Award-winning animation about Russian couple streams on Jupiter

ERR’s Kultuuriportaal recommends Natalia Mirzoyan’s short animated film “Snow Is Following Us,” which is available to watch on Jupiter.

The mixed-media animation is based on interviews conducted by Mirzoyan. When Russia begins its war against Ukraine, a couple, Kirill and Dasha, feel guilt and grief and move to Georgia.

Their journey takes place in a largely metaphysical rather than real space and is filled with metaphors of war. Their greatest fear is being separated at the border. As Russian citizens, they are not welcome in Georgia. After tense events at the border, they are eventually allowed into the country, but their greatest fear still catches up with them.

“Snow Is Following Us” premiered in the La Cinef student film programme at the Cannes Film Festival, where it won an award. Over the following year, Mirzoyan’s textile animation travelled around the world, winning prizes including the Animist grand prize, the Cultural Endowment’s annual award and an EFTA for best animated film, as well as awards at the Sarajevo Film Festival, Tehran Short Film Festival and Animateka festival in Slovenia.

This summer, the film also reached Annecy, the world’s largest animation festival.

“Snow Is Following Us” is available on Jupiter.