17th Vilnius International Film Festival will kick off in March

February 8, 2012

 Vilnius International Film Festival (Vilnius IFF) will kick off on the 15th of March with a grand opening GALA ceremony and an amazing film by Roman Polanski "Carnage". Two exciting weeks of the newest films, enthusiastic discussions, valuable meetings with filmmakers, various social and educational projects – there is no greater way to welcome the spring in Vilnius.

This year Vilnius IFF will be held for the 17th time on 15–29 March. 187 films, including 60 short films will be presented to the audience. Since 2009 Vilnius IFF presents the competition programme “New Europe – New Names” (best debut films from East and Central Europe). This year 10 brilliant films were selected to the competition programme. The competing films will be coming from Hungary, Romania, Poland, Serbia, Estonia, Slovenia, Slovakia, and Bulgaria.

For the first time the festival will also present a competition for the short films, directed by filmmakers from Eastern and Central Europe. Another surprise of this year – midnight screenings, offering the films that would never let you fall asleep. For the ones who are longing some good laughs, there is a special comedy programme, with the most hilarious film hits of the past year.

Vilnius IFF in cooperation with International Film Festivals of Sarajevo, Transylvania and Minsk is happy to invite film professionals to participate in annual Industry Event “Meeting Point – Vilnius” on the 26th – 29th of March. “The 3rd International Film Festival Forum”, “Script +”, “Master classes for young Lithuanian Film Critics” and more industry events will be held to gather and exchange creative ideas, bond new collaborations and raise common practices to bigger attainments.

The official closing ceremony will take place on the 29th of March. Vilnius International Film Festival programme will be crowned with the outstanding French comedy "Love lasts three years" by Frederic Beigbeder.

We are looking forward to welcome you soon in Vilnius.