Toxic

Local title
Mürgine
Original title
Akiplėša
Director
Saulė Bliuvaitė
Country
Lithuania
Year
2024
Programme
International Youth Competition Programme, Children's Rights Programme
Genre
Drama, Youth film, Youth series
Subject
familial relationships, eating disorders, friendship, poverty, belonging, coming of age, rural life, children's rights, youth, cinematography

A look into the harsh reality of the modelling world.

Abandoned by her mother, 13-year-old Maria is forced to live with her grandmother in a bleak industrial town. During a violent clash on the street, Maria meets Kristina, a girl of the same age who is striving to become a fashion model. Trying to get closer to her, Maria enrols in a mysterious modelling school, where the girls are preparing for the biggest casting event in the region. Her ambiguous relationship with Kristina and the intense, cult-like environment of the modelling school force Maria on a quest to discover her own identity.

"Toxic" is nominated for the European Film Academy awards in the categorie of European Discovery - Prix FIPRESCI Award.

Recommended age 12+

Director
Saulė Bliuvaitė
Screenwriter
Saule Bliuvaitė
Producer
Giedre Burokaitė
Cast
Vesta Matulionytė, Ieva Rupeikaitė, Giedrius Savickas, Vilma Raubaitė, Eglė Gabrėnaitė
Cinematographer
Vytautas Katkus
Editing
Ignė Narbutaitė
Production Design
Aura Narmontaite
Composer
Gediminas Jakubka
Production
Akis Bado
Music
Gediminas Jakubka
Sound
Julius Grigelionis, Vytis Puronas
World sales
Bendita Film Sales
Runtime
Language
English, Lithuanian
Subtitles
Estonian, English
Director
Saulė Bliuvaitė

Saulė Bliuvaitė (1994) is a film director and screenwriter, who graduated from the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre’s Film Directing programme in 2018. Her recent short film “Limousine” received the Best Short Documentary award at the Warsaw Film Festival. Saulė is the co-writer and co-editor of the historical drama “Isaac”, nominated for a FIPRESCI prize at the 2020 European Film Awards. “Toxic” is her debut feature film.

Limousine (2021), Toxic (2024)

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