Nato Gengiuri

Nato Gengiuri holds a PhD in Art History and is Professor of Art History at Shota Rustaveli Theatre and Film Georgia State University. She is the founder, Editor-in-Chief, and publisher of the International Journal of Arts and Media Researches, as well as the founder, permanent organiser, and academic director of the annual International Conference of Art Researchers.

She graduated in Art History from Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University. In 2004, she defended her doctoral dissertation at the G. Chubinashvili Institute of Georgian Art History of the Georgian Academy of Sciences (now the George Chubinashvili National Research Centre for Georgian Art History and Heritage Preservation) and was awarded a PhD in Art History.

At Shota Rustaveli Theatre and Film Georgia State University, she heads the Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral programmes in Art History. She is actively engaged in the academic supervision of emerging scholars and has supervised successfully defended doctoral dissertations.

Her principal research field is the history of Georgian architecture, with particular emphasis on medieval ecclesiastical architecture, Christian art, architectural symbolism, cultural heritage, and nineteenth- and twentieth-century architecture, including the architecture of the Soviet period. Her research pays particular attention to the interrelationship between historical and cultural context, architectural form, and Christian symbolism.

She is the author of a monograph, textbooks, and more than sixty scholarly publications, and has also served as author and editor of a number of academic publications. Her research has appeared in Georgian and international scholarly publications, and she has presented papers at numerous international academic conferences.

Gengiuri has been awarded scholarships by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) on several occasions and has conducted research at universities in Germany, including the Institutes of Art History at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Goethe University Frankfurt, Humboldt University of Berlin, and the Free University of Berlin. In 2025, she was selected for the international Culture Moves Europe programme. Her research undertaken within the framework of the programme focuses on contemporary sustainable architecture and forms part of her broader scholarly engagement with contemporary architectural processes.

In 2008, on her initiative, an annual academic conference for art researchers was established at Shota Rustaveli Theatre and Film Georgia State University. She has remained its permanent organiser and academic director. The conference acquired international status in 2020 and has since been held as the International Conference of Art Researchers. In the same year, 2008, she also initiated the annual academic conference for Bachelor’s and Master’s students, which has been held continuously ever since.

The scholarly publication series associated with the International Conference of Art Researchers subsequently developed into the International Journal of Arts and Media Researches (published under the title 20th Century Art until 2021), of which Gengiuri is the founder and Editor-in-Chief. Under her leadership, the Journal has been progressively developing its editorial and peer-review standards in line with international academic publishing practices, expanding international scholarly cooperation, and working towards inclusion in international academic indexes and databases.

Christian Freigang

Professor in History of Art and Architecture at Freie Universität Berlin. Studies in History of Art and Classicical Archaeology at Munich, Bonn, and Berlin (Freie Universität); 1987-1991 Assis- tant teacher at the Ecole d’Architecture in Geneva; 1990 PhD on Gothic architecture in Southern France; 1991-1999 Lecturer at Göttingen University; 1999 Habilitation (subject: Auguste Perret and architectural debates in France 1900-1930); 2002- 2012 Professor in History of Art and Architecture at Frankfort University; since 2012: Professor in History of Art and Architecture at Freie Universität Berlin. Research domains: History and Theory of Architecture, especially 12th – 16th and 19th – 20th cent.

Zviad Dolidze

Film historian, Doctor in Art Criticism (Film Studies), Doctor in Historical Sciences, full professor of the Shota Rustaveli Theatre and Film Georgia State University, dean of Art Sciences, Media and Management Faculty.
His professional works are the six books (textbooks and monographs), research projects and co-authorship in collections about world and Georgian cinema. He was a participant of the sci- entist projects, international and local conferences, a jury member of several international film festivals, an author of more than forty articles published in Georgia and abroad. He is a member of the Georgian Film Academy, executive director of Association “Cinerama”, founder and director of the Abasha (Georgia) International Children and Youth Film Festival.

Lela Ochiauri

Theatre and Film Critic; PhD in Art Studies; Full Professor at SHOTA RUSTAVELI THEATRE AND FILM GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY; Member of A.I.C.T. (Internationale Association of Theatre Critics); Board and Recommendation Council group member of TBILISI INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL of THEATRE; Member of the Nationale Theatres Recommendation Board Existing with the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia.
Author of the texts for the books: Gogi Ochiauri, Litera, 2008; LOUIS –Decoupage, Otar Ioseliani, Centaur, 2012; The Sculpture and Art of Gogi Ochiauri; Nova Sciaence Publishers, Inc. New York, 2011. Author of the book “Contemporary Georgian Movie”, Centaur, Publishing Program of Ministery of Education, Scaience, Culture and Sport of Georgia, 2018. Co-author of the book and Co-author of several scientific collections and the author of tens of scientific articles and publications. Editor and reviewer of tens of books, text-books, journals, scientific collections and publications. Participant of tens of conferences, symposiums, projects.

Andronika Màrtonova

Prof. PhD Andronika Màrtonova is a Deputy Director of Institute of Art Studies, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, staff researcher at Screen Art Dep. She is a film critic and university`s educator in Asian cinema. Author of two monographs and numerous publications on the field of Asian and Bulgarian film cultures. Guest-lecturer at the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts and at Sofia University.

