Critics' Picks Competition Best Film

Champion fighter Osvald (Marius Repšys) is banned from competing after injuring a girl in a street fight. Stranded in his bleak Lithuanian hometown, he takes refuge in a run-down Taiwanese restaurant owned by his only friend, Ju-Long. Court-ordered therapy leads him to Skaistė, a woman who offers a glimpse of a life he’s never known. But as Osvald clings to this fragile hope, his violent past resurfaces, forcing him to choose between redemption and self-destruction.

Don’t miss “China Sea,” a bold and emotional gut-punch from director Jurgis Matulevičius (his second feature after the acclaimed historical debut “Isaac”) and breakout screenwriter Saulė Bliuvaitė (whose directorial debut, “Toxic”, became one of the most successful Baltic films in recent years). Inspired by the real-life story of a Lithuanian MMA champion whose life ended tragically, this gritty, contemporary drama is the first-ever Lithuanian-Taiwanese co-production, with Poland and the Czech Republic also acting as co-producers.

Featuring a powerhouse international cast led by global star Severija Janušauskaitė, “China Sea” is a raw, stylish, and unforgettable exploration of guilt, identity, and second chances.

Nikolaj Nikitin