Winners of the 58th Krakow Film Festival

Krakow, 2nd June 2018 - The winners of the 58th Krakow Film Festival were announced. The international jury awarded the best documentary, short and animated films, which during the whole festival week were trying to woo the experts and the audience in 7 cinemas in Krakow.

The outright winner of this year's edition of the Krakow Film Festival is an acclaimed film “Over the Limit”, directed by Marta Prus. The film received the Silver Horn for the best feature film in the International Documentary Film Competition and the Silver Hobby-Horse for the director of the best documentary film in the National Competition. The film about the remarkable Russian gymnast Margarita Mamun and the emotional costs of professional sports, received also the award for the best producer of Polish short and documentary films, the Best Cinematography Award and People’s Choice Award.

The winner of the International Documentary Film Competition is Talal Derki's film “Of Fathers and Sons”. The 2014 winner of the Silver Horn once again confronted Krakow audience with the sheer terror of the Syrian war. Four years after the horrifying, successful and widely discussed “Return to Homs” – the opening film of the 54th KFF – the director visited a family of a radicalized ISIS member and followed the process of forming of jihadist fighters. In “Of Fathers and Sons” the camera focuses on little boys who are being prepared the join the ranks of ISIS by their beloved fathers, for whom family is especially important. The film received this year an award for best documentary at Sundance. Jury led by Péter Forgács (Hungary) handed out the prestigious Golden Horn award for “the director's courageous penetration into the world of extremism”. Moreover, the film was also awarded by the International Federation of Film Critics Jury (FIPRESCI).

The Silver Horn for the director of the best medium-length documentary went to Pablo Aparo and Martin Benchimol for their film “The Dread” (Argentina).

The winner of the oldest festival competition - International Short Film Competition - is

Armelle Mercat for her film “Keep Your Hair On, Oliver” (France).

The jury, whose chairman was Iranian director and screenwriter Merhard Oskouei, gave the French director the Golden Dragon award emphasizing that the story presented in the film was only possible to tell through animation.

Silver Dragons are the awards given to the best short films representing all three competition genres. The Silver Dragon for the best documentary film went to Michał Hytroś for his film “The Sisters” (Poland). The film received also the special mention in the National Competition. The best animated film is “Obon” [dir. André Hörmann, Samo (Anna Bergmann)]. Silver Dragon for the best short fiction went to Emmanuelle Fleytoux for her film “Release the Dogs” (France/Belgium). The Krakow Film Festival also gave this film the nomination for the European Film Award in the short film category (PRIX EFA KRAKOW 2018 for the best European film).

The best music documentary and the winner of the Golden Heynal award, chosen by the Jury led by Marcin Borchardt (Polska), is an American-Japanese documentary “Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda” (dir. Stephen Nomura Schible). In this moving documentary a story about the roots of music turns into a film meditation, which talks about the human fight with inhibitions. The protagonist, an Academy Award winner for his original score for the film “The Last Emperor”, this time shows his other faces: as a music experimenter, an activist fighting against environmental degradation and a man struggling with serious illness. The film received also the Student Jury award.

The Golden Hobby-Horse in the National Competition went to “Unconditional Love” by Rafał Łysak (Poland). The Jury appreciated the film “for a story about an intimate reality of people from different generations, which escapes a stereotypical judgment. If we watch the world so closely it can actually be tolerant as love is unconditional”.

The best Polish animation is “III” by Marta Pajek (Poland). It is the second Silver Hobby-Horse in the artist's career. After two years Pajek came back to the idea of an impossible figure, which this time in a sensual and full of eroticism way portrays relations between men and women.

The award for the best Polish short fiction was handed out "for an accurate, comedic attempt to encapsulate the madness of the contemporary world" to Maciej Kawalski for his film “Atlas” (Poland).

The special mention went to the last year's winner Damian Kocur for his film “1410”.

For the fourth time the Krakow Film Festival, being among Europe's most important film festivals, recommends feature documentary films for the European Film Award. This year the official recommendation was given to “White Mama” (Zosya Rodkevich, Evgeniya Ostanina).

For the third time an important part of the Krakow Film Festival was DOC LAB POLAND section, which belonged to the KFF Industry - a programme of events devoted to the film industry. Awards for documentaries in development and in postproduction were handed out.

The 59th Krakow Film Festival will take place May 26th - June 2nd, 2019.

