# Yerevan State Institute of Theatre and Cinematography

The Yerevan State Theatre and Film Institute (YSTFI; Armenian: Երևանի թատրոնի և կինոյի պետական ինստիտուտ) is a state university and higher education institution based in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia.
The university was founded in 1944 as the Yerevan State Institute of Theatrical Arts. In 1953, it was united with the State Academy of Fine Arts of Armenia and functioned as a part of the Yerevan State Institute of Art and Theater until 1994. In 1994 the Yerevan State Institute of Art and Theater was divided into the State Academy of Fine Arts and Yerevan State Institute of Theater. The institute became independent and is now the Yerevan State Theatre and Film Institute.

## History

Theater in Armenia has a centuries-old history and dates back to pagan rituals, for example, worship of death and resurrection of God Gisane – Ara the Beautiful and celebration of coming of spring in honor of fertility and healing goddess Anahit. Armenian tragedy dzajnarku-gusan and vohbergak, comedy genre katakergak and kataka-gusan, known from 1 century b.c., served as a base for further development of professional theater.
The institute was established in 1944, as the Yerevan State Institute of Theatrical Arts. The institute had three departments:
* acting skill
* directing
* drama studies
From 1950 the number of enrollees had been declining (because of the WWII). Due to that the government decided to merge two institutes - the Yerevan State Institute of Theatrical Arts and the State Academy of Fine Arts of Armenia. As a result, in 1953 the new institute was formed and was named the Yerevan State Institute of Art and Theater until 1994.
In 1994 after Armenian independence and due to political changes, the government decided to split the institute into two separate institutions – the State Academy of Fine Arts of Armenia and the Yerevan State Institute of Theater.
In 1999, the institute was restructured and became known as the Yerevan State Theatre and Film Institute, with a major expansion in its specialties.

## Specialties

The university has 12 main specialties:
* Acting: actor or actress in drama or musical theater, pantomime, puppetry, television and circus.
* Stage direction: theater director, film director
* Dance
* Cinematography: film director, director of documentaries, animation film director, filmmaker, TV director, sound engineer
* Drama studies
* Film studies
* Literature
* Operator
* Visual arts: scenography, art director, multiplication
* Socio-cultural work (art management)
* Digital art, computer architecture
* Costume design
* and several minor specialties

## Faculties

The university is currently home to 3 faculties:
* Faculty of Theatre
* Faculty of Cinema, TV and Animation
* Faculty of Art History, Theory and Management (Arts administration)

### Faculty of Theatre

Department was opened in 2011 as a result of restructuration of the faculty of theater and cinematography. Specialties:
* Drama theater actor
* Musical theater actor
* Pantomime actor
* Puppeteer
* Actor of mass events
* Host
* Director of drama theater
* Director of musical theater
* Director of mass events
* Director of puppetry

#### Chairs

* Acting and directing
* Stage Movement and Vocal Training

### Faculty of Cinema, TV and Animation

Faculty was founded in 2011. Fields:
* Cinematography
* Camera operator
* Painting
Specialties:
* Film director
* Director of documentary films
* TV director
* Sound engineer
* Camera operator
* Scene decorator
* Set decorator
* Costume design
The faculty consists of two chairs:
* Cinematography and television
* Fine Arts and Animation

#### Cinematography and television chair

It was established in 2001, after restructuration in 2011 became known as chair of Cinematography and television. Specialties:
* Film director
* Director of documentary films
* Director of animated films
* TV director
* Advertising director and director of video clips
* Sound engineer
* Camera operator

#### Fine Arts and Animation chair

Chair was founded in 2011. Specialties:
* Scenography
* Set decorator
* Animator

### Faculty of Art History, Theory and Management (arts administration)

Faculty was founded in 2011. It consists of the following chairs:
* Art History and Theory
* Art Management and Cultural Policy
* Social sciences
Specialties:
* Drama studies
* Film studies
* Literature
* Socio-cultural work (art administration)

#### Art History and Theory chair

Chair covers several areas of art studies:
* Theater
* Cinematography
* History of fine arts and music
* Literature
Specialties:
* Drama studies
* Film studies (master program)
* Literature (bachelor program)
* Acting
* Directing
* Choreographer
* Camera operator
* Socio-cultural work
* Scenography

#### Art Management and Cultural Policy Chair

Chair was established in 2011 and combined chair of socio-cultural management, that was founded in 2003. Specialties:
* Art administration
* History of advertisement
* PR
* Marketing
* Economics
* Ecological studies
* Jurisprudence
* Sociology of art
* History of theatre
* Administration and communication

#### Social sciences chair

Chair was established in 1944. Academic program includes following subjects:
* History of Armenian literature
* History of Russian literature
* Armenian language
* Russian language
* Foreign language
* Philosophy
* Mythology
* Literary theory
* Linguistics
* History of religions
* Psychology of art
* Culturology
* Rituals
In 2014, the part-time faculty was founded for distance education with the specialties of Choreography Directing, Cinematographic Art and Sociocultural Activity.

