Openness to Change: Progress and Transformation in the Lithuanian Film Industry
November 18, Saturday, 16.30-18.00, event in Lithuanian, Hilton Garden Inn (Gedimino pr. 44B, Vilnius)
The film industry is highly responsive to the political, historical and technological developments taking place in the here and now, and can adapt to rapid change even in the most challenging conditions. The history of Lithuanian cinema has seen many different phases: from the early screenings, Soviet-era cinema, the transition period and the cinema after the restoration of Independence, to the current phase of its development, where Lithuanian cinema is increasingly recognized worldwide and young filmmakers are winning important awards. In the discussion, representatives of different generations and fields of cinema will talk about the most important milestones in the Lithuanian film industry that have led to new processes and changes. Does openness to change always lead to sustainable solutions? What events have shaped and are still shaping the notion of Lithuanian cinema? What are the changes identified by different generations of filmmakers?
Monika Gimbutaite, moderator. She writes film and cultural pieces for 15min, reports for LRT Klasika’s “Pilno Metro” program, and is the head of the Shorts Critics training program. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from the Vilnius Academy of Arts and a Master’s degree in Politics and Media from the Institute of International Relations and Political Science.
Algimantas Puipa is a graduate of the Moscow Film School (VGIK) and has worked as a director at the Lithuania Film Studio. His first famous film was “The Day of Retribution” from 1975. He has created more than 20 feature films throughout his career, most of which were screened and won awards at international festivals. In 1988 he won the Grand Prix at the Locarno International Film Festival for “Eternal Light”. Honored by the Lithuanian National Prize for Culture and Art.
Zivile Gallego is a member of the European Film Academy, the European Women’s Audiovisual Network, and the Association of Independent Producers of Lithuania. In 2009, she founded the production company Fralita Films, which has produced, among many others, the winner of this year’s Best Film, Best Director and Best Sound Director categories at the Lithuanian National Film Awards Silver Crane - Remember to Blink (dir. Austeja Urbaite).
Laurynas Bareisa, film director. Graduated from the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre with a Master’s degree in Film Directing. In 2021, presented his debut feature film Pilgrims at the Venice Film Festival, where it won the Horizons Programme Award.
Andrius Lekavicius, a film director, alumnus of Berlinale Talents and IDFAcademy. He was nominated for the Silver Crane in the category of the best documentary feature film.
Dagne Vildziunaite is a producer who has been working in film and TV for 20 years. Since 2007, she has been the director and producer of Just a Moment studio. She works on documentary TV series, feature films and media projects. Recent productions include the 3D film Twittering Soul (dir. Deimantas Narkevicius).
Dr. Lina Kaminskaite is a Film and Media scholar, Head of the Art History and Theory department at The Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, Researcher at the Media Education and Research Center "Meno avilys”, and Senior Researcher at Lithuanian Culture Research Institute.
Event in Lithuanian
In partnership with the Association LATGA