Transilvania Pitch Stop: last chance to submit projects 

One week left to submit your project for the third edition of the Transilvania Pitch Stop co-production platform, which will be held on 7 - 8 June 2019, in Cluj-Napoca. The program is open to feature-length fiction film projects of 1st and 2nd time filmmakers coming from Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Serbia, Ukraine, Russia, Moldova, Greece, Turkey and Georgia. The projects can be in different stages of development with preferably 15% of the budget secured. (please check regulation here)

A jury of international professionals will hand the Eurimages Co-production Development Award valued at 20.000 euro. Another 5.000 euro award in cash will be offered by Transilvania International Film Festival.

Deadline: 31st of March, 2019.

Selected projects will be announced no later then May 1st, 2019 and the director and producer will be invited to join the industry event in Cluj on the 7th and 8th of June 2019.

Submit your project

The 2019 industry program of Transilvania IFF also includes 

Transilvania Talent Lab (TTL), a workshop dedicated to professionals involved in the management of cinemas, organized in partnership with Europa Cinemas; 
LIM - Less is More, the European platform for project development of limited budget feature films initiated by Le Groupe Ouest;
First Films First, an intensive professional training program aimed at supporting young Southeast European film directors to develop their first feature-length fiction film, initiated by Goethe-Institut Young Directors´ Academy South-Eastern Europe;
Closed Screenings program dedicated to industry representatives and special screenings of the newest Romanian films, debates and masterclasses, lining-up experts in audience development, and script writing, film directors.
This year Transilvania IFF will also host the prestigiouse European Film Forum on June 7th. 

More details on www.tiff.ro.
For inquiries, please contact us: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

"Bohemian Rhapsody" Sound Team
confirmed for FEST 2019 industry program

FEST 2019, from June 24th to July 1st, in Espinho, Portugal

John Warhurst, Tim Cavagin and Nina Hartstone are the new confirmations on FEST’s 2019’s Training Ground. Specialized in the field of sound, together they compose the Academy Award-winning sound team for “Bohemian Rhapsody”.

During FEST they will be presenting a Masterclass using the case study of “Bohemian Rhapsody” strategies and work process, focusing, mainly, on the solutions they’ve created to overcome the challenges created by the production. How to make Freddie Mercury's voice sound genuine, the brain-surgery editing precision required or the custom sounds they had to record (concert crowds, people clapping, piano keys thumping) will be some of the main topics reviewed and dissected by the experts.

Hosting this very special session we will have Eddy Joseph, Sound editor of films such as"Quantum of Solace" , "United 93", "Cold Mountain", "Corpse Bride" and many more

John Warhurst was the supervising music director in the film that earned him the first Oscar win of his career. Warhurst also received a BAFTA for his work on the 2018 film but he was no stranger to this award, having won another in 2013 for his work on “Les Misérables”. Some of his major works also include “Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” (2007) and "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" (2017). 

Nina Hartstone is a supervising dialogue/ADR editor that has worked previously with Warhurst in films such as “Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life” (2003), “Bidget Jone’s Baby” (2016).

Tim Cavagin is a re-recording mixer that tops off the trio. Some of his previous works include “The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” (2015), “The Hitman’s Bodyguard” (2017) and “Baby Driver” (2017), the latter one resulting in an Academy Award nomination for Best Achievement in Sound Mixing. 

Join us at FEST 2019, from June 24th to July 1st, in Espinho, Portugal.

The 6-day lineup of FEST industry events features: 
Directors’ Hub (debates, case-studies, roundtables focusing around the director’s role),
Industry Meetings (one-on-one meetings between attending industry professionals), 
Networking Dinners (informal networking between event participants at the dinner table).
Training Ground (30+ masterclasses & workshops by the top film industry professionals), 
Pitching Forum (competition with development support and co-production opportunities),
Filmmakers’ Corner (an open stage for filmmakers to showcase and promote their work).

Secure your accreditation for 6 days of films, industry and networking events with our FEST Pro Badge for 100€

FEST - PRO Accreditation »

Already confirmed at this year’s talent-packed Industry Program are Toni Grisoni, Paul Miller, Gareth Willey, Jonathan Morris and Scandar Copti.

FEST is a film forum that offers a wide variety of industry activities, while also promoting and encouraging a strong networking possibilities.

The Industry Meetings, are a platform for one-to-one meetings between industry experts.

