Rafail Gambarov son of Ali was born in Grozny, Chechnya. During his high school years, he was engaged in the “Pinoers and Schoolmen’s Palace” photography club in Baku. He studied at the All-Union State Institute of Cinematography at the cinematography faculty (1966-1971, L. Kosmatov’s workshop). For several years, he was the director of photography of feature and documentary films at the Samara Newsreel Studio in Russia (1968-1970), and from 1970 at the “Azerbaijanfilm” film studio. In 1970-1995, he worked as a director of photography in 16 feature films and more than 30 documentary films. He acted as a photographer-artist in several films. He is the co-author of the textbook “Photo composition” (2016-2019, together with Amin Novruzov). He taught as the head of the first group of cinematographers in the department of “film director and cinematographer work” at the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts at the “Filmmaking and cinematographer work” department (1987-1991). From 2004 to the present, he is a teacher and associate professor of the “Cinema and Television Arts” department of ADMIU. He was a photographer and department head in “Yurd” magazine (1991-1993). He is the author of numerous photo albums, posters and calendars. Dozens of photo exhibitions have been shown in Azerbaijan and many foreign countries. He worked as the chief adviser of the Press Service of the AR Parlament (1996-2012). Adviser of the Civil Service (2006), Chief Adviser of the Civil Service (2009), awarded with the “Distinction in the Civil Service” medal (2012). He is member of the Board of the Azerbaijan Professional Film Directors Guild, Azerbaijan Cinematographers Union (1978), Advertisers and Designers Union (1996), a founder and member of Azerbaijan Photographers Union (1998), Azerbaijan Artists Union (2011). Rafail Gambarov is a laureate of the USSR State Prize (1981, “Investigation” film), Honored Art Worker (1986), laureate of the “National Cinema Award” and a presidential scholarship holder.

1. https://az.trend.az/azerbaijan/society/1089549.html
2. https://www.salamnews.org/az/news/read/157489
3. https://news.milli.az/culture/273324.html
4. https://medeniyyet.az/page/news/60457/Azerbaycan-cohresi.html?lang=az
5. https://aki.az/ibrahimb%C9%99yovla-ocaqovun-parki/
6. https://aki.az/rafael-q%C9%99mb%C9%99rov-v%C9%99-amin-novruzovun-birg%C9%99-foto-kompozisiyasi/
7. http://kinobiz.az/celebrity/rafail-q%C9%99mb%C9%99rov/

FILMOGRAPHY:

1. 10 minutes about Baku (II) (1970, short documentary film) – director of photography
2. Night talk (1971, short documentary film) – director of photography
3. Citizen passengers (1971, documentary film) – director of photography
4. Cherry tree (1972, short feature film) – director of photography
5. Nariman Narimanov (II) (1972, short documentary film) – director of photography
6. Boys of our street (1973, full length feature film) – director of photography
7. Thousand first tour (1974, full length feature film) – director of photography
8. Towards the volcano (1976-1977, feature series) – director of photography
9. Jubilee of Dante (1978, full length feature film) – director of photography
10. Investigation (1979, full length feature film) – director of photography
11. Strange man(1979, full length feature film) – director of photography
12. Lahij (1980, short documentary film) – director of photography
13. Mud volcanoes of Azerbaijan (1980, short documentary film) – director of photography
14. The game chovgan (1980, short documentary film) – director of photography
15. İcherisheher (1981, short documentary film) – director of photography
16. Closed door (1981, full length feature film) – director of photography
17. Division commander Nakhchyvansky (1982, short documentary film) – director of photography
18. Park (1983, full length feature film) – director of photography
19. Night of rest  (1982, short documentary film) – director of photography
20. Silver lake’s legend (1984, full length feature film) – director of photography
21. Whirlpool (1987, full length feature film) – director of photography
22. If I die… forgive me (1988, full length feature film) – director of photography
23. Istanbul story… (1995, full length feature film) – director of photography
24. Energy of Azerbaijan  (1996, documentary film) – author and  director of photography
25. Prima (1997, short documentary film) – director of photography
26. Life with songs (2008, short documentary film) – director of photography