The 8th Annual New York Baltic Film Festival (NYBFF) presented by Scandinavia House: The Nordic Center in America returns this November continuing its tradition of bringing the best new films from the Baltic region to New York audiences. This year, we will be approaching the virtual portion of the festival differently: instead of screening the in-person lineup virtually after their premieres at Scandinavia House, the 2025 virtual offerings comprise a selection of picks from past festivals, bringing back Baltic films that have not had a chance to screen in the United States since their release.

Virtual films in the festival will once again be available to viewers all across the U.S. via the Elevent streaming platform November 10-16.

VIRTUAL SCHEDULE

Beginning Monday, November 10

Summer Survivors (dir. Marija Kavtaradze, Lithuania, 2018)
A psychology postgraduate student escorts two patients and their nurse to a seaside psychiatric clinic. Along their journey, they break through each other’s barriers, delve into the sources of their various traumas, and discover the lasting imprints left on their fragile souls. Hailed by Cineuropa as an “exceptionally sensitive and heart-warming film,” Summer Survivors first premiered at Scandinavia House as a part of the 2019 NYBFF; a new film co-written by Marija Kavtaradze, The Visitor, will close out the festival this year.

Remember to Blink (dir. Austėja Urbaitė, Lithuania, 2023)
This captivating drama explores cultural conflicts that arise from a French couple’s adoption of two Lithuanian children. The film skillfully unveils the characters’ multifaceted and irrational traits, weaving a tapestry of relationships that question the boundaries of identity, and exposes a form of “neo-colonialism” reflecting broader cultural conflicts. Remember to Blink first premiered at Scandinavia House as a part of the 2024 NYBFF; the film’s editor Gabrielė Urbonaitė will return this year to discuss her directorial debut Renovation.

The Tree of Eternal Love (dir. Meel Peliale, Estonia, 2021)
This “sardonic, charming comedy” follows Kiik, a young car Estonian mechanic haunted by a recent breakup, as he sets out to chop down the tree on which he once naively etched the initials of his former girlfriend. Bringing his best friend along for the quirky, colorful, and unpredictable road trip, the two find that the journey to the tree is not as straight as they think. The Tree of Eternal Love first premiered at Scandinavia House as a part of the 2022 NYBFF; the film’s director Meel Peliale will return this year to discuss his new feature Rolling Papers.

The Little Comrade (Seltsimees laps, dir. Moonika Siimets, Estonia,  2018)
Praised as “affecting and richly visualized” (Variety), this emotionally resonant historical drama, set in Stalinist 1950 Estonia, follows 6-year-old Leelo as she reels from the aftermath of her mother being sent to a Siberian prison camp. Remember to Blink first premiered at Scandinavia House as a part of the 2019 NYBFF; the film’s director Moonika Siimets will return this year to discuss her new absurdist anthology The Black Hole.

To Be Continued. (dir. Ivars Seleckis and Armands Zacs, Latvia, 2015)
Shot over the course of two years, this powerful documentary by acclaimed Latvian directors Ivars Seleckis and Armands Zacs intimately profiles seven children in various parts of their home country, all finding themselves at the intersection of various historical, social, and economic processes. To Be Continued, first premiered at Scandinavia House in 2019; the directors’ follow-up film, To Be Continued: Teenhood, will be screening in person as a part of this year’s lineup.

The Mutiny (dir. Andrejs Ēķis, Latvia, 2024) *North American Premiere*
This gripping historical miniseries follows a Soviet officer (Dainis Grube)’s struggle against the authorities in 1975 Riga that leads to a mutiny on the Soviet warship Storozhevoy. *All episodes will be available to stream following the in-person premiere of the first four episodes at Scandinavia House on November 7.*

Oleg (dir: Juris Kursietis, Latvia/Belgium/Lithuania/France, 2019)
This harrowing drama follows Oleg, a young Russian-speaking butcher from Latvia who travels to Brussels in search of better wage, where a series of misfortunes lead him to fall under the sway of a charismatic Polish criminal. “Gritty and uncompromising,” the film highlights the perilous situation that migrant workers and stateless citizens can quickly find themselves in as industrious criminals fill in the social systems’ gaps. Oleg first premiered at Scandinavia House as a part of the 2019 NYBFF; director Juris Kursietis’ new film, The Exalted, will be screening in person as a part of this year’s lineup.