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 5, see Dawn of War (O2, Dir. Margus Paju, Estonia/Finland/Latvia/Lithuania, 2020, Narrative). It’s August 1939 and Europe stands on the brink of war. Facing the double threat of Stalin’s Soviet Union and Hitler’s Third Reich, Estonia suffers a fatal blow when the Head of the Counter-Soviet Intelligence Unit is murdered, raising suspicions of a mole within their ranks and leading Estonian spy Feliks Kangur to be called back from Helsinki to unearth the traitor. Global, political, and military events unfold at a dizzying speed as Feliks works against the clock to stave off an invasion by the Red Army. When he uncovers a secret that could change the course of history, he soon realizes that everyone has a secret — even his lover, the young Polish art historian Maria.
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 6-14. To read more and purchase virtual passes, please click here.
About the Director
Margus Paju (b. 1983) graduated in film directing from the Baltic Film and Media School and is currently completing his master’s degree. Paju has been an in-house director at NAFTA Films since 2008. He has directed several short films, two documentaries, a TV series and a number of commercials.
Besides directing, Paju also writes scripts, film reviews and articles about film history for several Estonian culture magazines. DAWN OF WAR (2020) is his latest feature film.
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 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.
