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. Competition
Discoveries
Festivals’ favourites
Masters
Critics’ choice
VIASAT comedies
Documentaries
Retrospective, each year a different director or/and a topic is selected.
American Independents
New Russian Cinema
Culinary films
Films for Family
Lithuanian films. Premiers
Lithuanian films
Lithuanians Abroad
Short films
International 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 Korea
2005: 3-Iron (Bin-jip), directed by Kim Ki-duk South Korea
2006: The Method, directed by Marcelo Piñeyro Argentina
2007: The Lives of Others, directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck Germany
2008: 4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days, directed by Cristian Mungiu Romania
2009: Camino, directed by Javier Fesser Spain
2010: Departures, directed by Yōjirō Takita Japan
2011: Incendies, directed by Denis Villeneuve Canada
2012: The Intouchables, directed by Olivier Nakache and Éric Toledano France
2013: Searching for Sugar Man, directed by Malik Bendjelloul Sweden
2014: Omar, directed by Hany Abu-Assad Palestine
2015: Mommy, directed by Xavier Dolan Canada
2016: Truman, directed by Cesc Gay Spain
The 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 Bulgaria
2010: Eastern Plays, directed by Kamen Kalev Bulgaria
2011: Outbound (Periferic), directed by Bogdan George Apetri Romania
2012: Courage, directed by Grzegorz Zgliński Poland
2013: Loving (Miłość), directed by Slawomir Fabicki Poland
2014: Japanese Dog, directed by Tudor Cristian Jurgiu Romania
2015: Koza, directed by Ivan Ostrochovský Slovakia
2016 >1: I, Olga Hepnarová, directed by Petr Kazda Czech Republic and Tomáš Weinreb Czech Republic
2016 >2: Thirst, directed by Svetla Tsotsorkova Bulgaria
Best Director
2009: Javor Gardev Bulgaria
2010: - no award
2011: - no award
2012: Adrian Sitaru Romania, film Best Intentions
2013: Mira Fornay Slovakia, film My Dog Killer,
2014: Levan Koguashvili Georgia, film Blind Dates (Brma paemnebi)
2015: Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy Ukraine, film The Tribe
2016: Agnieszka Smoczyńska Poland, film The Lure
Best Actors
2009: Miki Manojlovic Serbia, film The World Is Big and Salvation Lurks Around the Corner
2010: Vlad Ivanov Romania, film Police, Adjective
2011: Bartu Kucukcaglayan Turkey, film Majority
2012 >1: Anjela Nedyalkova Bulgaria, film Avé
2012 >2: Ada Condeescu Romania, film Loverboy
2012 >3: Isidora Simijonovic Serbia, film Clip
2013: Dan Chiorean Romania, film Rocker
2014: Actor: Igor Samobor Slovakia, film Class Enemy. Actress: Michaela Bendulova Slovakia, film Miracle
2015: Actor: Márton Kristóf Hungary, film Afterlife. Actress: Margita Gosheva Bulgaria, film The Lesson
2016: Actor: Uliks Fehmiu Serbia, film Our Everyday Life. Actress: Monika Naydenova Bulgaria, film Thirst
CICAE jury film award
2009: - no award
2010: Eastern Plays, directed by Kamen Kalev Bulgaria
2011: On the Path, directed by Jasmila Žbanić Bosnia and Herzegovina
2012: director Adrian Sitaru Romania, film Best Intentions
2013: Keep Smiling (Gaigimet), directed by Rusudan Chkonia
2014: director Rok Biček Czech Republic, film Class Enemy
2015: Ivan Ostrochovský Slovakia, film Koza
2016: Mirjana Karanović Serbia, film A Good Wife
Special award
2010: Protector, directed by Marek Najbrt Czech Republic (for creative excellence)
2011: The House, directed by Zuzana Liová Slovakia
Introduced in 2014.
Best Film
2014: The Hope Factory, directed by Natalia Meshaninova Russia
2015: Victoria, directed by Sebastian Schipper Germany
2016: Under the Sun, directed by Vitaly Mansky Ukraine
Best Director
2014: Paweł Pawlikowski Poland, film Ida
2015: Joshua Oppenheimer United States, film The Look of Silence
2016: Mantas Kvedaravičius Lithuania, film Mariupolis
Best Actor
2014: Lauri Lagle Estonia, film Free Range
2015: Janusz Gajos Poland, film Body
2016: Oleg Maximov Russia, film Don Juan
Best Actress
2014: Alexandra Finder Germany, film The Police Officer's Wife
2015: Bianca Kronlöf Sweden- Finland, film Underdog (Svenskjävel)
2016: Trine Dyrholm Denmark, film The Commune
Special mention
2014: - no mention
2015: Rocks in My Pockets directed by Signe Baumane Latvia
2016: Granny's Dancing on the Table directed by Hanna Sköld Sweden
Introduced 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 Savičenko
2008: Larisa Kalpokaitė
2009: Gabija Ryškuvienė
2010: Edita Užaitė
2011: - no award
2012: Toma Vaškevičiūtė
2013: Valda Bičkutė
2014: Jurgita Jurkutė
2015: Aistė Diržiūtė
2016: Viktorija Kuodytė
Introduced in 2014.
2014: Giedrius Savickas
2015: Marius Repšys
2016: Juozas Budraitis
Introduced in 2010.
2010: Lernavan, directed by Marat Sargsyan
2011: Barzakh, directed by Mantas Kvedaravičius
2012: A Place We Call Home, directed by Albina Griniūtė
2013: The Bomb, directed by Robertas Nevecka
2014: The Etude, directed by Austėja Urbaitė
2015: Fellow Travelers (Pakeliaiviai), directed by Linas Mikuta
2016 - no award
Introduced in 2011.
2011: Book smuggler, directed by Jonas Trukanas
2012: The Last Day of the Honeymoon, directed by Rokas Eltermanas
2013: The Swimmer, directed by Gabrielė Urbonaitė
2014: The Invisible Front, directed by Vincas Sruoginis and Jonas Ohman
2015: Life Is Sacred, directed by Andreas Dalsgaard, Nicolas Servide and Vivana Gomez
2016: Junction, directed by Nathan Jurevicius
Best short film, selected from short competition programme. Introduced in 2012.
2012: Beast (Csicka), directed by Attila Till Hungary
2013: The Whistle (Gwizdek), directed by Grzegorz Zariczny Poland
2014: Pandas, directed by Matus Vizar Slovakia
2015: Symphony No. 42, directed by Réka Bucsi Germany
2016: >award Fear, directed by Michal Blaško Slovakia
2016: >special mention End of Puberty, directed by Fanni Szilágyi Hungary
Introduced in 2013.
2013: Buzkashi Boys, directed by Sam French United States
2014: Kush, directed by Shubhashish Bhutiani India
2015: - no award
2016: Otto, directed by Marieke Blaauw Netherlands, Joris Oprins Netherlands, Job Roggeveen Netherlands
2012: Infinite Minutes (Vegtelen percek), directed by Cecilia Felméri Hungary
2013: No, directed by Pablo Larraín Chile
2014: Norte, the End of History, directed by Lav Diaz Philippines
2015: Timbuktu, directed by Abderrahmane Sissako Mauritania
2016: The Pearl Button, directed by Patricio Guzmán Chile
2014: Ieva Mažeikaitė and Goda Lūčiūnienė
2015: Andrius Patiomkinas
