Discoveries from Lithuania World Cinema

When loyalty to country becomes loyalty to a lie, one teen risks everything to expose the truth. With the Gestapo closing in, he must decide what it really means to be a good German.

After the collapse of Earth's ecosystem, Vesper, a 13-year-old girl struggling to survive with her paralyzed Father, meets a mysterious Woman with a secret that forces Vesper to use her wits, strength and bio-hacking abilities to fight for the possibility of a future.

A vengeful beauty foils the plans of the bloodthirsty Hun warrior to conquer Rome.

In 1937, amidst Stalin's Great Terror, a newly appointed prosecutor for the USSR is made aware of alleged corruption in the Secret Police, and takes it upon himself to investigate.

Vilnius 2022. High-flying executive Marija chooses the worst possible moment for an honest conversation with her husband Vytas about divorcing - just one day before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine goes into full scale. Now they must navigate the process of separation as it collides with a refugee and mid-life crisis.

Four friends become stranded in Eastern Europe and have to become hit men, prostitutes, corrupt cops, smugglers and more to make it home.

With dreams of starting a perfect family, Saga and her British husband Jon move to the isolated house where she spent much of her childhood, deep in the Finnish forest. But as soon as their baby is born, despite the reassurance of all around her, Saga knows there's something terribly wrong. As their marriage starts to crack, Jon struggles to support his wife, but only Saga suspects the disturbing truth about her new-born.

An American family fulfills their dream of moving back to their roots after inheriting a remote cabin in the mountains of Norway. But there's a surprise waiting for them.

Elizabeth of Cooke (Joanna Pacula), a beautiful and valiant warrior returns from the Crusades to discover that her son Peter (Sander Kolosov) has been taken by Grekkor (Rutger Hauer), an ex-Lord wreaking havoc throughout the land. She sets out to locate and save Peter.

Champion fighter Osvald is banned from competing after injuring a girl in a street fight. Stranded in his bleak Lithuanian hometown, he takes refuge in a run-down Taiwanese restaurant owned by his only friend, Ju-Long. Court-ordered therapy leads him to Skaistė, a woman who offers a glimpse of a life he's never known. But as Osvald clings to this fragile hope, his violent past resurfaces, forcing him to choose between redemption and self-destruction.

A woman lives in a small village in Russia. One day she receives the parcel she sent to her husband, serving a sentence in prison. Confused and angered, she sets out to find why her package was returned to sender.

Dreaming of an escape from the bleakness of their hometown, two teens form a unique bond at a local modeling school, where the promise of a better life pushes girls to violate their bodies in increasingly extreme ways.

Sima and Giedre feel that their sexual life is similar to the buckwheat diet. But one evening they suddenly find themselves in bed with another woman. Giedrė after this adventure remains easily confused, and Simui is completely twisted in the head ... The man puts the cart and speaks his wife to sleep with a pair of swingers. Only the swingers themselves and the party in their luxurious home will not be as everyone expected

On the verge of retirement, Commissioner Gintas must undertake the investigation of a series of heinous murders, a dangerous task that could expose the many dirty secrets of several prominent members of the social elite of a small Lithuanian town.

Lonely Lithuanian teenager Rokas, whose mother works abroad, is trying to rise above his depressing post-socialist housing block by singing in a choir. His only refuge – his voice – quickly turns into a threat, as local gangs hunt him for being branded a snitch.

A lonely composer, withdrawn after his wife's death, lives reclusively by the sea. His life changes when he meets a TV star, beginning a journey filled with love, secrets, trials and misunderstandings-a deeply touching story.

“Telia Play+ | Original Content” presents a deep and intimate portrait of the artist Tomas Narkevičius, better known as Free Finga, and a synthesis of his work, life and culture. This musical documentary of the artist is a never-before-seen personal story that reveals the artist’s creative path and details of his personal life. Archival footage, sensitive interviews and unique songs create an emotional journey that invites viewers to experience the artist’s world and learn the story of his rise to musical heights. “Play Sound Portraits: Free Finga”

Those of us who fly in airplanes probably don’t think about those who fly through Riga Airport on their own wings. But on any given day, up to 30,000 birds might visit the airport. And it would only take one… Airport wildlife control employee Mareks would like to go to church and light a candle for luck before he goes to work every day. In fact, all of us need that luck – it’s just that we’re not aware of it. Maybe that’s a good thing. Understanding wildlife that might turn up at the airport and making sure that the paths of birds, animals and airplanes don’t cross is a very real job.

On the Mexican Pacific coast, the land Ina Marija adopted before dying too young, her father and younger sister Una embark on a journey in her footsteps. There, amidst the lush nature of the mangroves—in a lagoon ravaged by hurricanes and constantly reborn—they begin the process of mourning. As he films this journey, Sharunas Bartas lays bare his emotions and, in an act of transmission, seeks a reconstruction nourished by the natural cycles of life and nature.

