International Competition

The River

Julija Gruodienė, Rimantas Gruodis
Screening time  
28.02. / Ponedjeljak, 13:00 - 15:00 Dvorana 1  
02.03. / Srijeda, 12:00 - 14:00 Dvorana 2  
Documentary filmmakers Julija Gruodienė and Rimantas Gruodis introduce us to a remote village somewhere in Lithuania separated from the surrounding world by a river.

The local folk are thus forced every day to ferry their way to the opposite bank and then trudge the long journey to the nearest town. This mostly affects schoolchildren, however; local unemployed men need only make the trip once a week to stock up on vodka. Via eloquent, visually striking footage and the villagers’ humorous commentary, the directors acquaint us with a local way of life whose rhythm is set by a river.

Julija Gruodienė

Julija Gruodiene is a scriptwriter and director born in 1966 in Liauriskes, Lithuania. She graduated from the Vilnius University and worked at the Lithuanian Film Studio as an editor, scriptwriter for newsreels and documentaries (1984 – 1994) and in Lithuanian TV as and editor and scriptwriter (1994 – 2002). Since 2002, she works as an independent film scriptwriter and director and is a member of the Lithuanian Filmmakers Union.

Rimantas Gruodis

Rimantas Gruodis was born in 1946 in Šiauliai, Lithuania. A Vilnius University graduate, he worked at the Lithuanian Film Studio as a camera assistant and assistant director on feature films, editor, scriptwriter and director of newsreels and documentaries (1964-1990). Since 1991, he works as an independent film director, producer and cameraman and is also a member of the Lithuanian Filmmakers Union.

General sponsor

Upė

Lithuania
2009, 30', color, video

Directed by:
Julija Gruodienė, Rimantas Gruodis

Screenplay by:
Julija Gruodienė, Rimantas Gruodis

Cinematography:
Viktoras Radajevas

Edited by:
Tomas Bielskis, Rimantas Gruodis

Music:
Zita Vilutytė, Žemyna Trinkūnaitė

Producer:
Julija Gruodienė

Produced by:
Studio Periferija

Festivals & Awards:

Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 2010 - Award for Best Documentary Film under 30 minutes