The silver cranes have completed their tour of Lithuania
On September 9, in Šiauliai, the last film festival of this year “Silver Crane Nights” took place, which visited nine Lithuanian cities and towns during the summer.
The screenings took place in Birštoni, Lazdijai, Druskininkai, Kaltanėnai and Taurage, Karkle, Anykščiai, Jonišky and Šalčininkai. The open-air cinema sessions left an indelible impression on the audience.
The most watched movie – “Pilgrims”
According to Darius Vaitiekūnas, the director of the Audiovisual Works Copyright Association (AVAKA), which is organizing the festival, the feedback from the audience was generally excellent, but Lauryns Bareiša’s “Pilgrims”, Jorūnė Greičiūtė’s “Everything’s OK” and the animation of Saulius Baradinskas’ film “Techno Mama” were probably the most popular this year. Jurga Šeduikytė’s strip “Mora Mora”.
These films were shown most times in Lithuanian cities.
“This holiday is a wonderful idea! Watching movies, fresh air, friends and relatives, snacks, and warmer clothes diversified the autumn evening of the Ionians.
During the collaboration period, I was surprised by the huge selection of short and feature films, so it was extremely easy to choose something suitable for all age groups.
Several viewers said that they were surprised by the animated film “Mora mora” directed by Jurga Šeduikytė – they expected it to be just a simple movie, but after viewing it, their opinion turned 180 degrees.
We want to thank the organizers of the “Silver Crane Nights” festival for their care, kind and close cooperation”, Miglė Pašakinskaitė, representative of the Joniškis Cultural Center, shares her feedback.
Cinema is accessible to everyone
The festival aims not only to bring the latest high-quality Lithuanian cinema to the corners of the country, but also to help regional inclusion, promote cooperation, and empower national minorities.
This is receiving a positive response from the local communities.
“The Municipality of Šalčininkai District is very happy that we were able to introduce the inhabitants of the district to the Lithuanian cinema menu.
The place – the courtyard of the Jašiūnai manor, and not just the light of the improvised cinema hall – gave the evening a special charm.
Special thanks to Justina for her professionalism and prompt fulfillment of requests such as Polish subtitles. The technical preparation for the event was perfect.
During the movie night, while watching the movies wrapped in the blankets we brought, we saw social problems, we smiled more than once, sympathized with the characters, and defended them.
Spectators not only watched the cinema, but also photographed the starry autumn sky. In other words, a very cozy and magical atmosphere was created,” says Erika Sudnicka, representative of the Šalčininkai district municipality.
Meetings with filmmakers were conducted by E. Latėnaitė
Four films were screened in each city: one feature, one short, one animation and one student work.
The main categories of the National Film Awards “Silver Crane” include films that show the diversity of Lithuanian cinema.
Meetings with filmmakers were also held in each city.
The actors Sandra Dakšaitė, Giedrius Kiela, Žygimantė Jakštaitė, Gabija Bargailaitė, Motiejus Aškelovičius, directors Jorūnė Greičiūtė, Gantas Bendikas, Jurga Šeduikytė, cameraman Laura Aliukonytė, screenwriter Modesta Jurgaityte and producer Paulius Jasiūnas are satisfied with them.
Elžbieta Latėn, the recipient of the “Silver Crane” award, interviewed the filmmakers and accompanied her throughout Lithuania.
“The fact that I was invited to host the “Silver Crane” award was not only an appreciation of my honor as an event host, but also a great and strengthening of my personality as a creator.
It was full of wonderful feelings of a pleasant evening, which perfectly reflected the mood of the year, the psychological ambivalence experienced, a bouquet of feelings and emotions”, says E. Latėnaitė and adds that she has a lot of fun during the “Nights of the Silver Crane” festival . to acquaint the audience of various cities with cinema trends, to reveal what topics are now most important to Lithuanian creators, to open the curtain to the behind-the-scenes of film production, by interviewing the creators.
The celebration will take place next year as well
“In this year’s festival “Silver Crane Nights”, 11 events were organized and 15 films were shown.
The geography is wide, the reviews are great, the audience was satisfied, I rate this year’s summer festival very well and I am very grateful to all partners – Lithuanian Film Centerfor municipalities and a cultural center.
At the same time, I can only be happy that interest in Lithuanian cinema is growing and in the future I see great opportunities to organize even more screenings in Lithuania and invite even more viewers to appreciate Lithuanian cinema.
The national film awards “Sidabrinė” are expected already next year, and in the summer we will again go on a trip through Lithuania with the best Lithuanian cinema.
The festival will definitely continue, even several cities have reserved data for the year’s screenings, so I strongly invite all regional municipalities to plan summer movie screenings in their city or town in the summer of the year,” says AVAKA director Darius Vaitiekūnas.
Last session on September 9. bus Šiauliai Amphitheater.
Those gathered will be able to see the most popular film of this festival “Pilgrimai”, directed by Lauryns Bareiša and which won the “Lion” of Venice, two films by Jorūnė Greičiūtė “Išvyka” and “Everything is fine” and the animated film “Mora Mora” directed by Jurga Šeduikytė.
Gabija Bargailaitė participates in the film “Pilgrims” in the meeting with the audience. He will be interviewed by the healthy Sandra Daukšaitė-Petrulėnė, who will replace E. Latėnaitė.
The summer film festival “Silver Crane Nights” is organized by AVAKA in cooperation with Lithuanian municipalities and the cultural center. The project was financed by the Lithuanian Film Center.