The inaugural French Animation Film Festival is back in full swing this week, and animation lovers, along with those seeking a little cultural diversification, are encouraged to turn out to support the initiative put on by the Alliance Française.

The four-day event commenced last Monday and was expected to continue through to Thursday, but because of the passage of Hurricane Sandy, the event was postponed until this week.

Yesterday, two animated films were shown - one Jamaican and the other French.

The Jamaican animated film, Kina Sky, made the top 10 of the Nickelodeon TV Animation competition in 2009 and tells the story about a Robot girl trapped on a floating island. Through ingenuity and inspiration, she manages fulfil her dream of escaping.

pay tribute

Today, the festival will once again pay tribute to the Jamaican animation niche with the screening of a second Cabby Chronicles episode. At its launch last week Monday, the festival had opened with Cabbie Chronicles Jamaica 50 Independence special.

The creators of the award-winning series were very grateful for the medium to showcase their work and hailed the initiative as a great event to highlight Jamaican talent in the animation field, while bringing something new to the table and promoting cultural integration.

Those celebrating the annual film festival all around the world will, for the first time, be exposed to Jamaican animation as well.

Parents are also encouraged to bring their children out tonight, as the French animation to be screened is an Academy Award-nominated children's special. Une Vie de Chat (Cat in Paris) is an adventurous tale about a cat leading a double life who must team up with a big-hearted cat burglar to rescue his friend, Zoe, the little girl with whom he lives, from a gang of bungling but dangerous thieves.

Tomorrow, the final night of the festival, will see the screening of La Vieille Dame et Les Pigeons (The Old Lady And The Pigeons) and the award-winning Illusionniste (The Illusionist).

The former is a comedic gem, telling the tale of a starving French policeman who dresses up as a pigeon to trick an old lady into feeding him, while the latter is about a washed-up illusionist who encounters an innocent young girl who changes his life forever.

The festival takes place at 12b Lilford Avenue, Kingston 10, starting at 6:45 p.m. Admission is free and refreshments are provided.