David (Dato) Janelidze was born on April 4, 1985 in Georgia. In 1981, he graduated from Shota Rustaveli Theatrical Institute (now Shota Rustaveli Theatre and Film Georgia State University) where he studied filmmaking under Eldar Shengalaia. He was awarded prizes at the All Union Film Festival in 1986, Mannheim Film Festival (a grand prize) in 1987 and Montpellier Film Festival (grand prize) in 1991. David Janelidze is a founder and director of Tbilisi Student Film Festival and he teaches at Shota Rustaveli Theatre and Film Georgia State University. He is also a member of the Board of the Union of Cinematographers of Georgia.