The 9th 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!
Two powerful forces, both driven by hunger for life, collide in director Aistė Žegulytė’s Holy Destructors (Biodestruktoriai), screening Saturday, November 7 in NYBFF. Film composer Gediminas Jakubka will be present for a film talk and Q&A.
This powerful documentary delves deep into the invisible world of organisms that emerge during the decay of organic matter. Biodestructors are microfungi that existed millions of years before humans, and will likely outlive us. Their presence transforms bodies into extraordinary energy that nourishes the soil and gives rise to new life in this endless cycle. By blending archival and new footage with shots of growing fungi, director Aistė Žegulytė takes viewers on an enigmatic journey through a microscope lens, where humans continue to fight against time by preserving images, bodies, and memories.
Winner of Best Directing Award, IDFA Envision Competition (2025), Best Baltic Documentary Film, Doc@POFF Competition at Tallinn Black Nights (2025), and Best Documentary at Lithuania’s Silver Crane Awards (2026).
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Aistė Žegulytė was born in 1986 in Panevėžys, Lithuania, where she graduated from high school and Fine Arts School. She studied Photographic Technology at Vilnius University of Applied Engineering Sciences from 2006-09, Television and Film Directing studies at Lithuanian Music and Theater Academy from 2009-15. She has made several fictional and documentary short films including Animus Animalis (NYBFF 2021).