Classic Georgian animated films restored to return to cinema screens

Classic animated films from Georgia’s cinema history will return to the big screen after decades of languishing in archives, with experts working to restore popular productions in a new project.

The Soviet-era material, from vaults of the Georgian Film studio, are restored and adapted to modern formats under the project Re-Animation, which involves professional assets from the National Archives of Georgia.

Experts are utilising a high definition cinema scanner of the archive to transfer the material into digital format.

Experts are working on colour, picture and sound of the selected productions. Photo: National Archives of Georgia.

They are correcting colour, picture and sound of the productions in the process of making them up-to-date.

Their work will prepare the animated films for screenings at cinema theatres, with the maiden showing to be hosted at the National Archives’ new cinema theatre next month.

Of over 300 productions preserved at Georgian Film, around 20 from 1960-1980 are being worked on within the first phase of the project. These include films based on popular children’s tales of Georgian literature.

Around 20 films have been selected for the first phase of the project, with a screening planned next month. Photo: National Archives of Georgia.

Georgia’s filmmaking scene produced a range of popular animated productions during the Soviet decades, starting with the 1935 film Argonauts.

Children’s classic tales, as well as plots on more modern settings, served as basis for the films before their production and screening was curtailed by economic and political crisis in Georgia following the dissolution of the USSR.

The project for bringing back to the screen the animated films comes in the year of celebrating the 110th anniversary of Georgian cinema across the country.