A modern family embark on a romantic nature trip in an attempt to reconnect. But the peace turns to chaos when their teenage children pose challenges, and the idyllic getaway becomes a comical struggle for survival.

Six young college hopefuls vacationing and partying in Lithuania get more than they bargained for when they unwittingly get caught up in a maniacal tattoo artist's fiendish side business.

The year is 2000. Aleksandra, a young prosecutor, is handling a human trafficking case. She must conduct two interrogation sessions in one day. First, Aleksandra faces Andrius – a high-school friend turned suspect, who provokes and undermines her strategy, not leaving her any breathing space. During the second interrogation, she talks with Viktorija, the victim who has personal reasons to distrust law enforcement.

Legendary 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.

Twenty-five films from twenty-five European countries by twenty-five European directors.

Paramedic Vincentas is a passionate gambler, who is forced to make radical decisions to return the debts. An idea strikes Vincentas to create an illegal game related to his profession. Love, life and death will be at stake.

Sangaile, a 17-year-old spending the summer at her parents’ lakeside villa, becomes drawn to a free-spirited girl she meets at a nearby aeronautical show. As they grow closer, she begins to confront her fears and embrace a connection that encourages her to pursue her passion for flight.

The enigma of the personality cult is revealed in the grand spectacle of Stalin’s funeral. The film is based on unique archive footage, shot in the USSR on March 5 - 9, 1953, when the country mourned and buried Joseph Stalin.

Elzė returns to Lithuania from Switzerland for a vacation. She rents a cozy farmhouse in a remote village, hoping to find peace and inspiration for her painting. However, the idyllic peace is disturbed by Nojus. Their budding friendship soon sparks passion, and their love is intertwined with desire, longing, and fear. Elzė's past haunts her—she is being pursued by her ex-boyfriend. Will these two passion-driven people be able to overcome the shadows of the past and simply love each other?

Movie inspired by classical story "Kunigo naudą velniai gaudo" by Lithuanian writer Žemaitė. Written in 1903 story reborn in cinemas after more than 100 years.

Jacob is a successful diamond seller. He meets the beautiful girl Catherine and falls in love. Catherine takes him to a secluded homestead for the weekend. What dark secrets will this trip reveal?

Lucas is a scientist who works near the European experimental project that focus on advanced ‘human neuron research’. The project is to transfer neuron information from one human mind to another. Lukas is chosen to connect his mind with a comatose woman he named Aurora.

A comedy about a millionaire who tries to stage his own funeral.

Egor is a vet at a training facility for hunting dogs in a remote region of the country. Surrounded by foxes, deer, badgers, and dogs, he lives in a small building next to the house of the facility's master. He treats the dogs, cleans the kennels, oversees the workers, and meets with clients and their dogs. It's easier for him to get along with dogs than with people. Egor is willing to take on any job to get closer to the facility's master and his near and dear. He wants the impossible - to become a member of that family.

Being an adult is hard. It's especially hard when you’re only fifteen. Danutė is the only "adult" in her family. Clearly, that’s far too complex a role for a teenager. Every day, she faces external limitations that restrict her potential. A child like that measures everything through the lens of survival and takes on responsibility as her only form of protection.

Timid and restrained Andrius lives in a monotonous marriage with his wife Sandra. And then there is the pressure to have a child. Father-in-law Vytautas, who lives happily with his wife Marta, is convinced that "small" sins and missteps are the basis of a strong marriage. The father-in-law wants to help his son-in-law save his marriage and advises him to relax and look around more... Soon the attractive lady Sarlote appears among the men and the situation starts to heat up.

The BIX rock bar in Vilnius was designed by Saulius Urbonavičius-Samas, the frontman of the cult rock band BIX, which was formed in Šiauliai in 1987. The film also used archival footage of BIX concerts from the 1990s to illustrate the time period. This new story captures the free and playful essence of BIX’s rebellious spirit, which once led Samas and the band to West Berlin, where they shared a stage with Nirvana. Samas, a painter and karate fan, was followed and 're-educated' by the KGB and helped spark the punk movement that protested against Soviet restrictions. Along with teacher Grikis and friends, they recorded forbidden songs away from the authorities.

Young Oksana puts her newly born Denis in a baby box. Sixteen years later she steals him away from a children's home, intent on making amends for her maternal neglect, and to exploit him to earn money in a corrupt legal system.

A dissident Russian journalist chases the world’s most feared mercenary army, Wagner, across the globe—Ukraine, Syria, the Central African Republic, and beyond. Her team faces death threats and three of her colleagues are murdered as they race to unmask a new model of violence that is transforming the world for all of us.

What would you get if you mix a gangster film and a soap opera? "Zero 2" is a crazy twister of criminal romance and sexy violence that just might laugh you to death.