Following the same core principle, FEST organizes Networking Dinners, that create an opportunity for networking between film professionals and guest speakers while savouring a delicious meal of Portuguese food and wine, with an ocean sunset view. The Networking Dinners require separate registration and are limited to the first 150 festival participants.

Both the Industry Meetings and the Networking Dinners offer a chance to build the basis for collaborations, partnerships, or new relationships, between film professionals. 

FEST is focused on industry activities - with 800+ accredited attendees coming from over 40 countries, FEST is a unique networking platform for leading film professionals to gather and create meaningful exchange of knowledge and contacts in the presence of internationally renowned industry members. 

Some of our Previous Speakers:

Ashgar Farhadi Director The Salesman, A Separation - I feel at home here, I met people who really like film. Thank you so much for inviting me. Melissa Leo Actress The Fighter, Frozen River - This festival is doing what is needed to help independent filmmakers gain entry to the world of film.

Attend FEST to discover the most promising voices in world cinema, as well as connect and collaborate with leading film professionals from around the globe.

Choose your accreditation »

 

Apply now for Ex Oriente Film 2019 and get a tailor made training for the development of your film with the help of more than 25 world renowed film professionals!

You can submit your work until April 19th, 2019, with our online APPLICATION FORM. Applying is free of charge and is only available in English.

Open to: Creative feature-length documentary projects in development and early production

Please, see the Ex Oriente Film 2019 Guidelines and the list of eligible countries.

Ex Oriente Film 2019 workshop lead tutors will be producer and consultant Iikka Vehkalahti (Finland), Head of Studies of the European Documentary Network Mikael Opstrup (Denmark), director and script editor Ivana Pauerová Miloševičová (Czech Republic) and director and producer Filip Remunda (Czech Republic).

WORKSHOP TIMELINE
1st Session: Find Your Way – Vision, Space and Storytelling
June 20th – June 25th, 2019 (Banská Štiavnica, Slovak Republic)

2nd Session: Production and Story Development
October 24th – October 29th 2019 (Jihlava, Czech Republic, within Ji.hlava IDFF)

3rd Session: Market, here I am!
March 2020 (Prague, Czech Republic, within East Doc Platform and One World IHRDFF)

The Ex Oriente Film programme leads into co-production session East Doc Forum, where workshop participants will present their projects to Europe and North American decision makers such as independent producers, distributors, buyers, film fund representatives, broadcasters, as well as festival representatives. In addition to automatic inclusion in the East Doc Forum workshop, participants will have the opportunity to gain a wide range of scholarships and prizes in the form of direct financial support, co-production agreements, access to leading European markets and partner trainings.

Internationally successful documentary films, such as Over the Limit, Brothers, The Domino Effect, Blind Loves, At the Edge of Russia, Rabbit a la Berlin, Village Without Women and Bakhmaro, were developed within Ex Oriente Film workshop. Among the tutors of previous editions were Christian Frei, Sean McAllister, Mila Turajlic, Mike Bonanno, Vitaly Mansky, Dounia Sichov, Cintia Gil and Joe Bini.

Have you recently finished your documentary film? Apply for East Silver 2019 documentary market specialized in Eastern and Central European documentary film. Online application form is here. Submission deadline for films produced in 2018 is March 31, 2019. Films produced in 2019 can be submitted until May 31, 2019. The deadline for projects in rough cut stage is July 31, 2019

A Europe Fit for the next generation of creators

European Authors’ open letter in support of the Copyright Directive

Dear Member of the European Parliament,

The undersigned organisations of authors – representing hundreds of thousands of voters who are writers, screenwriters, filmmakers, composers and songwriters – urge you to seize this once in a decade opportunity and support the successful adoption of the Copyright Directive.

Since the last European elections, the European Commission, the European Parliament and Member States concluded that the European Union needed to modernise copyright in the Digital Age. Included in this debate was a conviction of the need to strengthen Europe’s authors by addressing the systemic weak bargaining position in negotiating contracts, and promoting fair remuneration.

Authors are at the very origin of the copyright value chain for Europe’s cultural and creative industries, which produce EUR 509 billion in value added to GDP, provide 7.5 % of the EU’s work force and significantly contribute to the EU economy in terms of employment, investment, growth, innovation and competitiveness on a global scale. Yet for the vast majority of authors, their careers are barely sustainable and poorly remunerated. The Parliament has played a decisive role in insisting that the Copyright Directive address this anomaly and has significantly improved the various provisions in the Directive which will benefit authors, and which we have supported.

