Coordinators in Kaunas Kotryna ir Kęstutis Lingiai

All We Imagine as Light (dir. Payal Kapadia)

CRITICS’ CHOICE
A slow, lyrical, and nostalgically cinematic journey in search of light through the winding alleyways of Mumbai and the hearts of its inhabitants. This is a film about the unbreakable bond of sisterhood stronger than financial obligations, blood ties, or romantic relationships. If your knowledge of Indian cinema is limited to myths and stereotypes, now is the perfect time to discover its contemporary face.

Bird (dir. Andrea Arnold)

MASTERS
A social drama for fans of magical realism set to the pulse of modern British sound. The hypnotic score, woven together by Burial, guides a teenage girl through a dreamlike, often unforgiving adult world. This is a multi-layered film that defies cinematic conventions, exploring growth and transformation both literal and metaphorical. Fans of Sleaford Mods will be in for a treat, and let’s be honest, the Vilnius Film Festival without Franz Rogowski just wouldn’t feel the same.

Murming Hearts (dir. Vytautas Puidokas)

LITHUANIAN PREMIERES
The collaboration between director Vytautas Puidokas and cinematographer Linas Žiūra feels like a turning point for Lithuanian documentary filmmaking. Their journey to a remote recovery community in search of stories leads them to a protagonist who seems like an outsider in this world. What unfolds before the camera is an intimate, unguarded glimpse into a teenager’s life, one that compels the audience to silently observe and ask themselves: Am I truly empathetic? What could I do differently so that Matas wouldn’t have to be here? While a divine presence lingers throughout the film, faith itself is secondary, what truly matters is the voice of the heart.

The Seed of The Sacred Fig (dir. Mohammad Rasoulof)

MASTERS
A political thriller made in secret, this film carries an urgency that extends far beyond the screen. Its director, Mohammad Rasoulof, fled Iran with the footage in hand after being sentenced to eight years in prison. What makes his revelations even more powerful is the use of real documentary footage from the 2022 protests against Iran’s morality police, protests that, while shaking the nation, didn’t resonate as strongly in our part of the world. The film seeks to uncover what happened to both the demonstrators and those who sought to suppress them. Don’t let the runtime intimidate you. Rasoulof masterfully sustains simmering tension through long, deliberate shots, proving once again why he is one of contemporary cinema’s most fearless voices.

Ghost Cat Anzu (dir. Yôko Kuno, Nobuhiro Yamashita)

ONE FILM OLDER
This rotoscoped film, where animation is drawn over live-action footage, wins hearts from the very first frame, as Anzu the cat quite literally rides into the scene (and into the audience’s hearts) on a motorcycle. In a world where cats have already conquered the internet, this film suggests they might also reign over the afterlife. A whimsical, grown-up fairy tale, Ghost Cat Anzu serves as a refreshing sip of playfulness amid the heavier selections at the Vilnius Film Festival. It’s a gentle reminder that, in the end, we all, whether feline or human, crave attention and a little tenderness.

Vermiglio (dir. Maura Delpero)

CRITICS’ CHOICE
As cold as war and as strange as a secluded village, this film unfolds like a haunting Alpine postcard. The isolated community of Vermiglio may be just one of thousands across post-WWII Europe, yet, as Tolstoy said, every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. Here, the family consists of a father – teacher, moralist, near-deity; his perpetually pregnant wife; and children whose fates are determined by rigid calculations. But not everything in life can be measured, especially the forbidden connection that blossoms between the family’s beautiful daughter and a deserter. A literary, introspective tale about tradition, morality, and sacrifice.