Ruling party honorary chair Ivanishvili, his wife saddened by passing of acclaimed film director Shengelaia

Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder and honorary chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party and his wife Ekaterine Khvedelidze have expressed “deep sorrow” over the death of acclaimed Georgian film director Eldar Shengelaia, who passed away at the age of 92.

In a public statement, the Ivanishvilis paid tribute to Shengelaia’s enduring legacy, calling him a "legendary Georgian director" whose work "enriched and diversified Georgian art" and left an "indelible mark on the hearts and minds of the Georgian people."

“Eldar Shengelaia’s death is a great loss not only for Georgian cinema but for the entire nation,” the statement reads. “We extend our sincere condolences and sympathy to the family, friends, colleagues of this great director, and to the entire Georgian public.”

Shengelaia, whose career spanned decades, is remembered for his artistic contributions to Georgian cinema, with a body of work that reflected the cultural and social fabric of the country. His films, known for their originality and poignancy, earned him national admiration and international recognition.