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 5, see Songs for a Fox (Dainos Lapei, dir. Kristijonas Vildžiūnas, Lithuania/Latvia/Estonia, 2021, Narrative). Twenty-something rock musician Dainius (Lukas Malinauskas) has gone to the deep countryside to hide away in a secluded, dome-shaped house surrounded by swamps to mourn the recent death of his wife, Justine (Agnese Cīrule). To cope with his sorrow, Dainius immerses himself into the art of lucid dreaming, something Justine had been interested in. While she had kept a meticulous diary of her nighttime journeys, for Dainius the fascination lies in his hope of being able to meet her one more time. Inspired by the classic myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, the film’s fantastical story combines weird dreams with heart-wrenching loss, featuring includes newly recorded songs written for the film by director Kristijonas Vildžiūnas’ cult band Šiaurės kryptis.
“Outstanding, and the icing on the cake is the presence of an engaging score.” (Cineuropa)
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 6-13. To read more and purchase virtual passes, please click here.
About the Director
Kristijonas Vildžiūnas was born in Vilnius in 1970. Before starting his studies at the Lithuanian Music Academy Film Directing Department (1991-1997), he was fond of architecture and painting. In the early 90s he was also a songwriter and a lead vocalist of the popular Lithuanian alternative rock band “Šiaurės kryptis” (North Direction), which he re-banded in 2015 to produce songs for two of his films including Songs For a Fox.
Kristijonas Vildžiūnas studied at the Lithuanian Music Academy Film Directing Department (1991-1997). In the early ‘90s, he was also a songwriter and a lead vocalist of the popular Lithuanian alternative rock band “Šiaurės kryptis” (North Direction), who also produced songs for Songs For a Fox.
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
