Giovanni's Island

On August 15th, they told us we had lost the war. At that time, we did not really understand. Then one day, everything changed. Many soldiers, wearing uniforms we had never seen before, arrived on the island. That was the day I met Tanya.

In the aftermath of the most devastating conflict mankind had ever experienced, the tiny island of Shikotan became part of the Sakhalin Oblast... and on this forgotten border in a remote corner of the world, friendship among children from two different countries timidly blossomed, striving to overcome language barriers and the waves of history. This hand-drawn animated feature is based on true events.

FESTIVAL HISTORY
★ 17th New York International Children’s Film Festival (2014) / Official Competition
★ 21st Stuttgart Festival of Animated Film (2014) / AniMovie Competition
★ 54th Zlin International Film Festival for Children and Youth (2014) / Official Selection
★ 38th Annecy Animation Film Festival (2014) / Official Competition
★ 36th Moscow International Film Festival (2014) / Official Selection
★ 18th Fantasia Film Festival (2014) / Official Selection
★ 18th Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (2014) / Official Selection
★ 62nd Melbourne International Film Festival (2014) / Official Selection
★ 22nd Tokyo Kinder Film Festival (2014) / Official Competition
★ 4th Sakhalin International Film Festival (2014) / Closing Film
★ 13th Nueva Mirada Film Festival (2014) / Official Competition
★ 46th Sitges (2014) / Official Competition

RECOGNITIONS
★ Jury Distinction / 38th Annecy Animation Film Festival (2014)
★ Satoshi Kon Award for Excellence in Animation / 18th Fantasia Film Festival (2014)
★ Audience Award for Best Animated Feature / 18th Fantasia Film Festival (2014)