Giorgi Tskitishvili

Theatre Critic. PhD in Art Study (Theatre Study) , The Professor at Shota Rustaveli Theatre and Film Georgia State University. From 2017 till now Director of Dimitri Janelidze Scientific-Research Institute of Shota Rustaveli Theater and Film Georgia State University He is the author of up to 100 magazine or newspaper publications. Among them are scientific works, reviews on performances, theoretical articles on the ongoing processes in contemporary Georgian theater, the letters on the creativity of individual dramatists, directors or actors. These publications have been published in periodic editions since 1985: newspapers: “Theater and Cinema”, “Georgian Theater Day”, “Literary Georgia”, “New Generation”, “Iveria-Express”, “Duruji”, “Droni”; Magazines: “Art”, “Theater and Life”, “luminous”.
gtskitishvili@tafu.edu.ge

Marina (Maka) Vasadze

The Doctor of Art Study, The Associate Professor at Shota Rustaveli Theatre and Film Georgia State University. Theatre Critic, secretuary of the International Association of the Theatre Critics of Georgian Section (IATC-AICT). The head of Publishing House “Kentavri” at Shota Rustaveli Theatre and Film Georgian State University. Premiums: Young Researchers’ International contest of Soviet Union (was held in the City, Leningrad, Peterburg). First place with work «Б. Брехт в творчестве Р. Стуруа»; (B. Brecht in the work of Robert Sturua) 1986; Shota Rustaveli State Drama Theatre’s Honorary Deed (Diploma) and gifts ( records of R. Sturua’s performances, DVD format) for Mass media support (newspapers: “Culture”, “Duruji”, Journal: “Art Science Studies”) 2005. Acquired grants: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2011, 2018, 2020 years: Fund “Open Society Georgia”, The Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection of Georgia, Georgian National Film Centre, Municipal department of Culture, Education, Sport and Youth Affairs. Since 1982 till now published – Articles and reviews in journals: “Soviet Art”, “Art”, “Theatrical Informer”, “Theatre and Life”, “Concept”, In Internet Journal, Critical Stages. issue 21. 2020 and etc. The author, editor, compiler-editor, member of editorial board of several books.

Tamar Chkheidze

Musicologist, PhD in Art studies, Associated Professor, Head of the Church Music Department at V. Sarajishvili Tbilisi State Conservatoire (TSC). She teaches the musical theoretical disciplines (Harmony, form analizing) and different study courses of Georgian traditional music. Her scientific interests are connected with the research of Medieval Georgian professional music (ecclesiastical chant) problems (form, texture and harmony, musical writing, interrelation of liturgical and musical aspects). She had published over 40 scientific works, articles for musical encyclopedia and musical-liturgical dictionaries; Is coautor of the “The dictionary of chanting terms”, two textbooks. She participates in national and international symposiums, conferences. Her research was supported by DAAD (2014), Georgian President’s Scholarship (2000-2003). She is involved in different scientific and interinstitutional projects. She is a member of the Creative Union of Georgian Composers and musicologist; 2005-2012 deputy head, since 2013 Head of the Quality Assurance department at TSC.

Revaz Chichinadze

Ph.D. in Social Sciences. Associative professor Media and Mass Communication Shota Rustaveli Theatre and Film Georgia State University. Has been twice (as a TV host, as a TV producer), awarded with the International Journalistic Award “Golden Wing”. Author, producer, host of numerous TV projects. Author of numerous studies articles and publications in the field of journalism and media research. He is engaged in pedagogical and scientific activities at various universities. Gives lectures in the disciplines: “Information Journalism”, “TV Reporting”, “Interview Technology”, “Coverage of Policy Issues”, Forms of Propaganda in the Media, “Convergence Journalism” etc. Is a participant and speaker at numerous local and international scientific conferences.

Irene Giviashvili

Doctor of Art History. Freelancer at Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz – Max-Planck-Institut, Field of research: Medieval art, art and architecture of Georgia, Armenia, Turkey, also Soviet art and Architecture.
She is co-author of three books and more than 20 academic papers.

Armando Rotondi

Armando Rotondi is an academic, theatre scholar, writer, dramaturg, and performance practitioner whose work bridges artistic practice and academic research. He is currently Full Professor in Performance Theory and has led for almost a decade the MA Acting and the MA Creative Performance Practice at the Institute of the Arts Barcelona (IAB). He is also Professor in Performing Arts Management at the International University of Catalonia.

Rotondi holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Naples Federico II, a Master’s degree from Sapienza University of Rome, and a PhD from University of Strathclyde, where he specialised in translation and adaptation for theatre, film, and performance. He has also obtained three Italian university habilitations, including the qualification for Full Professorship in Performing Arts, Theatre, Film, Music, and Audiovisual Studies. Throughout his academic career, Rotondi has taught and conducted research at universities and institutions across Europe, including in the United Kingdom, Italy, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia. His scholarly interests encompass theatre and performance studies, comparative literature, cultural studies, translation, adaptation, and contemporary dramaturgy.

He has authored and edited more than ten books, published over sixty peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, and presented extensively at international conferences worldwide. Beyond academia, Rotondi is an active cultural manager and European project developer. He has been involved in numerous international research and artistic initiatives, including the Creative Europe project Make a Move, which focused on supporting independent theatre and artistic incubation across Europe. He has also contributed to interdisciplinary projects exploring the relationship between technology and performance, including innovative work involving robotics, digital performance, and immersive storytelling. As a theatre practitioner, Rotondi works as a playwright, dramaturg, director, performer, and storyteller. His artistic collaborations include internationally recognised artists and companies. His creative work spans political theatre, devised performance, digital and online theatre, transmedia storytelling, immersive experiences, and experimental performance formats.

Rotondi is also deeply engaged in international scholarly networks. He serves on the Editorial Board of the European Journal of Theatre and Performance (European Association for the Study of Theatre and Performance and University of Groningen Press).