Georgian winemaking documentary takes Oenovideo festival prize in France

Filmmaker Alexander Gabunia's art documentary Georgia - The Homeland of Wine was awarded at France's Oenovideo International Grape and Wine Film Festival, as winners of the world's largest cinema event on winemaking were revealed on Sunday.

The feature documentary was honoured with the Science & Culture Prize of the cinematic celebration of wine, with the Cinematic Film-produced work emerging among 15 winning entries from over 140 submitted films.

Gabunia based the documentary on the 2017 international scientific study that saw scientists and historians pore over exhibits from archaeological items from Georgia - including grape seeds and clay vessels - to conclude that wine was being produced on the territory of the country as far back as about 6000 BCE.

Watch a fragment from the documentary 'Georgia - The Homeland of Wine':

In turn, the study has been since used as the basis of a new push for international recognition and promotion of wines from Georgia by state agencies and cultural organisations over the recent years.

Taking its title from promotional events held in countries around the world, Georgia - The Homeland of Wine was produced with support of the National Wine Agency of Georgia.

Gabunia directed the filming in Georgia, the United States, France and Italy, with the final work assessed at the Oenovideo festival by a jury team involving producer Kethrin Lamore, director Emmanuel Mure, France's Cesar Award-winning actor Nicolas Bridet and screenwriter Noel Balane.

The Science & Culture Prize is used at the Oenovideo festival to distinguish cinema projects highlighting cultural and scientific techniques of winemaking heritage.

With the latest award, Georgia - The Homeland of Wine comes in the wake of honours for Georgian producer and author Ketevan Sadghobelashvili and filmmaker Nana Jorjadze who were distinguished at the 2016 edition of the festival for their work.

This year's cinema celebration ran between June 16-18 in Marseille.