LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM ( October 29, 2024 ) - London Baltic Film Festival 2024 (LBFF), the only film festival in the UK dedicated to Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian cinema, will run from 28 November to 1 December at Rich Mix London.
Now, in its fourth year, the LBFF has grown into a regular event in the capital’s cinematic calendar. The festival is a celebration of Baltic cinema, offering UK audiences the discovery of Latvian, Lithuanian, and Estonian culture and stories of its people, and the voices of its filmmakers.
The focus of last year’s edition was the region’s complex history and shifting political landscapes. This year, the organisers will be offering a diverse programme of contemporary stories, including several UK premieres. Festival highlights:
“Flow” (Straume), from Latvia, is a wondrous journey through realms of natural and mystical and follows a courageous cat after his home is devastated by a great flood. “Flow” premiered in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard, won four prizes at the prestigious Annecy Festival, including the Competition jury award and feature film audience award, has been nominated for the best European Animated Film by European Film Academy, and is Latvia’s selection for the Academy Awards.
“Five And A Half Love Stories in an Apartment in Vilnius, Lithuania,” as the title suggests, takes place in the Lithuanian capital. In an AirBnB apartment, its guests pursue love, celebrate milestones of their lives, deal with family issues, and struggle with temptation, all unaware of the joys and tragedies that transpire within the same walls and under the same bedsheets.
The UK premiere of “Lioness” (Emalõvi), from Estonia. This powerful and gripping drama about a teenager and her mother, was released in Estonian cinemas in September. When rebellious Stefi goes missing, her mother Helena has nothing left to lose anymore – why cling to sanity when madness offers a chance for reconciliation and love.
The UK premiere of “More Than A Dance” (Vair?k k? deja): an inspiring documentary about a dedicated group of Canadian-Latvians, who share a passion for their cultural heritage through the art of folk dance. As they prepare for the journey of a lifetime, to perform at the 150th Latvian Nationwide Song and Dance Festival in Riga, they are not just rehearsing steps but reconnecting with the rhythms of their roots. The festival, one of the largest such events in the world, drawing almost three times more participants than the Olympic Games, represents a homecoming for many.
Estonian festival darling and award winning “The Invisible Fight” (Nähtamatu võitlus) is an outrageous adventure blending several genres. USSR-China border, 1973. Rafael, is in the army on guard duty when the border falls under attack from flying Chinese kung fu warriors. Utterly fascinated by the long-haired Chinese hippie kung fu aces flying around blasting forbidden Black Sabbath music, he too wants to become a kung fu warrior.
The UK premiere of “Parade” (Paradas), a comedic drama about a divorced couple deciding to formalise their divorce through the Lithuanian Catholic Court after more than twenty years of being separated. During the process, they become even closer than they were during their marriage.
Festivalgoers will have a unique opportunity to dive deeper into the films during Q&A sessions which will follow each of the six screenings. Access to all Q&A sessions will be open to all ticket holders. In partnership with online streaming platform Klassiki.online, LBFF will be offering a curated online screening programme of classic titles from the three Baltic nations, covering several decades of cinema.
Festival dates: Thursday 28 November – Sunday 1 December 2024
Location: Rich Mix London
Complete programme: https://www.londonbalticff.com/
Tickets: tickets are available for purchase on the cinema’s website at https://richmix.org.uk/
About the London Baltic Film Festival
The London Baltic Film Festival is the UK’s only celebration of cinema from the three Baltic states, offering a unique lens into the lives, history, and culture of the Baltic nations. The festival is organised and supported by the Embassy of Estonia, Embassy of Latvia, Embassy of Lithuania, the Estonian Film Institute, National Film Centre of Latvia, and Lithuanian Film Centre.
