12-02-2015

Domestic Hits in Lithuanian Film Market

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    The Gambler by Ignas Jonynas The Gambler by Ignas Jonynas

    VILNIUS: Lithuania continues to hold the leading position in the region in terms of domestic films market share, which grew from 16.49% in 2013 to 23% in 2014. The top 10 highest grossing films in Lithuanian cinemas last year included four Lithuanian productions.

    The number of tickets sold for Redirected by Emilis Vėlyvis, Evaldas Kubilius's Lost Valentine produced by Tauras Films, How to Steal a Wife by Donatas Ulvydas produced by Litl Baz and The Gambler by Ignas Jonynas, reached over half a million and the films together grossed 2,370,075 EUR.

    Action thriller Redirected, starring Vinnie Jones, Scot Williams, Gil Darnell and Artur Smolyaninov is a coproduction between Lithuania's Kino Kultas and Meed Films and UK’s Wellington Films. The project is the third feature for cult director Velyvis, known for his crime comedies Zero 2 and Zero. Zero 2 was the most profitable Lithuanian box office hit of 2010 with 71,000 viewers.

    A Lithuanian-Latvian coproduction from director Ignas Jonynas, The Gambler produced by Studio Uljana Kim and Latvia's Locomotive Productions, was the first Baltic feature to have its world premiere at the San Sebastian Film Festival, and it won a Special Jury Prize at the Warsaw IFF. The Gambler won five national film industry Silver Crane (Sidabrinė gervė) Awards, including the best feature film, best director and best actor for Vytautas Kaniušonis.

    A total of 261 films were screened in Lithuanian cinemas last year and the overall admissions reached 3,234,595. The Gross Box Office grew by 9% – from 13,047,094 EUR to 14,373,356 EUR. A total of 14 Lithuanian films premiered in 2014. They were seen by 674,990 viewers in cinemas and grossed 2,806,712 EUR.

    American films still enjoy the highest popularity among Lithuanian viewers, but the market share of productions from the USA in Lithuania slightly dropped from 69.27% in 2013 to 62.45% last year. The interest in European films remains at a similar level as they make 13.23% of the market share.