Svitlana Kostrykina/Tie2

Vilnius Short Film Festival is one of the biggest short film festivals in the Baltic countries. Since 2006 the festival gets its audience acquainted with the newest and the best short films from all around the world.

The 17th edition of the Vilnius Short Film Festival will take place from 17 to 23 January 2024, having both on-site screenings in Vilnius and other Lithuanian cities and short film programmes on the local VoD platform. In the interview for Tie2 festival team – managing director of the festival Gabriele Cegialyte and head of the festival Rimante Daugelaite spoke about big changes and new features for the attendees.

What is different in VSFF-2024 comparing to last years? On a website you stated that “Vilnius Short Film Festival has lost the word “international” from its name”, what were the reasons behind this decision?

This year, the festival has presented a new identity and the Festival’s shorter name was part of the campaign. This change does not mean that we decided stop being international short film festival, and it is more about being mature festival when there is no need to explain the international nature of our festival in its name. We think that the content of the festival communicates about its international nature. This year, the rebranding and new idedity is the biggest change in the festival’s organization, bringing the main message that the festival becomes more open and accessible.

What were the criteria for choosing films to National and International programs?

Since our festival is the only short film festival in Lithuania, and the only such a wide “platform” to watch short films, our programming team always looks for the films that represent contemporary international short film scene bringing the most relevant, the most interesting short films from Lithuania and abroad, highlighting the latest film trends and present-day issues, whereas the audiences will be invited to enjoy the diversity of the short film genre, its inventiveness and openness to experiments. Also, we have some technical requirements such as film duration no longer than 30 minutes, and the films can be no more than 2 years-old. What is more, international competition is open to short films from every country, of all production techniques and genres (fiction, documentary, animation, experimental or hybrid) from low to high budgets, while national competition accepts Lithuanian short films only.

What are these year’s most interesting premieres?

We are always very excited about the national premieres for the films in the national competition.This year, out of 11 Lithuanian short films participating in national competition, 6 films will have their national premieres.

What are the main themes of the festival and why?

The festival does not announce any specific theme for each edition. Though, the international competition programs have different titles every year, that suggest what topics, questions are relevant in the nowaday’s global short film field, for example, program Empty Pockets which focuses on wealth inequality, or program Political Violence that reflects on historical memory and the shocking events of the modern world.

Who will be the guests and the jury?

This year’s jury consists of Croatian producer and festival programmer Inja Korać, Italy’s Lago Film Fest artistic co-director and film producer Alessandro Del Re, and Lithuanian film director and DoP Laurynas Bareiša, whose debut feature Pilgrims premiered at the 78th Venice Film Festival where it won the Orizzonti Award for Best Film before winning several Silver Crane film awards in Lithuania.

Also, there will be coming filmmakers from the international and national competition programs, also program curators from UK, Latvia, Sweden, partners and industry days’ speakers from such organizations as Swedish Film Institute, Vienna Shorts Film Festival, Uppsala Short Film Festival, Otok Institute, Norwegian Short Film Festival, Riga International Short Film Festival 2ANNAS, PÖFF Shorts. Also, this year our festival will be hosting European Workshop for Film Criticism where 6 European emerging film critics will come to learn more about film criticism and participate in the screenings.

Will there be interactive events – meetings with film crews, Q&A’s?

We are putting much effort into creating interactive events for both the film industry and the general audience, where filmmakers could meet the audience, also network among other film industry professionals or attend workshops/lectures. All National Competition and some International Competition screenings in Vilnius will have Q&A film filmmakers, and special programmes will be presented by the curators and partners. We will have a special event for the film industry called Industry Days focusing on young audience development, film criticism and cinematic storytelling. The Festival is also hosting film critics workshops and organising animation workshops for kids. Most awaited late-night events – traditional 5-hour-long Short Film Night, karaoke and silent disco parties – will be held in Vilnius old town. More information is on our website www.filmshorts.lt or facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VilniusFilmShorts.

In your opinion – how does the ongoing full-scale war against Ukraine and possible threat to all the Eastern Europe influence filmmakers in Lithuania and abroad? How does it influence VSFF?

Firstly, we are witnessing an unprecedented level of unity. The majority of filmmakers are actively seeking crew members from Ukraine regardless of the language barriers that might be in place. Furthermore, producers are prioritizing collaboration links within the embattled country. As bittersweet as it might sound, it’s a truly exciting time to discover the creatives and Ukrainian film industry as a whole. I do believe that something beautiful and long-lasting will rise from all this darkness.

Since the beginning of this terrible russian invasion and occupation of Ukraine, Vilnius Short Film Festival has expressed support to the people of Ukraine and joined initiatives organized by the Lithuanian Film Center, the Board of “Short Film Conference”, “Nordic-Baltic Shorts Network” and others to help Ukrainian filmmakers and families fleeing the war.

The Festival boycotts any associations with any entity, organisation or production that is backed, funded and endorsed by the russian state, and therefore bans submissions of films produced or co-produced by the russian federation. For films produced in Ukraine and by Ukrainian filmmakers, Festival organisers offer to waive the submission fee for the International Competition.

Which films – in your opinion – can be especially interesting for Ukrainians who are living in Lithuania now?

This year’s programme is extremely wide and diverse, therefore can cater to any taste, mood or interest. However, as a big supporter of local talents, I want to spotlight Lithuanian films and suggest all foreigners take a look at the future cinema of Lithuania. The National Competition is one of the key pillars of the festival, revealing not only the latest film trends and topics but most importantly, introducing audiences to a new generation of filmmakers. We are delighted to include in the Festival’s programme not only emerging film talents but also internationally acclaimed filmmakers who are making Lithuania’s name known in the world.

On the website you mention innovations for accessibility improving, can you please tell more about it? How the program will be adapted for people with disabilities?

This year, the Vilnius Short Film Festival is taking its first steps towards greater accessibility and inclusivity of diverse audiences, putting more spotlight on people with disabilities. To achieve this goal, the Festival has implemented the following measures: screening films with SDH subtitles and sound imaging, translating some events and discussions to Lithuanian Sign Language, and choosing physically accessible locations.

The National Competition programmes feature SDH subtitles and sound imaging. SDH subtitles, catering to the deaf and hard of hearing, include essential non-dialogue information like sound effects, music, and speaker identification. Sound imaging provides a descriptive narration of visual elements for individuals with vision impairments. National Competition Programme I and National Competition Programme II screenings in Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, and Šiauliai, as well as VoD platform Žmonės Cinema will have SDH subtitles, while those in Vilnius MO Museum will include sound imaging.

To accommodate the deaf and hard of hearing community, certain events, including the opening ceremony and discussions with filmmakers after the National Competition programmes screenings in Vilnius, will be translated into Lithuanian Sign Language.

Talking about physical accessibility, only a very small number of screening venues in Vilnius are properly adapted for use by persons with physical disability. Therefore this year the Festival is organising some of the screenings at MO Museum, which ensures accessibility with elevators, special bathrooms, and wheelchair-friendly infrastructure. The museum’s entire premises, including the exhibition hall, are designed to cater to individuals with physical disabilities.

Will the festival have special conditions for Ukrainian audience? (English subtitles, free entrance or discounts etc)

All the screenings of the Festival programmes are subtitled in Lithuanian and English languages. Some cinemas, e.g. Skalvija in Vilnius, have special discounts or free entrance for Ukranians, the information is announced on their websites.