Vilnius International Film Festival Documentary Films – a Present to Your Heart and Mind

February 20, 2012

The forthcoming festival Vilnius International Film Festival (Vilnius IFF) will bring a happy holiday to cinema art lovers. What is more, on March 15-29 documentary fans will get their dose of emotions. Famous film directors, interesting themes will open the world map in front of the viewer’s eyes with the stories overtaking heart and forcing to think.

„Martin Scorsese, Frederick Wiseman, Werner Herzog, Viktor Kossakovski, Jafar Panahi – this year is especially rich with the attractive names in the documentary films’ repertoire“, says Edwin Puksta, one of the festival programme consultants. „Documentary lovers are curious and interested in all kinds of spheres, i.e. history, biographies of bright people, social phenomena, etc. We picked the films that each and everyone could find something interesting to watch – the sensitive ones, the information lovers, those who want to find out interesting facts, to broaden the knowledge of history and travel around the world.”

From the must be seen movies E.Puksta mentions the film “The Swell Season”, dir. Nick August-Perna, Carlo Mirabella-Davis. It is a musical story about the love drama in the flames of glory between an Irish Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová who was born in the Czech Republic. They get there after recognition at the Oscars for the best song and starring in the musical film “Once”, which was shown by Vilnius IFF in 2007.

„Whore‘s Glory“, dir. Michael Glawogger, awarded at Venice Film Festival is also about man and woman relations, except that instead of love they are united by money and desire of satisfaction. The prostitutes from Thailand, Bangladesh and Mexico share their everyday intimate business stories with the movie creators.

There is a brain “atomic bomb” in the horizon of director Martin Witz. In the film „The Substance: Albert Hofmann‘s LSD” he traces the history of the drug, from its early tests and controversial glory in Woodstock to the first steps nowadays towards legal using of it for medical purposes.

„George Harrison: Living in the Material World“– is a gift to the fans of legendary “The Beatles” and the admirers of the film director Martin Scorsese. The creator who is a recipient of “Oscar” for the criminal drama “The Departed” this time talks about the least famous group member of “The Beatles” who happens to live a life which was not as modest as it looked. He used to be on drugs, was engaged with Hinduism and was desperately looking for a life beyond the boundaries of materialism.

The winner of four “Emmy” awards Frederick Wisemen sends to the festival seductively erotic film „Crazy Horse“. He insists that one should see this legendary Paris cabaret club as Louvre and Eiffel Tower. We will be able to drop in there straight from the cinema theatre.

Those who enjoy seeing beautiful views should like the film „¡Vivan las Antipodas!“. Lead by a question from childhood days “What is on the other side of the Earth?” dir.Viktor Kossakovski visited Argentina and China, Spain and New Zealand, Hawaii and Botswana, Russia and Chile that happen to be on the opposite sides of the world. Afterwards he poured together the skilfully taken slips into the breathtaking music and sight meditation.
Those of you who last year were fascinated by the 3D journey to the “Cave of Forgotten Dreams”, this year will be able to see even two films of the legendary Werner Herzog. Together with Dmitri Vasyukov shot „Happy People: A Year in the Taiga“ will take us to the village of Bakhtia on the river bank of Jenisej in the far North of Russia. With the film maker of „Into the Abyss“ we will follow the traces of horrific murder in the hot Mexico and watch the provocations in the cell of the prisoners sentenced to death.
Those who are interested in politics will also have what to choose from the programme of documentary films. The film of Nick Broomfield „Sarah Palin: You Betcha!” will reveal the personality of the woman who raises contradictory feelings in the USA society. The film „Tahrir 2011: The Good, the Bad and the Politician” directed by Ayten Amin, Tammer Ezat and Amr Salama will tell about the last year disturbances in Egypt when millions of united people gathered into the mass meeting in the central square of Cairo asking for the resignation of the president Hosni Mubarak.
Documentary fans will also be able to evaluate the works of Lithuanian directors. The festival will present the premieres of short film “An expert” directed by Giedre Beinoriute and “The Only, Unique and the Last” (about the Maestro Arunas Zebriunas) directed by Linas Augutis and many more.

Vilnius IFF which is regarded as the fastest growing film festival in Eastern Europe will be held in Vilnius for the 17th time and it starts on March 15.