dorogoi" (which took the first premium on the international comedy festival in Grabovo, Bulgaria) and "Muzchini i vse ostal'nie".

He was married with two children and three grandchildren at the time of his death in 2023 at the age of 84.

Anatoliy Kotenyov was born on 25 September 1958 in Sukhumi, Abkhaz ASSR, Georgian SSR, USSR. He is an actor, known for Deja vu (1990), Chetvyortaya planeta (1995) and Kazachya byl (1999). He has been married to Svetlana Borovskaya since 1989. They have two children.

Zaza Buadze was born on 4 August 1962 in Kutaisi, Georgian SSR, Transcaucasian SFSR, USSR [now Republic of Georgia]. He is a director and writer, known for Maty apostoliv (2020), Call Sign Banderas (2018) and Umbrella Sky (2023).

Dito Tsintsadze was born on 2 March 1957 in Tbilisi, Georgian SSR, USSR [now Georgia]. He is a director and writer, known for Gun-Shy (2003), Shindisi (2019) and Der Mann von der Botschaft (2006).

Kakhi Kavsadze was born on 5 June 1935 in Tkibuli, Georgian SSR, TSFSR, USSR [now Republic of Georgia]. He was an actor, known for Midjachvuli raindebi (2000), White Sun of the Desert (1970) and Tsar Ivan Groznyy (1991). He died on 27 April 2021 in Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia.

Leyla Abashidze is a Soviet and Georgian actress, director, screenwriter, singer. People's Artist of the Georgian SSR. In 1941, director Konstantine Pipinashvili selected her for one of the main roles in the film Qajana (1941). Pipinashvili recalled that her sister brought Leyla to the audition. Among the smartly dressed children who came to the casting, Leyla stood out with her old faded dress, homemade haircut and worn-out shoes. At the auditions, a scene was played out when Kato, shocked by her brother's muteness, for which she herself was to blame, sobs violently and asks God to give him back his voice. Leyla played this episode with such life-like truth, such everyday nuances that for several moments silence reigned in the pavilion. So Leyla was cast in the main role.

In 1951 she graduated from the acting department of the Tbilisi Theater Institute named after Shota Rustaveli (course of Dodo Aleksidze).

She became widely known and popular after her brilliant performance of character roles in the comedies The Dragonfly (1954) and The Scrapper (1956). She starred in both comedic and dramatic roles.

In 1981, as a director, based on her own script (together with Levan Chelidze), she directed the comedy Tbilisi, Parizi, Tbilisi (1980), playing the main role of Ten Shervashidze.

George Ovashvili was born on 14 November 1963 in Tbilisi, Georgian SSR, USSR [now Republic of Georgia]. He is a producer and director, known for Gagma napiri (2009), Corn Island (2014) and Zgvis donidan... (2005).

Zaza Kolelishvili was born on 11 January 1957 in Telavi, Georgian SSR, Transcaucasian SFSR, USSR. He is an actor and director, known for Omi da Qortsili (2010), Garigeba 20 Tslis Shemdeg (2011) and Garigeba (1993).

Ramaz Chkhikvadze was born on the 28th of February 1928 to the outstanding musician Gregory Chkhikvadze and Elene Gachechiladze. He has been hesitating between conservatory and theater institute, but finally choose acting. This national actor of Georgia and USSR graduated from the Rustaveli State Theatre Institute in 1951, and since then he has been acting in Rustaveli Theatre.

Because of his legendary acting skills he had the honor to work with great world class directors. Chkhikvadze's trade mark is his distinct individuality, originality, great creative imagination, improvisation and conversion skills.

His acting captivated the whole world. Chkhikvadze's portrayal of Shakespeare's characters were acclaimed to be the best. He was called "a Georgian Olivier" in Great Britain, but then it was modified to 'Olivier being the Georgian Chkhikvadze".

Ramaz Chkhikvadze passed away October 17th 2011, at the age of 83 in his apartment in Tbilisi, Georgia from cancer.

Born on August 28, 1925 in Batumi, Georgian SSR, Transcaucasian SFSR, USSR (now in Georgia), Arkadiy Natanovich Strugatskiy was a Soviet/Russian sci-fi writer, often writing in collaboration with his younger brother Boris Strugatskiy. Strugatskiys' father Natan Strugatskiy was a Jewish art critic and their mother was a Russian Orthodox teacher. When Arkadiy was a child, the family moved to Leningrad. He was evacuated from the city during the siege of Leningrad in 1942 along with his father, who didn't survive the journey. The following year he was drafted into the Soviet army and went to study at the artillery school in Aktyubinsk. In 1949 he graduated the Military Institute of Foreign Languages in Moscow as Japanese and English interpreter. He worked for the military until 1955, when he became a writer instead. In 1958 the Strugatskiy brothers begun their artistic collaboration, which lasted until Arkadiy's death. In 1979, the brothers' best-known novel, "Piknik na obochine" ("Roadside Picnic") was loosely adapted for the screen by Andrei Tarkovsky as Stalker (1979). Arkadiy died on October 12, 1991 in Moscow, USSR (now in Russia). Writings of the Strugatskiys continue to inspire creators of movies (such as Dark Planet (2008)) and video games (such as S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl (2007) and its sequels).

Born in Tbilisi in 1982. Graduated from director's faculty of VGIK (Marlen Khutsiev's class) in 2005 . Directed more than 150 music video's and advertising clips. His feature "Hostages" (2017) was premiered in Berlinale's Panorama and participated in more than 30 international film festivals including Telluride, Edinburgh, Thessaloniki, Shanghai, Haifa, Cairo. Other features: Heat (2005), Love with Accent (2012), No Borders (2015). He lives in Tbilisi Georgia.

Lev Kulidzhanov was born on 19 March 1924 in Tiflis, Georgian SSR, TSFSR, USSR [now Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia]. He was a director and writer, known for When the Trees Were Tall (1962), Nezabudki (1994) and Otchiy dom (1959). He died on 18 February 2002 in Moscow, Russia.