Mikhail Kalatozov (28 December 1903 — 27 March 1973; born Mikheil Kalatozishvili) was a Soviet film director of Georgian origin who contributed to both Georgian and Russian cinema, best known for his films The Cranes Are Flying (1957) and I Am Cuba (1964). The former won the Palme d'Or at the 1958 Cannes Film Festival. In 1969 he was awarded the title of People's Artist of the USSR.

Kalatozov studied economics and held many jobs before beginning a career as an actor and later as a cinematographer. He made several documentaries, including Their Kingdom (1928, together with Nutsa Gogoberidze, the first Georgian woman director) and Salt for Svanetia (1930).

In 1933 Kalatozov entered the Russian State Institute of Performing Arts. Three years later he headed Kartuli Pilmi, then was offered a position in the USSR State Committee for Cinematography. In 1939 he moved to Leningrad to work as a director at Lenfilm. During World War II he made several propaganda films and served as a cultural attaché at the Soviet embassy in the United States.