Film critic, documentary screenwriter Archil Shubashvili dies at age 69

Archil Shubashvili, a Georgian film critic, documentary screenwriter and author who also enjoyed the status of Honourable Guest at the Berlin International Festival, has died at age 69.

Author of works on cinema theory and history, including his co-authorship of Filmography of Georgian Fiction Cinema, Shubashvili's passing away was communicated on Monday by the Georgian National Film Centre.

Shubashvili worked as part of GNFC commissions for national competitions, while his input also contributed to Georgian Public Broadcaster's documentary films' studio, both as a consultant and a screenwriter.

The cinema scholar started his work at the GPB in the 1990s, presenting programmes on world cinema before moving to the studio to work on documentaries produced by the public service channel. In their homage, the broadcaster said he had continued "active creative work" until recently.

Screenwriting work involved Shubashvili in production of documentaries on historical personalities, including philosopher and academician Shalva Nutsubidze, World War II-era General Shalva Maghlakelidze and philologist Korneli Kekelidze.

He also worked in academia and contributed to the Tbilisi State University Laboratory of Cinema Language and Structure, served on the editorial board of Amarta magazine, and praised by Tbilisi International Film Festival organisers for "major contribution" to the festival's development.