06/09/2011

Once again, the Kaunas International Film Festival is supporting filmmaking talent from its own backyard as the 5th edition of the festival will open with Lithuanian documentary The Field of Magic.

“We are establishing a tradition to begin the programme of the Festival with a Lithuanian film - last year we screened Eastern Drift by Sharunas Bartas, and this year we chose the work of Mindaugas Survila who represents the young generation of Lithuanian filmmakers. Each year, we try to introduce both renowned Lithuanian works of cinematography and promising filmmakers,” said Festival Director Ilona Jurkonyt.

The film follows the trials and tribulations of those living in the Buda Forest situated near 'The Field of Magic’ – another name for the Kariotišk's Dump. Throughout history the inhabitants of Buda have existed in a world with their own traditions and customs that are both unique yet strangely familiar. But when the dump is closed in 2008, the daily lives of those who have existed in harmony with their surroundings for so long changes beyond recognition.

“My visits to the Buda Forest were very frequent during the filming and gradually those people began accepting me... All of a sudden I could see them in a completely different way as compared to the picture drawn by the press and the television – they not only do their share of hard work every day, but also read books, listen to music, make jokes, fall in love, sing, cry, play cards, do their hair and are always ready to help each other,” said director Survila.

The screening will kick off a festival which has gradually been growing in reputation over the previous years, with last year playing host to a retrospective, and appearance, by Hungarian master Béla Tarr and a selection of eclectic films from Europe and beyond.

The 5th Kaunas International Film Festival takes place from September 27-October 9 in Kaunas and Vilnius.