New animation by prized director Ana Chubinidze screening at Annecy Festival

Franzy's Soup-Kitchen, the latest animation film from the award-winning director Ana Chubinidze, is screening at Annecy Festival, the leading international event for animated cinema.

The new short from the filmmaker, who has been awarded by Montreal and Sharjah children's film festivals for her previous work, is in the official selection of the French celebration of animated works.

With the French-Georgian co-production, Chubinidze brings the story of an alien chef, whose soup recipe makes magic happen when she shares the dish with other creatures.

One day [Franzy] decided to visit the earth. There she met many poor and hungry people. She wanted to help. Back on the star she took all her food and brought it to the earth [...] [where] Franzy’s soup-kitchen was free for everyone

- Synopsis for the work

It follows a 32-page illustrated book released in Georgia by Virgam Virtual Publishers in 2015, which features the characters of the production in a still form, and is voiced by Sesili Tsetskhaldze, Giorgi Murghulia and Lika Sas.

The film has been produced with screenplay, graphics and storyboard by Chubinidze and animation by Chaïtane Conversat, Loreleï Palies, Sophie Roze and Iula Voitova. The short also involves a musical score by Erekle Gestadze and Zviad Mgebry, while sound comes via Beso Kacharava, George Murgulia, Biko Gogaladze, Giorgi Lekishvili and Alexander Sanikidze.

It also comes following prizes awarded to the filmmaker by international festivals for The Pocket Man, her previous work, in 2017. Beside Montreal and Sharjah cinema events, it also received acclaim at the Countryside Animafest Cyprus, where it earned the Best Children's Film prize.

This year's Annecy Festival is running through June 18, with the programme available on the official website.