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Valerian Kirkitadze

Profession: Writer, Director, Producer
Profession: Writer, Director, Producer
Country: Georgia

Vako Kirkitadze is a Georgian filmmaker, writer, and producer born in 1989 into a family of artists. His mother, grandparents, and great-grandmother were actors, and his great-greatgrandmother was one of the first Georgian women to perform on stage. But it was his grandfather—an excellent imitator—who sparked Vako’s lifelong passion for cinema.

With no electricity during wartime blackouts, his grandfather powered a 16mm projector using a car battery and screened films for the neighborhood. The projector had no sound, so his grandfather dubbed every character live, shifting voices, tones, and personalities with remarkable flair. Vako grew up watching Bicycle Thieves, The Magnificent Seven, Raj Kapoor films and stories from different genres and cultures, made unforgettable through his grandfather’s performances. In those evenings, surrounded by darkness and community, Vako discovered the emotional power of storytelling. That’s when he knew: he didn’t just want to watch films—he wanted to make them.

He studied film directing at Tbilisi State University. His directorial debut, September—a reflection on war and memory—was nominated for the Student Academy Awards and selected for the official competition at the Montréal World Film Festival.

After a successful run of short films, he continued his studies at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, where he earned his MFA. Following his graduation, Vako founded Film Asylum, now one of Georgia’s leading production companies.

He is the producer of the feature films Winter Blues and Sorrow of Fall, as well as numerous short films including Duck Hunting and Gabana. His credits span branded content, documentaries, and award-winning television series—most notably Bolo Sezoni (Last Season) which he created and showran. More than a sports drama, the series explores themes of class, loyalty, identity, and redemption. It became a cultural phenomenon in Georgia and is now entering its third season in November 2025.

Vako is also the founder of a Georgian film cluster and a member of the Commercial Film Producers of Europe (CFPE). His work is known for its emotional depth, cinematic quality, and its ability to bridge personal storytelling with universal themes.

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