20/02/2014 - Lithuanian films account for 16.49% of the country’s box office, up from 2.54% in 2012

Valentine Alone by Donatas Ulvydas

The domestic Lithuanian film industry saw massive growth in 2013, as evidenced by new figures released by the Lithuanian Film Centre. With growing cinema attendance (2013 saw 3,256,995 admissions across the country – 236,663 more than in 2012), domestic films took second place behind American ones, with an impressive – and never bettered – market share of 16.49% for Lithuanian titles. Ticket revenue for 2013 stood at €13,142,652, and more than €2 million of this was down to Lithuanian products.    

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Three national films – How to Steal a Wife and Valentine Alone, both directed by Donatas Ulvydas, as well as Women Lie Better: Kristina by Alvydas Šlepikas – made it into Lithuania’s top 10 highest grossing films of 2013.

2014 already looks set to be a bonanza for the domestic industry, with Redirected [+see also:
trailer
film profile] – Emilis Velyvis’ English-language thriller starring Vinnie Jones that was released in January – already taking over €1 million during its first month of release. With visibility high for other Lithuanian films on the festival circuit (for example, with The Gambler [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Ignas Jonynas
film profile] garnering a high profile at the likes of San Sebastian and Marrakesh), as well as the recent tax breaks for foreign productions, Lithuania seems to be riding high on the crest of a wave.