Doc@PÖFF Baltic Competition Best Baltic Documentary Film

Fresh from its IDFA premiere, this ambitious, multilayered film is sure to inspire awe and provoke debate. It observes an astonishing cosmos of blooming microorganisms, such as fungi and mould, which have been documented with patience and precision. These images are connected to museum paintings depicting historical and modern Easter processions, while the restoration of frescoes and priests' relics raises questions about decay, fragility, and gratitude.

After “Animus Animalis” in 2018, Aistė Žegulytė and Vytautas Katkus embarked on this new exploration. This is one of their most insightful works, demanding full attention and curiosity. The soundtrack, composed by Gediminas Jakubka, adds an immersive layer to the film that connects Kėdainiai, Valladolid and Scotland. This is a film that is meant to be rewatched, with each viewing revealing new clues and connections.

Vytautas Katkus experiments with microscopes, 16 mm reels, mouldy film strips and silent archives from an 8 mm camera. Using these devices, he reimagines the camera as both a kaleidoscope and a telescope.

Edvinas Pukšta