Throwing the Directive away now would not only reverse the European Parliament’s work to support authors but also be an unprecedented setback for all creators in Europe. Abandoning the Directive now would be a major victory for the major international players who ignore the damage caused to the creative industries by their dominant position and refuse the harmonisation and inclusion of basic standards of transparency and fairness in EU copyright legislation.

This Directive concerns the future of Europe’s cultures. The European Parliament played a key role in the negotiations ensuring future generations’ access to freedom of expression.

Please - adopt the Directive and send a strong signal to the future generations who want to write, compose, create so that they can be fairly remunerated.

Sincerely yours,

1. ACE, Spanish Writers’ Association, Spain - Manuel Rico Rego - President
2. ADA, Austrian Directors Association, Austria - Jacob Groll and Jenny Gand – Co-chair
3. ALMA, The Spanish Writers Guild, Spain – Alberto Macias – President
4. AMA, Autores de Musica Asociados, Spain - Javier de Juan – President
5. ANAC — Associazione Nazionale dei Autori Cinematografici, Italy - Francesco Ranieri Martinotti - President
6. APR – ASSOCIAÇÃO PORTUGUESA DE REALIZADORES, Portugal – Filipa Reis - President
7. ARRF – Association des Réalisateurs et Réalisatrices de Films, Belgium – André Buytaers, Administrator
8. ARF/FDS – Swiss Filmmakers Association, Switzerland – Barbara Miller - President
9. Asociace spisovatelů, The Czech Writers Association, Czech Republic - Ondřej Lipár - Chairman
10. Association of Catalan Language Writers, Catalonia-Spain - Bel Olid Báez – President
11. Association des Auteurs de l'Audiovisuel (ASA), Belgium, Frédéric Castadot – President
12. Associazione dell'Autorialità Cinetelevisiva, 100autori, Italy – Stefano Sardo - President
13. BAFTRS - Bulgarian Association of the Film, Theater and Radio Scriptwriters, Bulgaria, President - Prof. Dr. Stanislav

Semerdjiev

14. BAM!, Dutch Songwriters Society, Netherlands - Pieter Perquin – Chair
15. BASCA, British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors - United Kingdom - Crispin Hunt – Chair
16. Bundesverband Regie e. V., Germany – Susann Reck, Marie Noelle, Axel Schill Bettina Schoeller-Bouju & Cornelia

