Vasil Amashukeli, the first Georgian cameraman-director was born on March 14, 1886 in Kutaisi. In 1900, he started studying fine arts at V. Balanchivadze’s Art School. From 1907, he worked as a cinema mechanic in Baku’s film studio where he also made some short documentaries, thus becoming a pioneer of Georgian documentary cinematography. In 1908, he completed the courses in filmmaking at Gaumont Film Company in Moscow. Vasil Amashukeli’s style of documentary filmmaking is characterized by realism, social focus and artistic truth. In 1908, while working in Baku, he made the following films: “qartuli scenis mogvatseni” (Georgian Stage Performers), “gunibis polkis aglumi kapitan s.esadzis metaurobit” (Gunibi Regiment’s Parade Headed by Kaptain S.Esadze), “navtobis chaburgilebze mushaoba” (Oil Extraction), “kvanakhshiris gadazidva aqlemebit” (Transportation of Coal by Camels) etc. In 1908-1911, he made the following films:”nakhet tqveni sakhe,” 1908 (See your Face), “gaseirneba zgvis sanapiroze”, 1908 (Seaside Walk), “kutaisis peizajebi”, 1911 (Landscapes of Kutaisi), “kutaisis parki”, 1911 (Kutaisi Park), “kutaisis sazogadoeba bagratis tazris nangrevebtan” (Kutaisi Society at Bagrati Cathedral’s Ruins), “ferma sofel chomashi” (Farm in Choma), “lado aleksi-meskhishvili’s iubile” (Anniversary of Lado Aleksi-Meskhishvili), etc. Vasil Amashukeli’s full-length documentary Journey of Akaki is a unique piece in Georgian documentary cinema art. It paved the way for documentary filmmaking. Shooting of the film took 12 days. Vasil Amashukeli walked more than 200 km with a 40 kg camera on foot together with Akaki Tsereteli. It was premiered on September 20, 1912 in Kutaisi. In 1974, he was awarded honorary title of People’s Artist of Georgia. In last year of his life, 1977, he participated in the shooting of Lia Eliava’s film Cinema as a consultant. Vasil Amashukeli died on December 1, 1977.