The Fifth Annual New York Baltic Film Festival (NYBFF) presented by Scandinavia House: The Nordic Center in America returns in 2022 as a hybrid festival with both in-person and virtual screenings on November 2-13! From November 2 through 6, in-person screenings and events will take place at Scandinavia House in New York, presented in accordance with new COVID-19 safety guidance and protocols. Following the success of last year’s festival, the online version will once again be available to viewers all across the U.S. via the Elevent streaming platform November 4-13.

On November 4, see Pilgrims (Piligrimai, dir. Laurynas Bareiša, Lithuania, 2021, Narrative). Paulius (Giedrius Kiela) looks up Indrė (Gabija Bargailaitė) for an unusual request: to drive him back to the small town where Matas — his brother and her boyfriend — died. Unsure what to do with his pent-up emotions, Paulius hopes that this trip will bring about a change, in whatever form it may come. Though they haven’t spoken in a while, Indrė agrees, particularly as an injury has left Paulius incapable of driving. But as the two walk through Matas’ final days, retracing his steps and meeting the people he saw, it is unclear whether the journey will make them feel better or worse.

A beautiful, tender meditation on suffering that links personal struggles with communal ones, Pilgrims has renewed urgency as we consider buried pains that have never come to light, and historical suffering that can suddenly feel fresh. Never overwhelming and with a deceptively simple approach, director Laurynas Bareiša confronts us to consider the nature of violence and closure. 

Pilgrims has been put forward as Lithuania’s candidate for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film.

Tickets to this event must be purchased in advance online at the link above; film screenings will take place in Victor Borge Hall.

Virtual screenings of this film will take place from November 4-13. To read more and purchase virtual passes, please click here.

About the Director

Laurynas Bareiša was born in Kaunas. He holds a bachelor’s degree in both applied mathematics from Vilnius University and in cinematography from the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theater. In 2016 he completed his studies for a master’s degree in film directing. His first short film Dembava (2014) premiered at Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival followed by The Camel (2016), By The Pool (2017) and Caucasus (2018), which premiered in Venice and Locarno film festivals. 

His short film Dummy (2020) premiered at the Berlin Film Festival. Pilgrims is his feature directorial debut.

About the NYBFF

Established in 2018, the New York Baltic Film Festival is presented and organized by Scandinavia House in collaboration with the Consulate General of Estonia, Consulate General of Lithuania, and Daris Delins, former Honorary Consul for Latvia in New York and founder of the festival.

Financial support for the festival comes from the Estonian Film Institute, National Film Center of Latvia, Lithuanian Film Center, and the Edhard Corporation with additional sponsorship by the Estonian American National Council, Lithuanian Culture Institute, Lithuanian Foundation, Consulate General of Estonia in New York, Embassy of Latvia in Washington D.C., Permanent Mission of Latvia to the U.N. in New York, Consulate General of Lithuania in New York, American Latvian Association, Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, the PBLA Culture Fund, and Sondra Litvaitytė.

ORGANIZERS & SPONSORS