Grünberg, Executive Board

17. CC Composers Club e.V., Germany - John Groves – President
18. Croatian Film Directors' Guild, Croatia – Danilo Šerbedžija, President
19. The Danish Composers’ Society, Denmark - Bent Sørensen – President
20. The Danish Authors Society, Denmark - Morten Visby - Chairman
21. The Danish Writers Guild, Denmark - Anders Busk – Kommunikationskonsulent
22. Danske Filminstruktører/Danish Film Directors, Denmark – Christina Rosendahl, President
23. Deutscher Komponistenverband, Germany - Dr. Enjott Schneider- President
24. DGCY – Directors Guild of Cyprus, Cyprus – Daina Papadaki, President
25. The Directors Guild of Slovenia – Slovenia - Urša Menart
26. Directors UK, United Kingdom – Andrew Chowns, CEO & Steve Smith, Chair
27. DJBFA, Composers and songwriters, Denmark - Susi Hyldgaard chairman and Anna Lidell vice chairman
28. Drehbuchverband Austria, Austrian Screenwriter Association, Austria - Christian Neubacher
29. DSR – Directors Guild of Slovenia, Slovenia – Urša Menart, Chair
30. DSR Screenwriters, Slovenia - Matevž Luzar
31. Dutch Directors Guild, The Netherlands – Martijn Winkler - Chairman
32. Dutch Writers Guild, The Netherlands, Maria Vlaar - Chair
33. ECSA, European Composer & Songwriter Alliance, Alfons Karabuda - President
34. ESPEK – Association of Greek Film Directors-Producers, Greece – Elina Psykou - President
35. Estonian Filmmakers Union, Estonia – Alvar Kõue - Chairman
36. EWC European Writers' Council, Gunnar Ardelius - President
37. FAGA, Foro de Asociaciones de Quionistas audiovisuals, Ana Hormaechea, President
38. FEMA, Federación Espanola de Músicos Asociados, Spain - Iván García-Pelayo - International Affairs Reprensentative
39. FERA – Federation of European Film and TV Directors – Dan Clifton - Chair
40. FLAC, Fédération Luxembourgeoise des auteurs et compositeurs, Luxembourg - Roby Steinmetzer – President
41. Flemish Writers' Association (Vlaamse Auteurs Vereniging, VAV), Belgium - Natalie Ariën - coordinator
42. Film Directors Guild of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan – Huseyn Mehdiyev - Chairman
43. The Finnish Playwrights and Screenwriters Guild, Finland - Ms Sonia Meltt - Executive Director
44. The Finnish Music Creators FMC, Finland - Kaija Kärkinen - Chair of the Board
45. Galician Language Writers Association, Galicia-Spain - Cesáreo Sánchez Iglesias -President
46. The German Writers' Union, Germany, Lena Falkenhagen - Chairwoman.
47. La Guilde Française des Scénaristes, France, Denis Goulette - Executive Officer
48. Greek Directors’ Guild, Greece – Haris Papadopoulos - Chairman
49. Groupe 25 Images, France – Claire De La Rochefoucauld & Arnaud Selignac - Presidents
50. Hellenic Authors' Society, Greece - Yiorgos Chouliaras - President
51. Hrvatsko društvo skladatelja, Croatian Composers Society, Croatia - Ante Pecotić – President
52. The Icelandic Dramatists Union, FLH (Félag leikskálda og handritshöfunda), Margrét Örnólfsdóttir, Chairman
53. IMAGO -- International Federation of Cinematographers – Paul René Roestad - President
54. The Irish Writers' Union, Ireland, Lissa Oliver & Phil Mac Giolla Bháin, Co-Chairpersons
55. Israel Directors Guild, Israel – Limor Pinhasov, Chairwoman
56. LARS – Luxembourgish Association of Film Directors and Scriptwriters, Luxembourg – Claude Lahr, President
57. Latvian Filmmakers Union, Latvia – Ieva Romanova - Chair
58. Lithuanian Filmmakers Union, Lithuania – Arūnas Matelis - President
59. Magyar Zeneszerzők Egyesülete, Hungarian Composers' Union, Hungary - Máté Hollós – President
60. Musimagen - Asociation of Audiovisual composers of Spain, Darío Palomo – President
61. National Society of Greek Authors, Greece, Eleni Kekropoulou, Vice-President
62. Netwerk Scenarioschrijvers, the Netherlands, Pieter Bart Korthuis -Chairman
63. NFF – Norwegian Film Makers Association, Norway – Sverre Pedersen - President
64. NFR – Norske Filmregissører, Norway – Marianne Kleven, Chair
65. Nieuw Geneco, Nieuw Genootschap Nederlandse Componisten, Netherland - Felix Rottenberg – Chair, Esther

Gottschalk – Director

66. NOPA – The Norwegian Society of Composers and Lyricists, Norway, Ingrid Kindem - Chair
67. Norsk Komponistforeningen, Norwegian Society of Composers, Norway, Jørgen Karlstrøm - Chairman of the Board
68. ÖGZM, Österreichische Gesellschaft für zeitgenössische Musik – Austria, Dr. Morgana Petrik – Präsident
69. ÖKB - Österreichischer Komponistenbund, Austria - Alexander Kukelka – President
70. PDM – Producers and Directors of Montenegro – Montenegro – Ivan Djurovic, President
71. Portuguese Society of Authors (SPA), Portugal, José Jorge Letria - President.
72. Rättighetsbolaget/Rights Manager of the Swedish Union for Performing Arts and Film, Sweden – Anna Carlson,

President

73. Sanasto – Finnish Literary Copyright Society, Finland - Anne Salomaa - Executive Director
74. Scenario, Switzerland - Jacqueline Surchat - Coordinator
75. SCGI, Screen Composers Guild of Ireland, Ireland - Sarah Glennane – CEO
76. SDGI –Screen Directors Guild of Ireland, Ireland-Maurice Sweeney - Chairman
77. Screenwriters Circle of the Polish Filmmakers Association, Poland, Maciej Karpinski - President
78. Scriptwriters Guild of Greece, Greece - Alexander Kakavas – President
79. SFP – Stowarzyszenie Filmowców Polskich/Polish Filmmakers Association, Poland – Jacek Bromski, President
80. SKAP - The Swedish Society of Songwriters, Composers and Authors, Sweden - Alfons Karabuda – Chair
81. SKL – Samtök kvikmyndaleikstjóra/Film Directors Guild of Iceland, Iceland – Dagur Kári Pétursson, Chairman
82. SNAC, Syndicat National des auteurs et des compositeurs, France - Pierre-André Athané – President
83. Society of Authors (SoA), United Kingdom, Nicola Solomon - Chief Executive
84. The Society of Finnish Composers, Finland - Antti Auvinen - Chairman of the Board
85. The Society of Slovene Composers, Slovenia, Nenad First – President
86. Society of Swedish Authors in Finland, Finland - Peter Sandström – President
87. SPID - Croatian screenwriters and playwrights guild, (Croatian screenwriters and playwrights guild), Croatia, Zinka

