The 7th Annual New York Baltic Film Festival (NYBFF) presented by Scandinavia House: The Nordic Center in America returns this November with the best new films from the Baltic region! On November 9, see the gritty coming-of-age drama Toxic (dir. Saulė Bliuvaitė, Lithuania, 2024). Dreaming of an escape from the bleakness of their rural Lithuanian hometown, two teens form a unique bond at a local modeling school, where the promise of a better life pushes girls to violate their bodies in increasingly extreme ways. This unapologetically brave debut feature examines the challenges of growing up in an environment where violence, even when hidden, seems to infiltrate every aspect of life. Toxic was awarded the Swatch First Feature Award for Best Debut Film and received the Ecumenical Jury Prize at the Locarno International Film Festival.

“An impressively tough-minded debut feature with glimmers of tenderness and humor” (Guy Lodge, Variety)

“Gritty and keenly observed, the film benefits from a pair of excellent performances from the young, first-time leads” (Amber Wilkinson, Screendaily)

“Mesmerisingly cinematic” (Mariana Hristova, Cineuropa)

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