The Vilnius International Film Festival (VIFF) - "Kino pavasaris" is a film festival held annually in March in Vilnius, Lithuania since 1995, and is the largest film festival in the nation in number of films and audience. It is one of the most anticipated annual cultural events in Lithuania. The 19th edition of the festival in 2014 featured ~250 films in the program. The festival leader is Tor Fosse, and BIFF is owned by Bergen Cinema.
The festival's main venue is Forum Cinemas Vingis, with additional screenings taking place at the local art film theatre SKALVIJA, cinema boutique "Pasaka" and at the shopping mall "Akropolis" at "Forum Cinemas Akropolis". Some screenings are shown in the second largest city of Lithuania - Kaunas at local "Forum Cinemas" centre.
Vilnius International Film Festival is organised in various sections:
Competition programmes:
New Europe – New Names (since 2009), the films are assessed by the international jury of the cinema industry professionals: actors, directors, programme directors, cinematographers and producers. The jury will select the best film of the festival and award it with two special prizes.Baltic Gaze (since 2014), the idea of this competition programme is to satisfy growing interest of Baltic region cinematography. The films are assessed by the international jury of the cinema industry professionals. The jury will select the best film of this programme and award it with solid monetary prize.Other programmes:
Short films. CompetitionDiscoveriesFestivals’ favouritesMastersCritics’ choiceVIASAT comediesDocumentariesRetrospective, each year a different director or/and a topic is selected.American IndependentsNew Russian CinemaCulinary filmsFilms for FamilyLithuanian films. PremiersLithuanian filmsLithuanians AbroadShort filmsInternational film industry professionals meet in Vilnius to discuss hot topics of today’s and tomorrow’s audiovisual world. The highlight of the industry event is the presentation of Lithuanian and Baltic film industry.
The oldest and one of the most important award of VIFF.
2004: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring, directed by Kim Ki-duk South Korea2005: 3-Iron (Bin-jip), directed by Kim Ki-duk South Korea2006: The Method, directed by Marcelo Piñeyro Argentina2007: The Lives of Others, directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck Germany2008: 4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days, directed by Cristian Mungiu Romania2009: Camino, directed by Javier Fesser Spain2010: Departures, directed by Yōjirō Takita Japan2011: Incendies, directed by Denis Villeneuve Canada2012: The Intouchables, directed by Olivier Nakache and Éric Toledano France2013: Searching for Sugar Man, directed by Malik Bendjelloul Sweden2014: Omar, directed by Hany Abu-Assad Palestine2015: Mommy, directed by Xavier Dolan Canada2016: Truman, directed by Cesc Gay SpainThe main awards at Vilnius International Film Festival. Introduced in 2009. Chosen by the international jury of the cinema industry professionals: actors, directors, programme directors, cinematographers and producers. The jury will select the best film of the festival and award it with two special prizes.
Best Film
2009: The World Is Big and Salvation Lurks Around the Corner, directed by Stefan Kitanov Bulgaria2010: Eastern Plays, directed by Kamen Kalev Bulgaria2011: Outbound (Periferic), directed by Bogdan George Apetri Romania2012: Courage, directed by Grzegorz Zgliński Poland2013: Loving (Miłość), directed by Slawomir Fabicki Poland2014: Japanese Dog, directed by Tudor Cristian Jurgiu Romania2015: Koza, directed by Ivan Ostrochovský Slovakia2016 >1: I, Olga Hepnarová, directed by Petr Kazda Czech Republic and Tomáš Weinreb Czech Republic2016 >2: Thirst, directed by Svetla Tsotsorkova BulgariaBest Director
2009: Javor Gardev Bulgaria2010: - no award2011: - no award2012: Adrian Sitaru Romania, film Best Intentions2013: Mira Fornay Slovakia, film My Dog Killer,2014: Levan Koguashvili Georgia, film Blind Dates (Brma paemnebi)2015: Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy Ukraine, film The Tribe2016: Agnieszka Smoczyńska Poland, film The LureBest Actors
2009: Miki Manojlovic Serbia, film The World Is Big and Salvation Lurks Around the Corner2010: Vlad Ivanov Romania, film Police, Adjective2011: Bartu Kucukcaglayan Turkey, film Majority2012 >1: Anjela Nedyalkova Bulgaria, film Avé2012 >2: Ada Condeescu Romania, film Loverboy2012 >3: Isidora Simijonovic Serbia, film Clip2013: Dan Chiorean Romania, film Rocker2014: Actor: Igor Samobor Slovakia, film Class Enemy. Actress: Michaela Bendulova Slovakia, film Miracle2015: Actor: Márton Kristóf Hungary, film Afterlife. Actress: Margita Gosheva Bulgaria, film The Lesson2016: Actor: Uliks Fehmiu Serbia, film Our Everyday Life. Actress: Monika Naydenova Bulgaria, film ThirstCICAE jury film award
2009: - no award2010: Eastern Plays, directed by Kamen Kalev Bulgaria2011: On the Path, directed by Jasmila Žbanić Bosnia and Herzegovina2012: director Adrian Sitaru Romania, film Best Intentions2013: Keep Smiling (Gaigimet), directed by Rusudan Chkonia2014: director Rok Biček Czech Republic, film Class Enemy2015: Ivan Ostrochovský Slovakia, film Koza2016: Mirjana Karanović Serbia, film A Good WifeSpecial award
2010: Protector, directed by Marek Najbrt Czech Republic (for creative excellence)2011: The House, directed by Zuzana Liová SlovakiaIntroduced in 2014.
