The Russian animated feature “Zhikharka” directed by Oleg Uzhinov, will be presented at the short film programme “Generation” at the Berlin Film Festival. The story is based on a fairy tale from the Russian Ural region.

The director's wife, Elena, who created the scenario, found inspiration in a fairy tale that her grandmother used to tell her when she was little.

The cartoon features the adventures of a little girl, who is captured by a fox, but manages to escape.

Dissatisfied with the work of one of the actors, the author voiced one of the characters – the Sparrow – himself.

Mr Uzhinov believes, any folk story should be adapted for modern children, as ancient folklore is often overloaded with violence.

So he wanted to make the cartoon both funny and educative, keeping the folk motifs.