ट्रिविया

Taught at the legendary Russian film school VGIK; his most famous student was the genius Sergei Parajanov the best friend of Mikhail Vartanov who was also educated at VGIK

Biography in: John Wakeman, editor. "World Film Directors, Volume One, 1890-1945". Pages 260-265. New York: The H.W. Wilson Company, 1987.

His family were farmers.

Attended the Teacher's Institute for four years and the Commercial Institute for three years, prior to World War I.

Worked in the Soviet embassies in Warsaw and Berlin following the Russian Revolution.

Studied painting before turning his attention to cinema in 1926.