Vilnius international film festival Kino Pavasaris saw the Lithuanian premiere of the documentary film “Mariupolis”, directed by Mantas Kvedaravičius. The festival was honoured to receive the President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė at the event – her first time attending Kino Pavasaris.
Mariupol (or “Mariupolis” in Lithuanian) lies in Eastern Ukraine. In his film Lithuanian director focuses on the everyday lives of the city’s residents, who are living in constant fear of war between pro-Russian rebels and Ukrainian government forces. The director dedicated his work to the poets and shoemakers of Mariupol. The film was made with the cooperation of Ukrainian, German, French and Lithuanian filmmakers.
“Three of us filmed it – me and two directors of photography. We tried to spend as much time as possible with the people, but the war made our time together pass faster. There is no time to look at the camera when bombs are exploding around you,” said Kvedaravičius after the screening.
Both film professionals and politicians were in attendance at the premiere. The President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė attended Kino Pavasaris for the first time. Also present was Vytautas Landsbergis, who played an integral part in the restoration of Lithuania’s independence. Both politicians have been vocal supporters of Ukraine’s fight for independence during the current armed conflict.
“In Maidan Ukraine made European choice. Nobody can stop You. Slava Ukraini!” – wrote the President on Twitter few days before the premiere, reacting to deliberations on an agreement between the European Union and Ukraine.
The premiere was also attended by the Mariupol-based Ukrainian journalist Irina Prudkova, who helped Kvedaravičius in the filming process.
“Mariupolis” had its world premiere in this year’s Panorama section at Berlinale. The documentary was also screened in the documentary competition programme at Asia’s oldest international film festival in Hong Kong just a few weeks ago.
Kvedaravičius garnered international acclaim in 2011, with his first documentary film “Barzakh”, which portrayed life in war-torn Chechnya. The film was awarded at various international film festivals, winning the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury – Special Mention and the Amnesty International Film Prize at Berlinale, and the FIPRESCI prize at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. “Barzakh” was also recognised as the best Lithuanian debut at Kino Pavasaris and won the Silver Crane for Best Documentary at the Lithuanian Film Awards.
“Mariupolis” was nominated for the Amnesty International Film Prize at this year’s Berlinale.
Mariupolis:
Director - Mantas Kvedaravičius
Screenwriter - Mantas Kvedaravičius
Producers - Nadia Turincev, Uljana Kim, Mantas Kvedaravičius, Thanassis Karathanos, Julie Gayet, Anna Palenchuk
Cinematographer - Vadym Ilkov, Viacheslav Tsvetkov, Mantas Kvedaravičius
Editor - Dounia Sichov
Production company - Rouge International, Studio Uljana Kim, Extimacy Films, 435 Films, Twenty Twenty Vision
About the festival:
The 21st Vilnius International Film Festival Kino Pavasaris is taking place on March 31 – April 14. It is the largest cinema event in Lithuania and one of the most prominent film festivals in Eastern Europe, having attracted 107 thousand viewers last year. This year, Kino Pavasaris is screening 130 feature films and 70 short films from all over the world with a special focus on Baltic countries and Central Europe. For more information visit www.kinopavasaris.lt/en
For additional information, please contact:
Karolis Vyšniauskas
Foreign Media Manager of Kino Pavasaris
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
+370 659 62505
@VilniusFilmFest
www.kinopavasaris.lt
