The Croisette is alive with the hum of the 79th Cannes Film Festival, an event that remains the undisputed peak of the global cinematic calendar. This year, however, the conversation in the pavilions and screening rooms has taken a distinctively Baltic turn. Lithuania has arrived with its most significant delegation to date, premiering three major works across the festival’s most prestigious programs, signaling a new era of creative confidence for the nation’s film industry.
From high-stakes sports biopics to harrowing wartime dramas, the Lithuanian selection reflects a cinema that is no longer just participating in the international scene but actively shaping its narrative. The presence of these films in programs like ‘Un Certain Regard’ and ‘Critics’ Week’ underscores a shift toward stories that blend specific regional histories with universal human struggles.
The Height of Ambition: Bringing a Basketball Legend to the Screen
One of the most anticipated entries in the ‘Un Certain Regard’ section—a program dedicated to unique authorial voices—is the co-production Ulja, directed by Viesturs Kairišs. While the film is a joint effort between Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, and Poland, its resonance is deeply felt across the Baltic region. The narrative centers on the legendary Latvian basketball player Uljana Semionova, a figure whose physical stature and athletic dominance made her a global icon.
Set in 1964, the film follows a teenage girl in Latvia who, standing at an unusual height, is thrust into the world of elite sports. The story moves beyond the typical sports biopic, focusing on the internal conflict of a young woman deciding whether to hide from a world that stares or to embrace her uniqueness to reach the pinnacle of her profession. With Lithuanian producer Ieva Norvilienė and actor Aleksas Kazanavičius involved, Ulja represents the strength of Baltic co-operation in telling stories of regional heroes who transcended borders.
Echoes of Conflict and the Search for Humanity
In the ‘Special Screenings’ category, the festival turns its lens toward the ongoing tragedy in Ukraine with Pavasaris (Spring). Directed by Rostislav Kirpičenko, a Ukrainian filmmaker born in Lithuania, the film is a stark, co-produced effort involving Lithuania, France, and Estonia. It tackles the grim reality of life in a Russian-occupied town in southeastern Ukraine.
Kęstutis Cicėnas stars as Father Andrij, a priest tasked with a soul-crushing duty: guarding the bodies of deceased civilians until they are moved to mass graves. At immense personal risk, he secretly returns these bodies to their families for proper burial. As winter freezes the ground, making his task nearly impossible, the film explores the limits of faith and the desperate need for dignity in the face of systemic violence. The production features a significant Lithuanian ensemble, including Valentin Novopolskij and Šarūnas Datenis, highlighting the deep cultural and political solidarity between the Lithuanian film community and Ukraine.
Nurturing the Next Generation of Baltic Filmmakers
The festival’s commitment to new talent is reflected in the selection of Arnas Balčiūnas’s short film, Klasės nuotrauka (Class Photo), for the ‘La Semaine de la Critique’ (Critics’ Week). Chosen from over 2,400 applications, this master’s thesis project from the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre is one of only ten shorts competing in the prestigious parallel program.
The film follows Ignas, who returns to a derelict school and encounters a former classmate. Together, they navigate the decaying corridors of their shared past, attempting to capture memories that are physically and metaphorically fading. It is a poignant exploration of time and the transience of youth, marking Balčiūnas as a director to watch on the international stage.
Beyond the screenings, the Lithuanian presence extends to the ‘Marché du Film’, where the national stand serves as a hub for industry professionals. With initiatives like ‘Baltic Shorts’ and the participation of producer Marija Razgutė in the ‘impACT lab’ mentorship program, Lithuania is positioning itself not just as a source of talent, but as a sophisticated partner for international co-productions. As the festival continues through May 23rd, the success of these premieres suggests that the Baltic ‘New Wave’ is well and truly underway.
Source: BNS
Article contextPeople & topics8#5
What do you think about this article?
Reader Ideas Newsroom
Have a sharper angle for this topic? Add it to the community idea board and let readers vote it up for editorial review.
/linkComments
8+ useful words can earn +10-60 DP; shorter replies can still publish without DP.