The Jump
What will you sacrifice for freedom? In 1970 ordinary Lithuanian sailor Simas Kudirka jumped from Russian ship to US Coast Guard cutter with strong hope for a political asylum. Courageous attempt to run away made him a political prisoner with 10 years sentence in Siberian gulag for treason. Later on his fate was overseen by two USA Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. Actor Alan Arkin played brave Lithuanian in 1978 American TV thriller "The Defection of Simas Kudirka", while information about sensational events were blocked by Soviet regime.
Fascinated by unheard story Giedrė Žickytė tracked down Simas Kudirka and invited him to relive incredible adventure in the same ship (it took 1,5 years for permission). Uplifting historical thriller offers rare historical footage, interviews with participants and witnesses, such as Henry Kissinger.
Edvinas Pukšta
Giedrė Žickytė (1980) is a Lithuanian documentary filmmaker and producer who is known for focusing on historical and political themes. In 2014, she founded Moonmakers, an award-winning film production company based in Vilnius. Her notable works include “Master and Tatyana” (2015) which was awarded Best Director, Best Documentary, Best Cinematography, and Best Editing at the Lithuanian Film Academy Awards. The 2020 documentary “The Jump” won the Best Documentary Feature Award at the 2020 Warsaw International Film Festival, the Grand Prix at the EIDF in South Korea, the Main Jury Award at the Salem Film Festival in the USA, and several other awards. She continues to play an active role in promoting documentary cinema in the Baltic region.
Filmography:
Kaip mes zaideme revoliucija (How We Played the Revolution, 2012, doc), Meistras Ir Tatjana (Master and Tatyana, 2015, doc), Suolis (Hüpe, PÖFF 2020), A Goodnight Kiss (2025)
Award for Best Baltic Film, grant of 5000€ from Piletilevi