Two best friends who are passionate canteen chefs signed up for a high-class cooking reality show by faking their unimpressive resume. This contest will challenge their skills as well as their friendship, and the unexpected fame.

Malvina, a once celebrated ballerina now in her mid-eighties, now languishes in a monotonous routine. After she unexpectedly meets Kipras, a talented painter of her age, he becomes the catalyst for change. Together, they defy society's expectations about seniors, transcending age and challenging taboos. As they escape from relatives and institutions, they discover that freedom isn't merely physical; it's about breaking free from invisible chains. Their journey unfolds as a pas de deux – a dance of resilience, rebellion and redemption.

A thirteen-year-old boy Marius is an outcast who often feels invisible to the world around him. One day, he becomes intrigued by a mysterious incident at school, where his biology teacher is injured with a snowball thrown by an unknown classmate.

Dancer Elena and sign language interpreter Dovydas meet and form a beautiful bond. As they dive into a new relationship, they must navigate how to build their own kind of intimacy.

One summer, a twelve-year-old girl works at her grandma's bistro, full of strange adults.

A woman returns to old Vilnius in search of her grandmother’s house, only to find a city rapidly erasing the past in favor of the future. She wanders the changing streets and encounters colorful local characters – but as night falls, reaching her goal becomes increasingly difficult. The film is a poetic meditation on constant movement and a longing to belong.

On a quiet summer morning, a man and a woman glide across a tranquil lake in their kayaks. Although they move together, an emotional distance separates them. Their journey takes a sudden turn as they enter a dark, mysterious river. For the man, it’s familiar territory; for the woman, it’s an unsettling and intimidating unknown. As they reach the shore and step out, they struggle to bridge the gap between them, but the harder they try, the more elusive their connection becomes.

The story of how Aurora Mardiganian (1901-94), a survivor of the Armenian genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire (1915-17), became a Hollywood silent film star.

Martynas' peaceful morning is disrupted by the return of his roommate with a girlfriend. His curiosity soon becomes part of the couple's game.

A romance blooms between a noblewoman and a common man amid a peasant revolt against the brutal Russian army

Marius is a highly successful lawyer based in Vilnius. He becomes obsessed with Ali, a handsome Syrian refugee he first encounters in an online chatroom run out of Belgrade. Marius is rich and enjoys a vibrant social and cultural life. Nevertheless, he feels that something is missing from it. The journey from Lithuania to Serbia is a relatively short one, but can the two navigate their way through the gulf that separates their very different lives? And how do they deal with the precarious obstacles of the physical borders that stand between them? Written and directed by Romas Zabarauskas, The Lawyer questions assumptions about what it means to be an immigrant and the possibilities offered by life in contemporary Europe.

This delicately-rendered live action narrative follows the story of a ten-year-old boy and budding entomologist named Juozapas, who was born with his heart outside of his chest. Can Rugile, the fearless new girl in town, help Juozapas gain courage and acceptance to overcome exclusion and the insensitivity of the people around them?

An outrageous crime - action - comedy examining corruption and greed in Lithuanian politics.

End of summer. Danielius (in mid 30s) makes a return to his hometown to sell his parents' flat. Having nowhere to rush, he reconnects with people and the town that's no longer his. He is confronted with a quiet sense of loneliness.

A series of vignettes situated in an apartment in Vilnius conceive of the complexities of desire and love as seen through the fleeting experiences of five Airbnb guests, each in differing states of romantic entanglement and crisis.

A well-known fashion magazine editor, an outspoken male chauvinist, is forced to reconsider his point of view when one morning he wakes up as a woman.

It is highly probable that before their own death, everyone has to organise someone else’s funeral. This is by far not an easy task. In addition to the searing grief, dying also brings a number of tasks that are at once utterly alien and intensely time-critical. The main character of this film, Dovile, who unexpectedly has to bury her father, has to face the bedlam of exactly such a challenge. Overnight, the young girl has to become a skilful organiser of a family event, while also being a specialist on coffins, urns, wreaths and funeral feasts. Dovile’s journey towards organising a perfect funeral is inevitably full of hardship and mishaps, accompanied mainly by black humour and comical situations.

A shy eighth-grader comes across an older girl who is posing naked in an abandoned building. A new friendship offers her a glimpse of the intriguing world of adulthood.

A situational comedy about a mix of nutty people that come together in an environment of peculiar provincial show business of a developing country, each of them craving for fame and riches.

A group of drop-outs, losers and criminals are travelling in a stolen Mercedes seemingly aimlessly along numerous derelict houses and impassable roads to eventually end up on an old decaying state farm in Crimea, the southern tip of the former Soviet Union, where the mother, wife and daughter of one of them live. The men kill time with smoking, drinking and staring in front of them, but an undercurrent tension is brewing. On the last night they have a party that is equally destructive as their life