The Vilnius IFF is held every March. Its mission is to introduce audience to the most surprising, intriguing and powerful independent cinema from around the world as well as to inspire and encourage up-and-coming filmmakers. It screens over 200 films in several sections. They include Masters, Critics’ Choice, Lithuanian Premieres, Lithuanian Cinema, Lithuanians Abroad, American Independent Cinema, Hot Documentaries, retrospectives, and more.
The Vilnius International Film Festival hosts several competitions. The New Europe, New Names competition is open to first and second feature films by filmmakers from Eastern and Central Europe. The Baltic Gaze competition is open to fiction and documentary films from the Baltic region countries (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Germany, Russia, Denmark, Finland, and Sweden). There are two more competitions, a short film competition for filmmakers from Eastern and Central Europe and a student film competition for Lithuanian students.
The New Europe, New Names competition program has several awards including Best Film, Best Directors, Best Actress, Best Actor, and CICAE Jury Award. The Baltic Game competition includes awards for Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Actor as well Special Mention Award. The short film competition and the student film competition have only one award, Best Film. Besides, there are special awards such as Audience Choice Award, Saulius Macaitis Prize (Critics’ Choice Award), Best Lithuanian Actress Award, and Best Lithuanian Actor Award.
One of the festival’s signature events is the international conference Meeting Point Vilnius. It is considered the leading networking event in the Lithuanian film industry. The conference is designed to promote the film industry of the Baltic countries (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia). It lasts for three days, filled with networking events for Baltic and international film industry professionals.
In 2020, the event was held online due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Photo: kinopavasaris.lt
