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Biography

Yuri Zhelyabuzhsky was born on December 12, 1888, in Moscow. His mother, Maria Fedorovna Andreeva, was an actress at the Moscow Art Theatre and the companion of Maxim Gorky. From 1913 to 1916, he studied in the naval construction department of the Petrograd Polytechnic Institute (Saint Petersburg) and simultaneously worked for various newspapers as an interpreter and literary correspondent. Beginning in 1916, he worked at the Keneke and Martynov film laboratory and wrote screenplays. He was one of the founders of Mezhrabpom-Rus, where he worked as a cameraman, screenwriter, and director. He was also among the first teachers and organizers of the Goskinochkola film school (the precursor to VGIK). He served as director of VGIK in 1941 and 1942, having held the chair of cameraman training there in 1940. Yuri Zhelyabuzhsky also oversaw the creation of the first Soviet animated films and the first scientific documentaries. He wrote several books on cinema, particularly on the cinematic image. He died on April 18, 1955 in Moscow.

 

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Commentaries

- «Московский текст» в отечественных фильмах 1920-1940-х годов [Moscou dans le cinéma russe des années 1920-1940] Н.А. БОЯРШИНОВА, 2025, journals.eco-vector.com

- Dix grands films soviétiques des années 1920 (Vidéos) Eleonora GOLDMAN, 2023, RUSSIA BEYOND

- Dossier de presse : La Vendeuse de Cigarettes du Mosselprom De Iouri Jeliaboujski 2007, La Cinémathèque de Toulouse, kinoglaz.fr

- Les origines du cinéma soviétique : un regard neuf , Myriam TSIKOUNAS, 1992, Cerf

- Юрий Желябужский : страницы жизни и творчества , Romil SOBOLEV, 1963, Искусство

 

 

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Photos, videos, texts

©Gosfilmofond / Cinémathèque de Toulouse