- 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.
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