## Educational programs

As of 2015, 795 students are enrolled in the head university and 214 students in the branches. The university has two options of educational process for two-level degree (bachelor and master, 4 and 2 years accordingly):
* full-time
* extramural.
There are also postgraduate studies (full-time and extramural).
The institute collaborates with several international universities. Students participate in state and international art competitions, festivals and often become laureates and prize-winners.
Since 1961 international students including Armenians from the diaspora (from Russia, United States, Georgia, Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Jordan, Bulgaria, etc.) enroll at the university.
The educational process is organized in specialized auditoriums, workshops, pavilions, cinema and video halls. There are 225 places in student theater. This is repertory theater, that operates all year round. The institutes hold a rich collection of more than 40,000 specialized books in its library, as well as films and videos. The institute publishes a monthly journal Handes (Armenian: «Հանդես») that includes scientific and methodological articles of professors and students.

## Branches

The institute has branches in three cities of the Republic:
* Gyumri
* Vanadzor
* Goris

### The Institute in Gyumri

The Gyumri Branch was founded by the governmental decision No.231 in 1997. It is the only higher educational institution in the field of theater working in the Shirak Province.
Educational process is held on the following specialties:
* acting (actor in drama theatre and cinema)
* director of drama theater
* TV director
* camera operator (cinema operator)
* choreography
* scenography (set decorator)
Around 110 students are studying in the university (both full-time and extramural). Since 2007–2008 academic year the university provides two-stage educational programs – bachelor's and master's degree. The university implemented academic credit system. Educational process is organized based on plans and programs approved by the head university and in compliance with the up-to-date regulations.
Chairs:
* Acting and directing
* Cinematography
* Art history
* Social sciences
Substantial part of educational process is student theater. The institute hold specialized competitions – scenic speech, singing, dance, “best duet acting”, “best directing work”, “best photography.” After completing courses students find jobs in Gyumri Drama Theater named after V. Ajemian, Gyumri Puppetry Theater named after S. Alikhanian, tele and radio companies. Many students continue their education in post-graduate programs. There is a preparatory department.

### The Institute in Vanadzor

The Vanadzor Branch was founded by the governmental decision No.1283 in 2003. Specialties:
* Acting – 6 students
* Directing – 6 students
In the 2005–2006 academic year, the department of cinematography was opened. In 2008–2009, the departments of choreography and camera operator, in 2010–2011, art administration and in 2011-2012 masters programs in the fields of acting, directing and cinematography were opened.
By 2012, 55 students and in 2012 – 16 students have graduated from the institute. Currently 78 students are enrolled in the university.

### The Institute in Goris

The Goris branch was founded by the governmental decision No.547 in 2004. In 2007 the institute was registered.
Educational process is held on the following specialties:
* Acting
* Directing
* Choreography
* Camera operator.
First application process was held only at the acting department. In 2004–2005 academic year 10 students enrolled in the institute, 2005-2006 – 9 students, 2006-2007 – 5 students, 2007-2008 – 8 students, 2008-2009 – 4 students, 2009-2010 – 7 students, 2010-2011 – 4 students, 2011-2012 – 12 students. Now 25 students are studying in the institute.
The following performances were stages as final works:
* Christmas at the Cupiello's House – Eduardo De Filippo
* Hello Out There!, The Ping-Pong Players, The Hungerers - William Saroyan
* The Miracle Child – Z. Khalatyan
* Midnight robber – M. Mitrovich
* Listen to the tsar, Master and Servant, A Cat and A Dog that were based on the fairy-tales written by Hovannes Tumanyan
* Foreign Fiance, When There is no Eyes in the House - Aramashot Papayan
* The Colonel Bird – Hristo Boychev
At the theater festival in Lori, students of the university took prizes in following categories:
* Best ensemble
* Best young actor
* Best young actress

## Rectorate and academic staff

Academic staff of the university includes best artists of the Republic, who are known not only in the country but even far beyond – popular artists, laureates of international contests, State Prizes in addition to 39 professors, 38 docents, 102 lecturers and teachers.

### Rectors

* Vavik Vartanian (1949-1952)
* Ara Sargsian (1953-1959)
* Martin Zarian (1959-19(?))
* Vaagn Mkrtchian (19(?)-1994)
* Vahe Shahverdian (1994-1997)
* Sos Sargsyan (1997-2005)
* Hrachya Gasparian (2005-2010)
* Armen Mazmanyan (2010-2014)
* David Muradian (2014–2018)
* Lilit Arzumanyan (2018-2023)
* Sara Nalbandyan (2023- present)

### Academic staff and famous alumnus

Over the years several well-known artists taught in the university or some of the alumnus became prominent artists including Victor Abajian, Khoren Abrahamyan, Vagharsh Vagharshian, Armen Gulakian, Aleksey Djivelegov, Vahram Zaryan, Karen Kocharyan, Henrik Malyan, Yervand Manaryan, Gudj Manukyan, Frunzik Mkrtchyan, Vladimir Msryan, Edvard Muradyan, Nerses Hovhannisyan, Michael Poghosyan, Sabir Rizaev, Metaksia Simonyan, Tigran Shamirhanyan, Arthur Elbakyan and Edgar Elbakyan.