Animated ambitions

Set in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan in 2001, the 94-minute film centers on Parvana, an 11-year-old girl whose father is arrested by the Taliban. Since women are not permitted to leave their homes without a male escort or even earn a living under Taliban's rule, Parvana cuts off her hair to disguise herself as a boy to help support her family and seek a way to rescue her father.

"Parvana is just a normal little girl who goes through normal little girl stuff, but she's also incredibly brave while living through an extraordinary time," says Twomey.

Memories formed at a young age can often fuel a creative passion, and for the 46-year-old director, the impression left by the conflict in the Northern Ireland as she was growing up in the 1970s and 1980s is indelibly etched on her mind.

"We know how vulnerable peace is and how difficult it is to maintain peace. That gives me a special interest in the subject," she explains.

"It's also the fact that we are independent filmmakers. We have the opportunity to tell a story which might not otherwise be told ... And as a mother, I believe Afghan children deserve the peace that my children have," adds Twomey, who has two boys.

She also reveals that her youngest son, who is now almost 8 years old, performed the voice-over for one of the young characters in the movie.

When asked if the political background might appear too complicated for young viewers, Twomey says she hopes children will discuss the movie with their parents and have their questions answered in the future.

"I look at Parvana the way a mother does. There are also other characters in the film that I identify with. The more you identify with the characters that you are portraying, the deeper the characters will become," says Twomey.

A coproduction of Ireland, Luxembourg and Canada, the movie gathered together around 300 people from all over the world to work on set painting and voice casting.