The New York Baltic Film Festival presents the NYC Premiere of Paradise ’89. It is the summer of 1989 in Latvia, and politics are turbulent as nine-year old Paula and her sister Laura leave the city to spend their holidays in the country with cousins Maija and Linda. Left without strict adult supervision as the endless sunny summer stretches before them, the four girls enjoy their unexpected freedom, and imitate leading the lives of adults: sipping coffee over conversations about life in cafes, plunging into reckless adventures, and getting into trouble. Based on true events, Paradise ’89 explores a story of growing up against the background of the Baltic Way, a time when Latvia took its first steps towards independence. Directed by Madara Dišlere (Latvia, Germany, 2018)

Madara Dišlere (b.1980) is a Latvian director with long experience in the film industry, having starred as Ida, Emil’s little sister, in the 1985 classic Emīla nedarbi. She graduated from the Directing program at the Latvian Academy of Culture in 2012, and has worked as Assistant Director on several films, among them Melānijas hronika, Es esmu šeit, and Rīgas sargi. Her short film credits include Vējš pelēkās priedes nolauza, Dzejolis, G Punkts, and Andžiņš. Paradise ’89 is her first feature-length film.

Festivals and Awards:
BUFF Malmo
Nordic Film Days Lübeck

ASF is pleased to co-present the second New York Baltic Film Festival at Scandinavia House with motion pictures from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. This year’s programming encompasses the theme of togetherness: on a personal level as well as in relationships and family history, and through the cooperation of various Baltic co-productions. It also shines through in films attempting to incorporate difficult or previously untold stories into contemporary national consciousness.

Coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the Baltic Way — when over 2 million people stood together in human chain linking the 3 capitals of Talllinn, Riga and Vilnius to peacefully call for their independence from the Soviet Union — this year’s festival aims to highlight the diversity of stories that make up the Baltic States. As a chain is made up of links, so a nation is made up of stories.

The 2019 New York Baltic Film Festival is presented by Scandinavia House and organized by the Consulate General of Estonia, Consulate General of Lithuania and Consulate of Latvia in New York. Programming is supported by the Estonian Film Institute, National Film Center of Latvia, and Lithuanian Film Center. Funding for the festival is courtesy of the governments of the Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and by the generous donations of members of the Baltic community in New York. Additional support to the festival is provided by the Lithuanian Culture Institute, and the American Scandinavian Foundation.