Mariam Kapanadze’s ‘Abandoned Village’ wins Grand Prix at Tbilisi International Animation Festival
The history of Georgian animation dates back to the 30s of the 20th century and at various stages of development it has offered memorable stories to audiences, some of which had been created under the influence of national motifs, using literary works, folklore or choreographic elements. Photo: Ministry of culture, sport and youth of Georgia/Facebook
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The international jury named Georgian director Mariam Kapanadze’s animation film Abandoned Village as the Grand Prix winner of the Tbilisi International Animation Festival on Sunday, while awarding student animation directors, including four Georgians, in various nominations.
The festival, held with the support of the Georgian culture ministry and the National Film Center, opened on Wednesday at the Amirani cinema with the French animated film Shooom’s Odyssey and closed on Sunday with the screening of Titina directed by the Oscar-winning Norwegian studio.
Georgia hosted the festival for the fifth time with an “updated” and “more diverse” programme, which was applied by a record number of applicants, at the first stage of the festival - more than 2500 from 100 countries, out of which 187 full-length and short films from 46 countries have been selected to be shown on 18 competitive and non-competitive programmes, the culture ministry said.
Scene from Mariam Kapanadze's animation film 'Abandoned Village'. Photo: Screenshot from Georgian National Film Centre video on animation
In addition to the programmes, the main target audience of the festival, minors, had an opportunity to see the world-recognised classics, be acquainted with animated works from different countries and attend international director’s master classes.
The ministry said the festival aimed to present international and local achievements of contemporary animation art and other related audio/visual art forms, popularise this “unique” field and promote its development in Georgia, and noted that it has been the “only way” for audiences of any age to get acquainted with modern, new animated films.
The history of Georgian animation dates back to the 30s of the 20th century and at various stages of development it has offered memorable stories to audiences, some of which had been created under the influence of national motifs, using literary works, folklore or choreographic elements.
Animation director Mariam Kapanadze will be featured in competition at the upcoming Annecy Festival, a recognised international event for animated cinema, after her work 'Abandoned Village' was selected for screenings in one of the festival's programmes.
Animated short Abandoned Village by film director Mariam Kapanadze is screening at the Paris International Animation Film Festival and the Tokyo Museum of Photography this month, following its launch on international festival scene last fall.
Filmmaker Mariam Kapanadze's animated short Abandoned Village earned recognition from both the juries and audience at the Paris International Animation Film Festival this week, with the director receiving the latest round of praise for her work from the event.
Young filmmaker Mariam Kapanadze was distinguished at the residency of the Ambassador of Japan in Tbilisi on Tuesday, with the director of the animated short Abandoned Village handed the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan Prize for the film from New Chitose Airport International Animation Festival.
The 23rd Tbilisi International Film Festival will open on Sunday with the screening of the film ‘Mr Jones’ by Agnieszka Holland, the Polish film director and the President of the European Film Academy, at the Amirani Cinema, with the director attending the opening event.