The Fourth Annual New York Baltic Film Festival (NYBFF) presented by Scandinavia House: The Nordic Center in America returns in 2021 as a hybrid festival with both in-person and virtual screenings on November 3-14! From November 3 through 7, 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 3-14.

On November 6, see Runner (Bėgikė, dir. Andrius Blaževičius, Lithuania/Czechia, 2021, Narrative). After her boyfriend experiences a psychotic episode and disappears, Marija (Žygimantė Elena Jakštaitė) is determined to find him, for his own good. Chasing down every clue about his whereabouts and involving every friend and relative she can think of, she embarks on a fast-paced odyssey through the city; always one step behind and against all odds, she fights for love and her sanity. Set over the course of 24 hours, Andrius Blaževičius’ dynamic drama unfolds in a condensed format exploring topics of loyalty and sacrifice. Reminiscent of Tom Tykwer’s Run Lola Run, Runner was the perfect platform for Jakštaitė to win the prestigious European Shooting Star award at this year’s Berlin International Film Festival.

“A punchy, panic-attack drama about a different kind of love on the run”–Jessica Kiang, Variety

Tickets to this event must be purchased in advance online at the link above; film screenings will take place in Victor Borge Hall. All attendees are required to present proof of vaccination upon arrival in compliance with New York State government; read more here. Attendees are required to follow all Scandinavia House safety protocols, including wearing masks during the program and observing social distancing rules in signage. Please read our full safety protocols here.

Virtual screenings of this film will take place from November 5-14. To read more and purchase virtual passes, please click here.

About the Director

Andrius Blažeivičius (b. 1985, Vilnius) studied Cultural History and Anthropology at Vilnius University but switched to the Lithuanian Music and Theater Academy where he received his Master’s degree in Film Directing in 2011. Blažeivičius made six short films during his studies, including TEN REASONS (2011), which won two Lithuanian Film Academy Awards. 

His debut feature film THE SAINT (2016) screened at the Busan and Warsaw Film Festivals and received six Lithuanian Film Academy Awards. Blažeivičius works as a freelance director and has been a programmer for the Vilnius International Short Film Festival since 2010.

About 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 Permanent Mission of Latvia to the United Nations in New York.

Financial support for the festival comes from the Estonian Film Institute, National Film Center of Latvia, and Lithuanian Film Center, with additional sponsorship by the Lithuanian Culture Institute, American Latvian Association, LV-100, Printful, PBLA Culture Fund and the Lithuanian Foundation and the Embassy of Latvia in Washington DC.

Organizers & Sponsors