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. The leading Baltic film festival in the U.S. will take place November 5-16, 2025, offering both in-person and virtual screenings. In-person screenings and events will take place November 5-9 at Scandinavia House in New York. An online version will once again be available to viewers across the U.S. via the Elevent streaming platform from November 10–16.
THE FULL IN-PERSON PROGRAM LINEUP HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED. See all in-person screenings here.
This year’s Opening Night Celebration on Wednesday, November 5 will feature the U.S. premiere of The Exalted (Cildenie, Latvia/Estonia/Greece, 2024). Established Latvian director Juris Kursietis‘ return to cinema follows Anna (Johanna Wokalek), an internationally renowned organist whose partner Andris (Juris Zagars) a successful CEO, is suspected of corruption. As Anna proceeds with a lavish birthday party in the countryside, she must navigate a crumbling reputation, moral dilemmas, false accusations, and religious uncertainty. The restless handheld camera draws us into her emotional turmoil, as the foundation of her life collapses alongside her partner’s arrest; a “bracing, sharp-toothed satire” (Wendy Ide, Screen Daily).
On Saturday, November 8, director Meel Paliale‘s “disarming” youth-centered comedy-drama Rolling Papers (Estonia, 2024) makes its North American Premiere. Rolling Papers follows Sebastian (Mihkel Kuusk), who leads a monotonous life as a store clerk. He finds his ordinary workday shaken up when he meets Silo (Karl Birnbaum), a free-spirited wanderer. Together, they smoke weed and dream of a one-way ticket to Brazil. The winner of the Audience Award at Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF), Rolling Papers is Estonia’s official entry for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards.
The in-person portion of the festival wraps up on Sunday, November 9 with the NYC premiere of The Visitor (dir. Vytautas Katkus, Lithuania/Norway/Sweden, 2025). The film follows 30-year-old Danielius as he returns to his hometown to sell his parents’ flat, but the visit lasts longer than expected. With nowhere to rush, he tries to reconnect with the people and the town that no longer feels like his. Praised as “an appealingly offbeat debut” (Guy Lodge, Variety) and “a cinematic meditation on solitude” (Georg Szalai, THR), The Visitor offers an unhurried, gentle journey through the strange comforts of nostalgia.
ASF Program Manager & NYBFF Curator Kyle Reinhart states, “Since the New York Baltic Film Festival was founded eight years ago, we have seen an exponential growth in the stature and importance of Baltic cinema, with major wins at film festivals including last year’s Oscar for FLOW, the first Latvian film to achieve an Academy Award. A new generation of filmmakers is emerging with a distinct, brave and unique voice; meanwhile, older masters of Baltic cinema continue to produce films of the highest caliber. This year’s NYBFF will explore contemporary issues with an outlook to the future—which couldn’t be brighter. Please join us in November to see the world through Baltic eyes.”
PASSES & INSTRUCTIONS
IN-PERSON PASS
$125 ($96 ASF Members)
Access to all in-person screenings at Scandinavia House except opening night. Film talk with director Saulė Bliuvaitė; New York Premiere; reception follows
VIP PACKAGE
$425
Access to all in-person screenings at Scandinavia House and all virtual screenings. Package includes 2 opening night tickets, 6 additional in-person guest passes, a complimentary NYBFF mug, and acknowledgement on balticfilmfestival.com.
5-FILM PACKAGE
$65 ($45 ASF Members)
Access to any five (5) films screening in-person at Scandinavia House or virtually.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR 5-FILM PACKAGE
To use your Ticket Package to get individual tickets, log in to your Elevent account here. After logging in, go to your Account page to see your Ticket Package(s) and press “Fulfill Package” next to the package you want to use. Then, browse the event schedule and you will see a free ticket option listed for each event which accepts your Ticket Package. Add the free ticket(s) to your cart and complete the order — no additional information or purchase is required. You can use some or all of your Ticket Package at once.
ABOUT THE NEW YORK BALTIC FILM FESTIVAL
Established in 2018, the New York Baltic Film Festival is presented and organized by Scandinavia House in collaboration with the Embassy of Estonia, Consulate General of Lithuania, and Permanent Mission of Latvia to the United Nations in New York. Financial support for the festival comes from the Estonian Film Institute, National Film Center of Latvia, and Lithuanian Film Center, with additional sponsorship by the American-Scandinavian Foundation, American Latvian Association, Edhard Corporation, Estonian Ministry of Culture, Estonian American National Council (EKRÜ), Honorary Consul of Latvia in Vermont, Honorary Consul of Latvia in New York, Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, PBLA Cultural Fund, and Sondra Litvatytė.
For program announcements, please subscribe to the festival newsletter and Scandinavia House newsletter. For more immediate updates, follow NYBFF on Instagram and Facebook.