Estonian premiere
Drowning Dry
From the director of “Pilgrims” comes a film that bends time and creates momentum in unexpected ways.
Locarno award-winning director Laurynas Bareiša masterfully uses non-linear storytelling, repeating key scenes and changing the music in different dance sequences. The carefully executed moments draw you in, even as you’re left pondering the film’s deeper meaning long after the credits roll. With a clever twist, Bareiša gradually changes the meaning of each line and reaction, transforming what initially appears to be a light-hearted comedy into a gripping drama by the end.
The film’s premise is simple: sisters Ernesta and Justė, along with their husbands Lukas and Tomas, gather at their parents’ summer house, an hour away from the nearest medical centre. It’s been a while since they’ve all been together, and the children are delighted to be spending the last warm days by the lake. But an intense weekend soon unravels, thrusting both families into a radically altered reality where time is limited, and emotional puzzles must be solved amidst growing heartache.
Edvinas Pukšta
Laurynas Bareiša (1988) is a Lithuanian filmmaker, born in Kaunas. He holds a BA degree in both applied mathematics from Vilnius University and in cinematography from Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. In 2016 he finished his studies for a master's degree in film directing. In 2014 he and producer Klementina Remeikaite established the film production company “afterschool”, with which he produced and directed the short films “The Camel” (San Sebastian FF 2016), “By the pool” (Venice FF 2017) and “Caucasus” (Locarno FF 2018). His first feature-length film “Pilgrims” (2021) debuted at the 78th Venice International Film Festival, where it was awarded the Best film prize in Orizzonti competition. “Pilgrims” was nominated in 11 categories at the Lithuanian Film Awards and won in 4 categories (Best Film, Best Director, and Best Screenplay, Best Actor).
Piligrimai (Palverändurid, PÖFF 2021), Drowning Dry (2024)
Award for Best Baltic Film, grant of 5000€ from Piletilevi