Best Film
2014: The Hope Factory, directed by Natalia Meshaninova Russia2015: Victoria, directed by Sebastian Schipper Germany2016: Under the Sun, directed by Vitaly Mansky UkraineBest Director
2014: Paweł Pawlikowski Poland, film Ida2015: Joshua Oppenheimer United States, film The Look of Silence2016: Mantas Kvedaravičius Lithuania, film MariupolisBest Actor
2014: Lauri Lagle Estonia, film Free Range2015: Janusz Gajos Poland, film Body2016: Oleg Maximov Russia, film Don JuanBest Actress
2014: Alexandra Finder Germany, film The Police Officer's Wife2015: Bianca Kronlöf Sweden- Finland, film Underdog (Svenskjävel)2016: Trine Dyrholm Denmark, film The CommuneSpecial mention
2014: - no mention2015: Rocks in My Pockets directed by Signe Baumane Latvia2016: Granny's Dancing on the Table directed by Hanna Sköld SwedenIntroduced by L‘oreal Paris in 2007 as "Lithuanian star", discontinued after 2010. Revived in 2012 as "Best Lithuanian Actress" with new sponsor Bourjois.
2007: Nelė Savičenko2008: Larisa Kalpokaitė2009: Gabija Ryškuvienė2010: Edita Užaitė2011: - no award2012: Toma Vaškevičiūtė2013: Valda Bičkutė2014: Jurgita Jurkutė2015: Aistė Diržiūtė2016: Viktorija KuodytėIntroduced in 2014.
2014: Giedrius Savickas2015: Marius Repšys2016: Juozas BudraitisIntroduced in 2010.
2010: Lernavan, directed by Marat Sargsyan2011: Barzakh, directed by Mantas Kvedaravičius2012: A Place We Call Home, directed by Albina Griniūtė2013: The Bomb, directed by Robertas Nevecka2014: The Etude, directed by Austėja Urbaitė2015: Fellow Travelers (Pakeliaiviai), directed by Linas Mikuta2016 - no awardIntroduced in 2011.
2011: Book smuggler, directed by Jonas Trukanas2012: The Last Day of the Honeymoon, directed by Rokas Eltermanas2013: The Swimmer, directed by Gabrielė Urbonaitė2014: The Invisible Front, directed by Vincas Sruoginis and Jonas Ohman2015: Life Is Sacred, directed by Andreas Dalsgaard, Nicolas Servide and Vivana Gomez2016: Junction, directed by Nathan JureviciusBest short film, selected from short competition programme. Introduced in 2012.
2012: Beast (Csicka), directed by Attila Till Hungary2013: The Whistle (Gwizdek), directed by Grzegorz Zariczny Poland2014: Pandas, directed by Matus Vizar Slovakia2015: Symphony No. 42, directed by Réka Bucsi Germany2016: >award Fear, directed by Michal Blaško Slovakia2016: >special mention End of Puberty, directed by Fanni Szilágyi HungaryIntroduced in 2013.
2013: Buzkashi Boys, directed by Sam French United States2014: Kush, directed by Shubhashish Bhutiani India2015: - no award2016: Otto, directed by Marieke Blaauw Netherlands, Joris Oprins Netherlands, Job Roggeveen Netherlands2012: Infinite Minutes (Vegtelen percek), directed by Cecilia Felméri Hungary2013: No, directed by Pablo Larraín Chile2014: Norte, the End of History, directed by Lav Diaz Philippines2015: Timbuktu, directed by Abderrahmane Sissako Mauritania2016: The Pearl Button, directed by Patricio Guzmán Chile2014: Ieva Mažeikaitė and Goda Lūčiūnienė2015: Andrius Patiomkinas
