Students’ Choice: Screening of Films from the Skalvija Film Academy

Join us for the final screening of the Skalvija Film Academy, featuring films selected by the Academy’s future second-year students – Ieva Rupeikaitė, Danielius Urbonis, Dmitrij Belčikov, Gintarė Zubrickaitė and Mėta Mataitytė.

The screening will present five films by Film Academy creators, exploring human relationships with oneself, the environment and other people. The works feature a variety of styles, ranging from experimental and surrealist cinema to simpler, more sensitive storytelling. We will also screen three short essays about the settlement of Kintai, created during this year’s summer camp and shot on 16 mm film.

The screening will take place on August 24 at 7:00 PM at the alternative culture space Utopija. After the screening, join us for a short Q&A with the filmmakers, followed by music from vinyl records played by Vytautas Juozėnas, aka Škicas.

Everyone interested in films created by young people is welcome! The films will be screened with Lithuanian and English subtitles. Admission is free.

PROGRAMME:

• ABNORMAL (dir. Ugnė Žydelytė) – 3 min. 28 sec. / 2024
Selected by Ieva:
“This film explores complex human relationships and superficial behaviour. Even for serious adults, such behaviour can become a shield that hides uncomfortable truths – violence, addiction, lies and emotional distance within the family. It raises the question: what kind of emotional atmosphere surrounds a person growing up among such adults? What caught my attention was the film’s distinctive style, which helped me immerse myself in its atmosphere and explore the themes it addresses more deeply.”

• LABYRINTH (dir. Mantas Bitinaitis) – 10 min. 30 sec. / 2025
Selected by Danielius:
“I chose Mantas Bitinaitis’ 2025 graduation film Labyrinth because it offers an opportunity to discuss what makes a film distinctive. Looking at its content, especially in comparison with much of the work created at the Skalvija Film Academy, one could say that this project stands out through a certain kind of positive simplicity. The film does not feature the typical ‘Skalvija-style’ alternative approach or major narrative leaps. But that is precisely why I chose it as something distinctive. As for its technical quality and acting, I would not even dare to comment – I think every viewer should judge that for themselves.”

• WAVE (dir. Saulė Baublytė) – 4 min. 08 sec. / 2024
Selected by Dmitrij:
“In her 2024 graduation film Wave, Saulė Baublytė explores the boundaries between narrative and experimental short film, using fast and unusual editing, a disturbing soundtrack, strange costumes and analogue animation. Through these elements, she creates an eccentric and surreal visual world. The film tells the story of a lonely individual, allowing each viewer to discover a theme that feels personal or create their own interpretation.”

• UNTITLED (dir. Anikė Jefremovaitė) – 6 min. 34 sec. / 2023
Selected by Gintarė:
“Untitled draws the viewer in with its exploration of philosophy, revealed through unusual and unfamiliar characters, space and time. The film interested me because it made me reflect on the definition of cinema itself, as well as the boundaries, possibilities and meaning of this medium.”

• ME WITHOUT THE ALGORITHM (dir. Ūla Misiukonytė) – 5 min. 19 sec. / 2025
Selected by Mėta:
“The 2025 film Me Without the Algorithm by Ūla Misiukonytė opens up many different meanings and allows viewers to interpret the work in their own way. The film presents the thoughts of various people – from musicians to children – their answers to questions and life lessons they are willing to share. I think this is important because it helps us better understand how people feel in certain situations. We cannot always talk openly about such things, so other people’s experiences can help us realise that we are not alone and that others go through similar feelings and experiences. The film is also visually interesting. Many things are conveyed indirectly, allowing viewers to interpret the images in their own way, notice details and experience the emotions being expressed. Although the film is shot in black and white, this does not diminish its emotional or visual impact.”

Follow the latest news about upcoming events on the Skalvija Film Academy website and social media channels.

The event series is funded by the Vilnius City Municipality.

The Skalvija Film Academy project is funded by the Lithuanian Council for Culture.

Visual design by Soraja Bložytė.