On Thursday evening, documentary film lovers gathered at the "Skalvijas" cinema center - this is where the Vilnius International Documentary Film Festival began. The festival focused on creative documentaries has been held for the 14th time.
The festival was opened by Italian director Pietro Marcello's documentary film "The Silence of Pelesian" (2011) about Armenian film director Artavazd Pelesian, a retrospective of whose films will be shown at the festival. Also, the film "Residents" (1970) by the director A. Pelešians himself was shown.
Sonata Žalneravičiūtė, the organizer of the "Skalvijas" film center and festival program, briefly introduced the director Artavazdas Pelešians and wished the audience to watch Pelesians' films the way he himself wanted - seeing the sound and hearing the image.
Film researcher Marguerite Vappereau, author of the book about A. Pelešian "World Symphony" came to the festival to present the director's retrospective. "In France, we have been watching Pelesian's films since the 9s. This director was very important for our generation", said film researcher M. Vappereau about the exceptional attention paid to the director's work in France during the opening.
The retrospective of Artavazd Pelešians will be shown at the festival on September 22, 23, 25 and 26, and the film "The Silence of Pelesians" will be shown again on September 29. In "Skalvia".
After the screenings of the films, the guests of the opening were invited to the house-museum of Marijas and Jurgis Šlapelias, where, according to Vilma Levickaitė, a surprise awaited everyone. According to the organizers, this is a place that was not chosen by chance, it is connected with the theme of the festival "Sacrum et profanum".
"It will not only be a deepening of the "profanum" experience, but also an acquaintance with the place itself, which shows that our Vilnius is inexhaustible and its history is inexhaustible" - said V. Levickaitė about the uniqueness of the house of Marija and Jurgis Šlapelias.
During the opening, the chamber choir of young women "Melos" created a festive atmosphere in the "Skalvija" cinema center, and later in the house-museum of Marija and Jurgis Šlapelias.
The 10-day festival in Vilnius invites you to choose from almost 30 creative documentary films. The festival presents the main and special programs, retrospectives of Rimtautas Šilinis (with free tickets) and Artavazdos Pelešians, and a documentary program for children.
International Vilnius Documentary Film Festival - in Vilnius, September 21 - October 1, Klaipėda and in Ukmerge - October 6-8. More at www.vdff.lt
