Upon returning from the research expedition in 1954, Tarkovsky applied at the State Institute of Cinematography (VGIK) and was admitted to the film-directing program.
əpˌɑːn ɹᵻtˈɜːnɪŋ fɹʌmðə ɹᵻsˈɜːtʃ ˌɛkspədˈɪʃən ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti fˈoːɹ, tɑːɹkˈɑːvski ɐplˈaɪd æt ðə stˈeɪt ˈɪnstɪtˌuːt ʌv sˌɪnɪmɐtˈɑːɡɹəfi vˈiːdʒˈɪk ænd wʌz ɐdmˈɪɾᵻd tə ðə fˈɪlmdᵻɹˈɛktɪŋ pɹˈoʊɡɹæm.