Executive director of Vilnius Film Festival Konradas Kazlauskas

Peacock (dir. Bernhard Wenger)

PANORAMA
Peacock is a tragicomedy about Matthias, a man who can be anything to anyone—except himself. Matthias is a master of his craft. He works for an agency called My Companion, where he offers the services of a “rental friend.” You can hire him for real-life situations, and he’ll embody any character you desire—whether it’s the perfect father, the dutiful son, or a reliable business partner. By the way, the film is inspired by the real-life “rent-a-friend” services that actually exist in Japan.

The lead actor might already be familiar to you from films like All Quiet on the Western Front or the movie Berlin Alexanderplatz, which was featured in Vilnius Film Festival. Peacock might strike a chord for fans of Yorgos Lanthimos and Ruben Östlund as it carries hints of these directors’ signature styles.

Peacock is the director’s debut feature, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival. I recommend it to viewers looking for something lighter yet thought-provoking!

Kill the Jockey (dir. Luis Ortega)

PANORAMA
In 2019, we screened Luis Ortega’s film Angel at Kino Pavasaris, so I’ve been eagerly awaiting Kill the Jockey—his latest work!

Kill the Jockey is a strangely humorous, unpredictable, and seductive thriller centered around Rem, a star of the horse racing world caught in a cycle of self-destructive behavior and addiction. As he prepares for the most important race of his life—his one chance to pay off his debt to a mafia boss—he suffers a head injury. Losing his sense of identity, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery.

Visually, the film feels like a music video, with stunningly crafted scenes, a rich soundtrack, and bold colors. Ortega also brings Buenos Aires to life on screen, allowing the audience to wander through the distant landscapes of Argentina alongside Rem.

Souleymane’s Story (dir. Boris Lojkine)

CRITICS’ CHOICE
This is one of the most moving films I’ve seen this year. I truly believe that for anyone living in a modern city, relying on food delivery services, this film is a must-watch.

Souleymane’s Story follows Souleymane, a food delivery courier cycling through the streets of Paris while preparing for his asylum interview—an appointment just two days away that will determine his future.

Watching this film completely changed my perspective on the work of couriers. Now, I always make sure to tip, say a kind word, or at the very least, offer a smile.

An interesting fact: the film has no music, and you don’t even notice its absence. It only appears during the closing credits—a deliberate choice by the director to immerse the audience in the way Souleymane hears, sees, and experiences Paris. And this is not the romantic Paris we, as tourists, imagine—it’s a completely different side of the city. To enhance the realism, the director shot the film with a minimal crew, in the middle of Parisian traffic, without shutting down the streets.

The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, where Abou Sangare won Best Actor, and Souleymane’s Story received a Special Jury Prize in the festival’s second most prestigious competition.

Queer (dir. Luca Guadagnino)

MASTERS
This film stands out for two names: Daniel Craig and Luca Guadagnino. Guadagnino, the director, is known for Call Me by Your Name and the recently released Challengers. And, of course, there’s Daniel Craig—this time not as a fighter, but as a love-struck addict.

Queer is a story about love, addiction—to substances and to another person. Craig’s character drifts lazily through 1950s Mexico City, moving from bar to bar, hotel to hotel, until he falls in love. The second half of the film plunges into a surreal journey of self-discovery and hallucinogens deep in the jungles of South America.

I was particularly captivated by the film’s visuals and atmosphere. From the big screen, you can almost feel the heat of Mexico, the damp air of the jungle, the melancholia, and the dreamlike, hallucinatory sequences. This is a film for bold, open-minded cinephiles. Queer is an adaptation of William S. Burroughs’ novel—definitely not for everyone.

Café de Flore (dir. Jean-Marc Vallée)

SPECIAL SCREENINGS
This was the very first film I watched at my first Vilnius Film Festival. Jean-Marc Vallée’s masterpiece remains vivid in the memories of many festival goers to this day.

Although I don’t recall the plot in detail, the film’s impact has stayed with me. What struck me the most was its soundtrack—so powerful that it’s songs have remained on my playlists ever since. In fact, the film’s main theme was named the official song of Vilnius Film Festival that year and played before every screening, becoming the soundtrack of my festival experience.

I’m thrilled that Café de Flore is returning to the festival this year. Its founder, Vida Ramaškienė, has chosen it as one of the most memorable films of the festival’s 30-year history. I wouldn’t miss the chance to see it on the big screen once again!

To a Land Unknown (dir. Mahdi Fleifel)

COMPETITION
This film has already made its way through many international film festivals, earning multiple audience awards. I have no doubt that Vilnius Film Festival viewers will also appreciate it highly.

To a Land Unknown follows two refugees wandering the streets of Athens. They desperately try to scrape together enough money to buy forged passports, hoping to reach Germany and fulfill their dream—opening a café and eventually bringing their families to join them.

This is a deeply moving and immersive film, posing the difficult question: what bad choices might a good person make in pursuit of a better life?

At a time when wars are raging and thousands of refugees exist in a limbo between their past and an uncertain future, this story feels more relevant than ever. Films like this define the essence of Vilnius Film Festival.