Jigjidsuren Gombojav

Jigjidsüren Gombojav (Mongolian: Гомбожавын Жигжидсүрэн) is a Mongolian film director and screenwriter. His films include The First Steps (Анхны Алхам), The Legend of Mother Oasis (Эх Бүрдийн Домог) (1975), Khatan-Bator (Хатанбаатар) (1981), Tears of the Rock Monument (Хүн Чулууны Нулимс) (1990), Warm Ashes (Бүлээн Нурам) (1991), and Traces of Existence (Амин Мөр) (1992). He was awarded the highest honor in Mongolia for artists, the People's Artist of Mongolia, in 2007 for his documentary film about the poet D. Natsagdorj.

Life Jigjidsüren Gombojav was born in a place called Uzuur-Shand in today's Bayanjargalan sum of Töv Province of Mongolia, to a Khiyad-Borjigin aristocratic Khalkha Mongol family from what is then known as Darhan Zasag banner from Tüsheet Khan aimag, and was brought up in Ulaanbaatar, which was under the jurisdiction of the same banner. After graduating from high school in Ulaanbaatar, Jigjidsüren worked as an assistant director in the "Mongol Kino" studio under the supervision of the directors Jigjid Dejid and Chimed-Osor Dendev. In 1962 he was admitted to the State Institute of Cinematography (a.k.a. VGIK, now the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography). He studied film directing under Lev Kuleshov and screenwriting under Aleksei Kapler.

Career After graduating from the State Institute of Cinematography, Jigjidsüren returned to the "Mongol Kino" film studio to be hired as a film director. He co-directed the film with Buntar Jamyan. Khatan-bator, the drama Jigjidsüren directed and co-wrote with S.Udval, was included in the competition program of the Moscow International Film Festival in 1981. His directorial work Prologue of the Undeclared War was included in the competition program of the Moscow International Film Festival in 1985. Jigjidsüren worked as a film director and artistic director at the "Mongol Kino" film studio until 1992. Since then he has produced several feature films under his private film studio "Hiimori-Film". From 1996 he worked as the programming director at the Mongolian National Television (now Mongolian National Broadcaster) and also served on its executive committee. He co-wrote with his spouse "The Encyclopedia of Mongolian Cinema" in 2005. The encyclopedia includes chronicles and descriptions of films made in Mongolia from 1935 to 2000, and is considered to be the only comprehensive reference on Mongolian cinema. He also wrote a biographical and historical account of Mongolian cinema in his book "55:25 The Kids of Shadow Art". In addition to activities in cinema and television, since the 1980s Jigjidsüren taught at higher education institutions in Mongolia, including the University of Culture and Arts, and the Institute of Cinematography of Mongolia.

Filmography Year English title Original title Role Country Notes 1970 The First Steps Анхны Алхам Director Mongolian People's RepublicStudent film 1972 The Beginning Эхлэлт Director Mongolian People's Republic 1973 The Gem of the Gobi Говийн Нүдэн Director, Co-screenwriter Mongolian People's Republic 1975 The Legend of Mother Oasis Эх Бүрдийн Домог Co-director Mongolian People's Republic 1976 Human Life Хүний Амь Director, Co-screenwriter Mongolian People's Republic 1978 Stupa Blue Mountains Сувраган Цэнхэр Уулс Director, Co-screenwriter Mongolian People's Republic 1981 Khatan-bator (Khatanbaatar) Хатанбаатар Director, Co-screenwriter Mongolian People's Republic 1981 The People's Khatan-bator Ардын Хатанбаатар Director, Co-screenwriter Mongolian People's Republic 1983 Sun's Foal Нарны Унага Director, Co-screenwriter Mongolian People's Republic 1984 The Prologue of the Undeclared War Зарлаагүй Дайны Оршил Director Mongolian People's Republic 1985 Petition To the Front Фронтод Явах Өргөдөл Director Mongolian People's Republic 1986 Tree Sprouted in Autumn Намар Нахиалсан Мод Director, Co-screenwriter Mongolian People's Republic 1989 Golden Falcon Алтан Шонхор Director, Co-screenwriter Mongolian People's Republic 1990 Tears of the Rock Monument Хүн Чулууны Нулимс Director Mongolian People's Republic 1991 Warm Ashes Бүлээн Нурам Director Mongolian People's Republic 1992 The Traces of Existence Амин Мөр Director Mongolian People's Republic 1992 Beast Араатан Director Mongolian People's Republic 1992 Vengeance Өс Хонзон Director Mongolia, China 1995 White Foal in the Dreams Зүүдний Цагаан Унага Director, Co-screenwriter Mongolia 1996 The Bank's Ruin Банкны Сүйрэл Director, Co-screenwriter Mongolia 1997 The Descendant of the Great Khaan Их Хааны Удам Director, Co-screenwriter Mongolia 2000 The Legend of the White Milk Цагаан Сүүний Домог Director Mongolia