Cinema theaters in Asia, Europe and North America will screen Geno; the first-ever Georgian 3D animation film to be distinguished with numeorus international awards at festivals.

A range of cinemas in Japan, South Korea, France, Spain and the United States obtained screening rights for director Dato Kiknavelidze’s short recently.

The Georgian-German co-production, which premiered at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival in France last year, sends a message about environmental issues.

Kiknavelidze said he decided to address the subject with the film after witnessing the disappearance of green areas as a result of residential construction near his house beside Tbilisi's Lisi Lake.

Inspired to address the global problem, the filmmaker set the animation around a lake and its animal inhabitants, who were faced with the threat of losing their natural habitat.

The short has been screened at festivals around the world since its premiere in France, and won Best Short Animation Award at the International Children's Film Festival last month.

Kiknavelidze's previous animation works includes the 2010 short Vacuum, which screened at the Tbilisi International Film Festival. The Georgian director holds degrees in art and animation and is art director at Tbilisi-based Lira Production studio.

By Shawn Wayne

A Frog, Environmental Protection & Georgian Animation