Renowned Georgian filmmaker Eldar Shengelaia has passed away at the age of 92.

Shengelaia was best known for his iconic films Blue Mountains, or An Unbelievable Story, Extraordinary Exhibition, The Eccentrics, and Samanishvili’s Stepmother, which are considered classics in Georgian and Soviet-era cinema.

He was the son of acclaimed director Nikoloz Shengelaia and iconic actress Nato Vachnadze. Eldar Shengelaia studied at the All-Union State Institute of Cinematography [VGIK] in Moscow. He began career at Mosfilm before moving to the Georgian Film Studio, where he co-directed his debut White Caravan [1963] with Tamaz Meliava. The film was selected for the Cannes Film Festival. He later directed Mikela, Step-Mother of Samanishvili, and the cult classics Unusual Exhibition [1968] and Blue Mountains [1983], known for their satirical portrayal of Soviet bureaucracy. His collaboration with playwright Rezo Gabriadze produced some of Georgia’s most beloved comedies.

Shengelaia was honored with numerous awards, including the title of People’s Artist of the USSR (1988), the Shota Rustaveli State Prize (1998), the Honorary Citizenship of Tbilisi (2022), and the St. George’s Golden Order.