LDFF
22 April – 26 April 2026
Films
- 01
On Sacred and Profane
Giedrė BeinoriūtėA warm, observational documentary set in the small, remote village of Pievėnai in western Lithuania. Once a year, the local community comes together to celebrate Easter by continuing an ancient, centuries-old tradition of keeping vigil in the church through the night, honoring the “Guardians of the Cross.” Through gentle humour and close-up scenes of preparations and the all-night celebration, the film explores the interplay between sacred ritual and everyday life in a modern world and invites viewers to experience an unforgettable Easter night in this unique village community.
- 02
The Head
Giedrė GenevičiūtėMartynas, who is seriously ill and completely paralyzed, spends his days in a hospice. He has been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a disease with a survival rate of less than 10 percent after three years. Martynas' life was far from exemplary, filled with despair, protests, and alcohol. The man who promoted unbridled freedom was confined to bed by illness. Today, Martynas has no control over his body and communicates using his eyes via a computer. In the hospice, he starts a business and a support charity called "Live Today," and becomes a teacher so he can help others suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The hospice becomes the beginning of a new life for Martynas, where he finds happiness, meaning, and hope. Martynas' story intertwines with the daily life of the hospice, his friends, family, and the strength, sense of humor, and support of the volunteers and nurses who care for him. Waiting for death here becomes a light.
- 03
Secret Screening
- 04
In Passing
Gailė GarnytėFor more than a decade, Artūras Morozovas has been photographing people in vulnerable situations – people affected by the war in Ukraine, as well as people experiencing social isolation in Lithuania. He is exploring social problems that the soviet regime has done to both countries. In the film, we meet Rita, a mother of three children who lost her husband to suicide and has a disability; Danutė, who lives alone in the forests; soldiers Lisa and Jaška, brutally murdered by the Russians, as well as Ivan, whose home was recently destroyed by a bomb. Despite Artūras desire to remain impartial and objective, a close bond forms between the photographer and his characters, so the film is about the miracle of human connection and hope.
- 05
Ship
Gerda PaliūšytėGerda Paliušytė's documentary "Ship" (2025) portrays renowned Lithuanian choreographer Algirdas Stravinskas, framing his birthday party on a cruise ship as a reflection on art, memory, and community. The film mixes archival footage from the 1980s with contemporary scenes, contrasting the artist's past glory with his current life and highlighting the fleeting nature of existence.
- 06
Under the Red Light
Joris SkurdaA feature-length documentary about one of Lithuania’s most influential photographers, Romualdas Požerskis. One man’s story that encapsulates the broader context of the destruction of country's culture during the Soviet era, which gave birth to collectives of rebellious artists who fought for independence through their art.
- 07
The Old Man's Journeys
Nerijus MileriusLegendary film actor Juozas Budraitis turns 85. Over his career, he has appeared in more than 120 films not only in Eastern and Central Europe but also in Switzerland and Italy. Film sets brought him close friendships and moments of joyful creativity. Yet today, many of his colleagues are gone, and the actor is increasingly visited by the regret of unfinished work. The Old Man's Journey is shaped not by the structure of a traditional biographical film but by the fragmentary nature of memory. The roles he has embodied remain etched in his recollection no less vividly than the key events of his life, and so the film guides the viewer between Budraitis's youthful memories and his most significant cinematic experiences, weaving them into a single, nostalgic stream of remembrance.
- 08
To Zita
Vytautas V. LansbergisThere are personalities who, by their very presence, bring people together to revive and nurture the memory and identity of a nation. Zita Kelmickaite was one such person. This is a journey to Lithuania in the 1980s and 1990s, when the revival of folk songs became a silent weapon and an important part of the road to independence. Using previously unseen archival material and the voice of Zita Kelmickaite herself, the film reveals not only the phenomenon of her personality, but also the history of an entire generation that cherished national identity.
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