One day before its initially planned inauguration, the Vilnius International Film Festival is implementing a #StandWithUkraine programme, including film screenings and an industry event that responds to the call for a boycott of Russian films invoked by the Ukrainian Film Academy (see the news).

The overarching theme of this year’s festival programme is “To Exist You Have to Co-Exist”. Even though this had already been defined several months before the start of the war in Ukraine, it is even more fitting than expected. Before its official kick-off, the Vilnius International Film Festival (24 March-3 April) will get going on 23 March, on the eve of its inauguration, with a special programme dedicated to Ukraine. On this so-called “Day Zero”, five Ukrainian films and movies dealing with the Ukrainian reality will be screened. These are Mariupolis [+lee también:
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entrevista: Mantas Kvedaravicius
ficha de la película] by Mantas Kvedaravičius (2016, a co-production between France, Lithuania, Ukraine and Germany), The Distant Barking of Dogs [+lee también:
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ficha de la película] by Simon Lereng Wilmont (2017, a co-production between Denmark, Sweden and Finland), Atlantis [+lee también:
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entrevista: Valentyn Vasyanovych
ficha de la película] by Valentyn Vasyanovych (2019), Bad Roads [+lee también:
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entrevista: Natalya Vorozhbit
ficha de la película] by Natalya Vorozhbitand (2019) and My Thoughts Are Silent [+lee también:
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ficha de la película] by Antonio Lukich (2020).

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In order to express its solidarity with Ukraine, the festival is following a strict protocol concerning the Russian involvement in this year's edition. Vilnius is the first international festival to boycott Russian cinema and refuse all Russian films. In doing so, it responds to the call by the Ukrainian Film Academy and the requests set out in its official petition (read more here). Festival director Algirdas Ramaska explained his decision with the following words: “Any film involving Russian-based companies would indirectly raise money for the war in Ukraine through taxation. Total isolation will make more Russian people rise up against their government.”

He added: “We must do everything we can to help our brothers and sisters in Ukraine. With the boycott, the festival has taken a stand without any compromise. Seeing what is happening in society and the impact of it on mental health, our team feels that the festival is the most meaningful thing we can do at the moment. Films inspire us to define the difference between good and evil. Let's be curious and ask ourselves what our role in this tense world is. As a country, Lithuania has stayed silent for so long. We are not afraid to speak up.”

As a consequence, the festival has also withdrawn its invitations for Russian projects and representatives to attend its industry event. Meeting Point Vilnius (MPV) will instead include a special day (1 April) focusing specifically on Ukraine. A series of panels will deal with political, institutional and film-industry issues. Alessandra Pastor, head of Industry at the festival, commented: “Ukrainian filmmakers deserve our full, undivided attention. As they fight for their country and their very lives, we offer a dialogue with them to define short, medium and long-term strategies. It’s never too late to start talking about tomorrow.”

After two editions organised during the pandemic-related lockdown and isolation, the festival is now committed to bringing back audiences to enjoy the films and the festival in person.