Friss Hús Jury Interviews / Rimantė Daugėlaitė
Rimantė Daugėlaitė is the head of the biggest short film festival in the Baltic region and the managing director of the Lithuanian Short Film Agency, who also takes part in theatrical distribution projects. We asked her about the potencial of short film format and also the current challenges of theatrical distribution.
You’ve been working for Vilnius International Short Film Festival since 2009 and you’re the managing director of the Lithuanian Short Film Agency. What attracts you in short films?
I admire the freedom of creativity, experimentalism, and the variety of cinematic expressions. I find the short film format attractive because, due to its shorter production period, it demonstrates films' ability to respond quickly to world events, which makes it relevant and involving. Also, the short film industry is significantly less competitive compared to the feature film industry.
You also handle theatrical distribution and acquisitions of short films. How do you see the opportunities today for distributing a short in cinemas and on streaming platforms? Do you think is it still challenging to catch the viewers’ attention for a short film?
I believe that due to the accelerating pace of our lives, we have unconsciously started watching shorter content more frequently lately. Furthermore, I strongly believe that short films will increasingly find their place in cinemas or on VoD platforms in the future. With the growth of platforms and windows for viewing short films, this format is becoming more commonplace for film lovers.
Gabrielė Cegialytė and Rimantė Daugėlaitė (r) at the Vilnius Short Film Festival / photo: Tautvydas Stukas
Is there a specific element (visual accomplishments, acting, editing, etc.) you’re going to pay attention to as a jury member or the overall experience is the most important for you in a film?
Absolutely, the overall experience is most important to me when watching and judging films. However, I particularly love it when films stand out for their visual language.
What do you expect from the Hungarian competition?
I expect to see a great panorama of the newest Hungarian short film scene and to discover the topics and themes that Hungarian short filmmakers are exploring today. And I am sure that I will bring part of the competition films to Lithuania, to the Vilnius Short Film Festival.
Do you have a favorite Hungarian movie?
Symphony No. 42, directed by Réka Bucsi.
Cover photo by: Mindaugas Mikulenas
