Lithuania bids farewell to M. Kvedaravičius: murdered director honored in Biržai native castle
To say goodbye to M. Kvedaravičius, relatives and friends of his talent flock to Biržai Castle on Saturday. Relatives informed that the director killed by Russian soldiers in Ukraine could be honored here for up to 18 hours.
One of the most talented Lithuanian directors who came to say “goodbye” was not seen in vain – M. Kvedaravičius is honored with flowers. Exactly as his relatives asked.
Earlier this week, Biržai Municipality announced that M. Kvedaravičius, who came from the Biržai Region, was to be awarded an honorary citizen of Biržai District Municipality.
“M. Kvedaravičius always kept in touch with his native Biržai, meetings were held here, and films made by him were presented,” the municipality said.
Lithuanian filmmaker and cultural anthropologist M. Kvedaravičius was taken prisoner and murdered by Russian soldiers in the city of Mariupol, where he had already arrived in the city.
45-year-old director in this city in 2015. filmed the documentary film “Mariupol”.
A few weeks ago, when he arrived in Ukraine, the director reportedly captured the remaining inhabitants and their stories surrounded by the war.
Farewell to Mantas Kvedaravičius in Biržai / photo by Žygimantas Gedvila
The director also worked here in 2015 – he filmed in eastern Ukraine 2016 m. mentioned in the documentary “Mariupol”, which tells the story of an industrial port city in the Donetsk region.
2015 Kvedaravičius came to Odessa to film his first feature film, Stasis, and decided to film several scenes in a Greek village in eastern Ukraine, near Mariupol.
The director, who went to Mariupol, confirmed this with an extension that the most cinematic city it could be – just for filming. The city was perfect for portraying the anticipation of war and the daily routine of war.
2016 m. M. Kvedaravičius’ film won the Silver Crane for the year-long documentary. The director also won the nomination for Best Cinematographer of the Year.
Farewell to Mantas Kvedaravičius in Biržai / photo by Žygimantas Gedvila
The film that received the most attention was M. Kvedaravičius’ film debut, Barzakh, which was released in 2011. It depicts artistically and critically the long political torture and violence in the former Soviet republic of Chechnya.
Barzakh has been featured at more than 40 international film festivals and has won more than 15 international film documentary awards, including Amnesty International and the Ecumenical Jury Award at the 2011 Berlin Film Festival.
The film is widely discussed in the international media due to the large number of missing people and their families.
2011 At the Silver Crane Awards, Barzakh was recognized as the best documentary film, and Mantas Kvedaravičius was nominated for Best Director.
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