VGIK (1919 – present)

How does the Gerasimov institute operate now?

The Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography, meaning All-Russian State University of Cinematography named after S. A. Gerasimov, aka VGIK, is a film school in Moscow, Russia. VGIK, along with the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague and The American Film Institute, competes for the title of being the oldest film school in the world. From 1934 to 1991 the film school was known as the All-Union State Institute of Cinematography. Since 1986 the school has been named after the film director and actor Sergei Gerasimov.