Nora Twomey, Irish director [Photo provided to China Daily]

Hollywood giant Angelina Jolie, who has traveled to around 50 countries to support refugee families, also came on board as the movie's executive producer.

"I didn't believe she would be involved in the film, until I got a call to meet her in Los Angeles," recalls Twomey, who was so nervous she got lost in the building as soon as she arrived.

Jolie, who has funded girls' education programs in Afghanistan, offered a great deal of guidance and encouragement to the cast and crew, adds Twomey.

Speaking about the key to making a successful film, Twomey says: "If animators focus too much on the box office, they may lose heart. Audiences always respond to the truth and the heart of films and TV shows."

The Breadwinner garnered screenings at both the recent 8th Beijing International Film Festival and the 14th China International Cartoon& Animation Festival in Hangzhou.

Beijing-based China Nebula Picture Film & Television's Tianjin subsidiary has purchased the rights to distribute The Breadwinner on the Chinese mainland, and hopes to have the movie on general release over the summer.