Films

A European ‘Oscar’ and Golden Globe-winning story: After a massive flood, a cat finds refuge in a boat and sets off on a survival adventure alongside other displaced animals.

We will invite parents and their children to a special celebration for kids in Vilnius, Kaunas, and Klaipėda. Joyful chatter, games, treats, and two animated films – “Flow” and “BFF. Turbo Bear”.

From March 7-9, LNDT will host performances by well-known musicians from Lithuania and abroad, while the very first screenings of the film that opened the Vilnius Film Festival will guarantee an emotional experience. And, of course, the program’s popular picks this year will be eagerly awaited by the audience.

The selected emerging directors surprise with their ambition, early mastery, and distinct authorial voices. Although their thematic range is diverse, they are united by a bright, insightful perspective and an exceptional ability to draw the viewer into the narrative. These creators are not afraid of bold visual language, bravely reflect on complex social issues, are extremely sensitive, and, most importantly, offer viewers a fresh perspective and promise an inspiring future for European arthouse cinema. An international jury will evaluate the films in competition, with the winner receiving a 8,000 euro prize.

The programme includes the latest works by numerous renowned, critically acclaimed directors. Each film will dazzle with its original style and professional craftsmanship. This year, viewers will see films by legendary British directors Andrea Arnold and Mike Leigh, enfant terrible of French cinema Leos Carax, Italian maestro Luca Guadagnino, as well as politically charged films by Walter Salles, Mohammad Rasoulof, and many more masterful creators.

The programme presents a diverse selection of contemporary films from around the world—both festival favourites and unexpected discoveries. These include works beloved by discerning critics, as well as those that the major festivals overlooked, yet the audiences still fell for. Following these screenings, we will discuss sex and politics, the pursuit of happiness, and the search for identity.

Always drawing some of the largest crowds to the cinemas, the Critics’ Choice programme is back this year with the favourites of film critics writing for a variety of prestigious publications. This breathtaking selection includes films that tell extraordinary stories using unique forms and genres. Both renowned and emerging filmmakers find their place here.

This year, Lithuanian directors will present both fiction and documentary films, some having already toured international festivals and others just embarking on their journey. The program includes Murmuring Hearts and Johatsu, both of which made a splash at Tallinn’s Black Nights Film Festival; Toxic, which won the Golden Leopard at Locarno; and Sacrum and Profanum in Pievėnai, a documentary offering an intimate look at Easter night in Pievėnai.

The Lithuanian short film programme at Vilnius film festival is a highly anticipated event and an important celebration of cinema, both for the filmmakers themselves and for the festival audience. This year’s programme includes 7 films, all of them marked by an engaging, authentic cinematic language and a wide variety of genres.

This programme is designed for the youngest viewers and those dipping their toes into the world of film festivals for the very first time. It features a unique selection of animated films about family adventures and friendship meant to stimulate curiosity about the world. The young cinemagoers will also have a chance to attend a special opening celebration.

Experimental cinema, hybrid documentaries, and film essays – in Screen 9 you will discover films that play with cinematic language, blurring the boundaries of genre and form. Here, warning sirens transform into music, Hamlet is reborn in the world of Grand Theft Auto, and post-socialist Romanian commercials tell tales of socialism and capitalism.

This retrospective is an invitation to journey through the early films of director Jim Jarmusch. His works, which combine minimalism with poetry and existential questions with ironic humor, have captivated generations of film lovers. Embark on a journey through Jarmusch’s universe, where peculiar characters roam, unexpected encounters occur, and unique soundtracks play.

This year, Kino Pavasaris celebrates its 30th anniversary! To mark this special occasion, we’ve invited film programmers who have contributed to the festival’s rich history to each select their favorite film presented at Kino Pavasaris in previous years. 30 Springs is a journey through three decades of discovery, revealing the programmers’ passion for cinema and their insightful perspectives. Let’s remember the festival’s most memorable moments and celebrate the films that have shaped Kino Pavasaris over the years.

This program is a journey into the captivating world of music, revealing its power to shape our lives. Here, you will witness the creative forces behind the music, experience the struggles and triumphs of the artists. From politically charged rhythms to intimate melodies, music inspires, provokes, and unites. Let’s turn up the volume and experience the transformative power of music.

The films in this program focus on the beauty and fragile balance of nature. Embark on a journey through an ancient forest, where time seems to stand still, and experience the symphony of birdsong in a mesmerizing soundscape. Observe the complex relationship between humans and nature, and discover new ways to live in harmony with our surroundings.

Midnight Screams is a portal to the darkest corners of horror and fantasy cinema. Experience chilling horror that will have you gripping your seat, mind-bending fantasy where time bends to its will, and a thrilling sci-fi adventure in a dystopian future. Colors, blood, and the boundless imagination of creators will pour forth from the screens.

The festival will kick off with silent film screenings featuring live soundtracks performed by Lithuanian and international artists. To celebrate the festival’s anniversary, we will be showing The Lovers on the Bridge – the first film ever screened at Vilnius Film Festival – and the audience favorite, Café de Flore. Secret film screenings will also be held.

Smart 7 is a network made up of seven European film festivals united by similar visions. It aims to encourage the circulation of European films and to share its best practices regarding film curation, all while identifying common trends that may help the film industry and festival culture grow and develop in the future.

To reverse the general course of events is to challenge the inevitable. This programme presents stories of key moments when a cycle gets broken and needs repair: breaking free from traumas, a romantic car date interrupted by the police, the source of life being altered and director’s work deregulated by his reflections on his identity and the world.

LET ME OUT! LET ME OUT OF HERE! But where are you stuck? In yourself and your defeat? Swallowed in your alcohol addiction? In your broken unhealable heart, in your social fears, war and family, in endless icy mountains or in the trunks of trees? This programme is a collection of traps. Shall we face them before we try to escape?

What is fake and what is real? Who can you trust and which secrets can you keep? With hidden details in paintings, a secret surveillance programme in Venice, a fake luxury family cruise, a secret love and a hardcore betrayal, each film in this programme will trick your mind, reveal, make you doubt, and wonder: is it all even true?

We are all bound by threads. Getting to know someone is a journey that can expose us to harsh realities, reveal intimacy in the unseen, or take us on a trip around the world. When shared pain can turn colleagues into family and new life can turn nothing into everything, all we need to do is keep seeking out those we’re meant to meet.

Step into the world of contemporary Lithuanian cinema with 30 short films (2011-2024) that pulse with recent, bold voices. Directed by filmmakers shaping the contemporary Lithuanian cinematic identity, these festival and audience favorites have journeyed across the globe, bringing stories filled with creativity, passion, and originality.

In 2025, we celebrate a special anniversary – the 150th birthday of Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, the most prominent Lithuanian artist of all time. To mark this occasion, we present the premiere of restored films dedicated to Čiurlionis by three giants of Lithuanian cinema: Robertas Verba, Arūnas Žebriūnas, and Algirdas Dausa.

From before Eraserhead to after Mulholland Drive, David Lynch consistently explored the short film format, using it as a means of artistic expression and a testament to his evolving styles and influences. This chronological collection of seven of his short films offers a window into his world and mind, allowing us to better understand his journey as a pioneering filmmaker.

With so many films made with AI flourishing, we propose not to close our eyes, but to be active witnesses and regulators. This programme presents films that explore our connection to veracity, to excess, and our relationship with machines. Watching them raises questions, from ethics to practicality, which will be discussed after each screening.