Kiseljak - President

88. SRF – Société des Réalisateurs de Films, France – Marie Amachoukeli, Bertrand Bonello, Christophe Ruggia, Co-

Presidents

89. Suomen elokuvaohjaajaliitto SELO ry, Finland – Sakari Kirjavainen, Chair
90. The Swedish Association of Educational Writers, Sweden - Wiwi Ahlberg, Chair-person
91. Swedish Film Directors, Sweden – Maria Eriksson-Hecht & Göran Du Rees - Presidents
92. The Swedish Writers' Union, Sweden - Grethe Rottböll – President
93. Teaterförbundet – The Swedish Union for Performing Arts and Film, Sweden – Simon Norrthon, President
94. Tónskáldafélag Íslands - Icelandic Composers' Society, Þórunn Gréta Sigurðardóttir - Chairperson
95. UCMF, Union des Compositeurs de Musiques de Films, France, Béatrice Thiriet - Présidente
96. UNAC, Union Nationale des Auteurs et Compositeurs, France - Olivier Delevingne – President
97. U.N.C.L.A, Unione Nazionale Compositori Librettisti Autori, Italy, Giuseppe Amendola - Secretary General
98. Unie van Regisseurs vzw – Belgium/Flanders – Jin Berghmans, CEO
99. Verband Deutscher Drehbuchautoren e.V., Screenwriter’s Guild of Germany, Germany - Sebastian Andrae, Prof.

Peter Henning - Executive Board Members

100. Vlaamse Scenaristengilde / Flemish Screenwriters Guild, Belgium - Michel Sabbe & Dirk Nielandt
101. WGGB, Writers’ Guild of Great Britain, UK – Ellie Peers - General Secretary, Gail Renard - Chair
102. Writers’ Guild of Ireland, Ireland - Thomas McLaughlin – Chairman
103. The Writers’ Guild of Norway, Norway, Monica Boracco - Chair
104. Writers Guild of Sweden, Sweden, Pia Gradvall – Chair
105. The Writers’ Union of Iceland - Iceland, Ragnheidur Tryggvadottir - Executive Manager
106. The Writers’ Union of Romania, Romania, Razvan Voncu - Director for International Programs
107. Zwiazek Polskich Autorow, Kompozytorow, Poland – Marek Hojda- Vice-President
108. Zwiazek Kompozytorow Polskich, The Polish Composers’ Union, Poland - Mieczyslaw Kominek Ph.D. - the President

The 2019 edition of Vilnius IFF Kino Pavasaris began with a show of support for Kirill Serebrennikov, whose romantic and rebellious film “Summer” opened the festival. Attendees illuminated the opening ceremony in solidarity with the director, who remains under house arrest in Moscow amid unfounded accusations.

In his latest feature, Serebrennikov follows young musicians as they search for an escape in the Soviet underground rock scene of the 1980s. The film explores what it means to strive for artistic freedom while oppressed by restrictions.

The crowd at the opening ceremony showed support for Serebrennikov by raising up their phone lights. During the event, experimental music from the band Whale Sounds and a performance by the dance troupe Low Air reflected this year’s festival motto “Don’t rush. Imagine”.

Starting March 21, Vilnius IFF will screen 170 films in 19 Lithuanian cities, inviting viewers to escape their hectic routines.

Find the complete festival programme here https://kinopavasaris.lt/en/programa

Here are the photos from the opening ceremony and party: https://kinopavasaris.myqnapcloud.com:4443/share.cgi?ssid=00W2g3e, when using please credit Audrius Solominas, Gediminas Gražys, Robertas Daskevičiaus and Tautvydas Stukas