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Vilnius International Film Festival

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.

Vilnius International Film Festival Kino Pavasaris is the biggest and most important cinema event in Lithuania. Over 30 years, the festival has become a highly attended cultural phenomenon. In 2017, it attracted 114 250 members of audience in 5 Lithuanian cities. In 2025, Vilnius IFF will take place in 14 cities over two weeks.

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. And from 2018 Vilnius IFF took place in 11 cities over two weeks.

History

The festival was founded in 1995 at the cinema Lietuva. Festival director Vida Ramaškienė.

After the 2002 festival the venue Lietuva was sold to private investors. As a result, the festival did not happen in 2003.

In 2004 the festival got the first donation from the European Commission. Festival's programme becomes more independent and Edvinas Pukšta with Jurga Stakėnaitė started making festival's film programme.

In 2006 the festival changed its location to Forum Cinemas Vingis in Naujamiestis.

In 2018, Vilnius IFF presented 112 feature and 56 short films, including 12 Lithuanian premieres. Like always, the festival has selected strong debuts and works from masters of film. The large programme has been divided into 5 categories: Discoveries, Festivals' Favourites, Masters, Critics' Choice, and Competition of European Debuts.

In 2025, the Vilnius International Film Festival celebrated its 30th anniversary, screening over 100 films and hosting more than 50 events across Lithuania. The festival attracted nearly 130,000 attendees. To mark the occasion, the winners received a special anniversary edition of the Vilnius International Film Festival statuette.

Programmes

Since 2009, the festival's competition programmes have become our phenomenal calling card for international film industry professionals, and a great educational tool for festivalgoers. This year, films from debuting European directors will take part in the Competition of European Debuts.

Vilnius International Film Festival is organised in various sections:

Competition programmes:

  • New Europe – New Names (since 2009), the films are assessed by an international jury of cinema industry professionals: actors, directors, programme directors, cinematographers and producers. The jury selects the best film of the festival and awards it 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
  • A Letter to Ukraine
  • Culinary films
  • Films for Family
  • Lithuanian films – premiers
  • Lithuanian films
  • Lithuanians Abroad
  • Short films

2018 Vilnius IFF will also be the first Lithuanian festival to welcome members of the prestigious FIPRESCI association, who will award one director from the Baltic region their prize. The FIPRESCI Prize is significant proof of the festival's quality being recognized on an international level.

Industry event "Meeting Point – Vilnius"

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.

Awards at Vilnius International Film Festival

The Audience Award

The oldest and one of the most important award of VIFF.

The Audience Award (Lithuanian film)

Introduced in 2011.

The Audience Award (Short film)

Introduced in 2013.

Short Film Competition

Best short film, selected by a jury from short competition programme. Introduced in 2012.

European Debut Competition

Introduced in 2018

Jury

Best Actress

Best Director

Best Actor

Best Film

CINEUROPE Prize

Retired Awards

Competition programme "New Europe – New Names"

Introduced 2009 - 2018 Retired 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

Best Director Introduced 2009 - 2018 Retired

Best Actors Introduced 2009 - 2018 Retired

CICAE jury film award Introduced 2009 - 2018 Retired

Special award

Competition programme "Baltic Gaze"

Introduced 2014 - 2018 Retired

Best Film

Best Director

Best Actor

Best Actress

Special mention

Best Lithuanian Actress

Introduced by L'oreal Paris in 2007 as "Lithuanian star", discontinued after 2010. Revived in 2012 as "Best Lithuanian Actress" with new sponsor Bourjois.

Best Lithuanian Actor

Introduced in 2014.

Lithuanian debut

Introduced in 2010.

Special award. Since 2013 award of Saulius Macaitis

Special award for best film translations

References

External links