Vilnius, Lithuania – February 29, 2024 – The SMART 7 network introduces the second edition of  an innovative competition program, the result of collaboration among seven prominent European film festivals, supported by the EU’s Creative Europe MEDIA Programme. The selected films will be screened at 29th Vilnius International Film Festival “Kino Pavasaris” running from March 14th to March 27th. 

Established in 2023, SMART 7 comprises seven prestigious film festivals representing diverse cultural backgrounds across Europe: New Horizons IFF (Poland), IndieLisboa IFF (Portugal), Thessaloniki IFF (Greece), Transilvania IFF (Romania), FILMADRID IFF (Spain), Reykjavik IFF (Iceland), and Vilnius IFF (Lithuania). Supported by Creative Europe – MEDIA, SMART 7’s primary mission is to facilitate knowledge exchange and collaboration among festivals with shared goals and visions.

The network has launched a competitive section featuring seven films by emerging filmmakers from each member country. These films, committed to pushing the boundaries of storytelling and cinematic expression, will be showcased at each SMART 7 festival. A jury composed of university students from each country will adjudicate the films, with the winning filmmaker awarded a €5,000 prize.

Algirdas Ramaška, the Director of Vilnius IFF, emphasizes the positive impact of SMART 7 network: “I am delighted and proud to witness how this network is fortifying the bonds and fostering collaboration among each of the festival teams on various levels. The programmers faced a difficult task in selecting films that not only authentically represent their respective countries but also resonate with audiences across all participating festivals”.

Algirdas Ramaška, the Director of Vilnius IFF

Magnificent seven

The SMART 7 competition aims to present emerging filmmakers dedicated to pioneering narratives and innovative cinematic language. The selected films are poised to challenge boundaries, provoke meaningful conversations, and leave a lasting impact on audiences worldwide. 

Representing Lithuania is Tomas Vengris’ second feature film “Five and a Half Love Stories in an Apartment in Vilnius” which received the Best Film award in the ‘Rebels with a Cause’ competition at the Tallinn Black Nights IFF. The story follows five guests that experience a crisis of love in an AirBnB in Vilnius; unaware of the stories that have transpired within the same walls and under the same bedsheets. From Portugal comes a comedy about a young Brazilian student in need of renewing her Portuguese residence permit – “Greice” by Leonardo Mouramateus. The film had its world premiere earlier this year at Rotterdam IFF. “Natatorium” by Helena Stefansdottir is an entry from Iceland, a thriller drama that also had its world premiere in Rotterdam and soon will be shown at SXSW Film and Music Festival. “Natatorium” zooms in on teenage Lilja who visits her estranged grandparents – soon, a dark secret emerges. Greek “Summer with Carmen” by Zacharias Mavroeidis tells the story of two best friends recalling the events of recent summer at the queer beach. The title was screened at Mumbai IFF and was nominated for the Queer Lion Award at Venice IFF. A delirious road movie “On the Go” by Julia de Castro and Maria Royo was chosen by Spanish FILMADRID. The film won the Special Mention by the youth jury at Locarno, captivated by its full of music storytelling, where road and friendship alleviate the disorientation caused to the film’s protagonists by the deceptive freedom of the early 21st century. 

The competition will have two world premieres – Polish “It’s Not My Film” by Maria Zbaska selected by New Horizons IFF, and Romanian “Where the Elephants Go” by Gabi Sarga and Catalin Rotaru picked by Transilvania IFF. Maria Zbąska’s feature-length debut is a contemporary and full of intelligent humor story about the struggle for love. At a time when everything is disposable and easily replaced, a couple will attempt to repair a relationship where all is not yet lost. “Where the Elephants Go”, the second feature by the Romanian directing duo, follows an unlikely friendship – between a girl with a terminal disease who wants to make the most of her time left, her job-juggling mother and a young man with no interest in what life has to offer. 

Selection of the second edition of the SMART 7 competition:

– Lithuania: “Five and a Half Love Stories in an Apartment in Vilnius” – Dir. Tomas Vengris

– Poland: “It’s not my film” – Dir. Maria Zbaska (WORLD PREMIERE)

– Portugal: “Greice” – Dir. Leonardo Mouramateus

– Iceland: “Natatorium” – Dir. Helena Stefansdottir

– Greece: “Summer with Carmen” – Dir. Zacharias Mavroeidis

– Spain: “On the Go” – Dir. Julia de Castro, Maria Royo

– Romania: “Where Elephants Go” – Dir. Gabi Sarga, Catalin Rotaru (WORLD PREMIERE)

The Vilnius International Film Festival “Kino Pavasaris” is thrilled to collaborate with SMART 7 in launching this exciting initiative, which not only celebrates emerging talent but also strengthens ties between European film festivals. The competition program underscores the festival’s commitment to showcasing innovative cinema and nurturing the next generation of filmmakers.

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