Included in the programme is “Mommy”, from the immensely talented young director Xavier Dolan, Lithuanian film “The Summer of Sangaile”, winner of the directing award in Sundance Film Festival’s international dramatic competition, Ukrainian film “The Tribe” that has received multiple accolades and is set in a boarding school for deaf students, documentary film “Life Is Sacred”, about the phenomenal Antanas Mockus, former mayor of Bogotá, drama “Birdman”, which was won for four Academy Awards, and many more well received films representing various genres and themes.
The cinematic experience will continue outside of movie theatres. During the festival, both Vilnius and Kaunas will have a “Kino Pavasaris” street, a conference will be held for film industry professionals, and films will be shown on a big screen at Vilnius Town Hall Square. “We want to create a celebration of cinema that continues outside of the movie theatre,” said festival organisers, who this year received endorsement from President Dalia Grybauskaitė.
Influential filmmakers will visit Lithuania during the festival, including two-time Palme d’Or winner Bille August, Oscar nominated documentary filmmaker Joshua Oppenheimer, and controversial Russian director Aleksey Fedorchenko. All of them will present their newest films.
The festival has grown tenfold
In 1995, “Kino Pavasaris” started out as a small gathering for film enthusiasts, screening a few dozen films from four European countries. Over 20 years, it has grown into one of the biggest cinema events in the Baltic countries. Vilnius Film Festival attracts almost 100 000 viewers and has made a name for itself as an established European film festival. Relationships forged during “Kino Pavasaris” have helped many Lithuanian films reach international audiences.
Anniversary year accompanied by an enduring partnership
“Kino Pavasaris” organisers are sure the celebration of its 20th anniversary wouldn’t be the same without the festival’s long-time partnership with the ERGO Insurance Group. Even though in Lithuania, the practice of true partnership is only developing, festival director Vida Ramaškienė is happy to have a partner with clear and steady commitments for several years in the future. The festival’s competition programme “New Europe – New Names” depends mostly on this partnership’s support.
Programmes will include established filmmakers and directorial debuts
Each year, “Kino Pavasaris” selects the latest films, viewed by Lithuanian audiences for the first time during the festival.
However, it also pays tribute to classic works that have inspired many cinematic geniuses. This year will focus on famous French director Leos Carax, who has met with “Kino Pavasaris” viewers twice. The retrospective will screen five feature films and a documentary about the director. The other retrospective is dedicated to fans of gangster films, which will include both old and new crime dramas.
Films will once again battle it out in the competition programmes. “New Europe – New Names” will include directorial debuts from Eastern and Central Europe, “Baltic Gaze” will be dedicated to filmmakers from the Baltic region, and international “Short Competition”, as well as the “Best Student Film Competition”, will award top short film directors.
Lithuanian cinema
Lithuanian films created both here and abroad will receive a lot of attention during the 20th “Kino Pavasaris”. This year’s programme “Lithuanians Abroad” has received more submissions than ever before.
A look behind the screen
Each year, “Kino Pavasaris” pays a lot of attention to the inner-workings of the film industry. Professionals will gather at the sixth “Meeting Point – Vilnius”, taking place March 31– April 2. Participants will discuss film marketing, find out how to finance their debut film, and what to do once it’s been created.
The main guests of the conference, “The Einstein Couple”, are marketing experts from Denmark who have worked on Lars von Trier’s “Nymphomaniac”. The advertising campaign for this film was just as provocative as the film itself.
Ticket packages are already on sale. In order to give as many people as possible the opportunity to see their desired films, “Kino Pavasaris” organisers will announce special deals and apply discounts to students and seniors.
About the festival:
The 20th Vilnius International Film Festival “Kino Pavasaris” will take place March 19th – April 2nd. It is the largest cinema event in Lithuania, and one of the most prominent film festivals in Eastern Europe, having attracted almost 100 thousand people last year. This year, “Kino Pavasaris” will screen around 250 films, which representatives of the festival selected by visiting more than 30 international film festivals throughout the year. For more information visit www.kinopavasaris.lt
Head of Communication for „Kino Pavasaris“
Dovilė Raustytė
el. p. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
phone +370 670 21 859
www.kinopavasaris.lt
