France's winemaking-oriented Oenovideo film festival awarded its prize-winners this week, with a Georgian art documentary on the country's heritage and culture in the field among those singled out for awards.
Organisers hosted the formal awards ceremony in Paris to honour the winners first unveiled in June, with Georgia - The Homeland of Wine, a work by Alexander Gabunia among those.
To collect the Science & Culture Prize for Gabunia's film, David Tkemaladze, Deputy Chairman of the National Wine Agency of Georgia and author of the idea and co-producer for the film, was on the stage.
Accepted by Tkemaladze, the Science & Culture Prize is used at the Oenovideo festival to distinguish cinema projects highlighting cultural and scientific techniques of winemaking heritage.
Produced at Cinemani Films, Gabunia's work is centred around a 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.
The conclusion has been used by state wine agencies and cultural organisations in Georgia over the recent years for presenting the country as the cradle for winemaking.
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 award marks the latest success for Georgian filmmakers at the Oenovideo festival, with Georgian producer and author Ketevan Sadghobelashvili and filmmaker Nana Jorjadze distinguished at the 2016 edition of the festival for their work.