Creative Documentary Thursdays in Nida: Program of short films by Arūnas Matelis

Published on Tuesday, 12 November 2013 11:40

Again Thursday and again good cinema in Nida. VAA Nida Art Colony continues screening the art documentary program prepared by cinema studio "Nominum" and this Thursday, the 14th of November at 6:00 pm, you are invited to see four short documentaries by Lithuanian director Arūnas Matelis.

On screen:

"SUNDAY. The Gospel According to Lift-man Albertas” (2003, 19 min.). A lift operator Albert is the main character of this short film whose work is to be in the elevator and wait for a call when somebody wants to use it. This film is like a documentary „Waiting for Godot“ version.

"From unfinished tales of Jerusalem" (1996, 26 min.) is a film-essay. On the Easter Eve people of the flooded village are gathering in the church for a strange ancient ritual – to watch the sculpture of the crusifix until dawn. But the peace is being disturbed by dressed villagers who want to steal the sculpture and the rhythm that comes from an adjacent factory and very much reminds a sound of space rockets.

"First farewell to Paradise" (1998, 15 min.). As if everything would be spinning round: vodka searches, swear words, a passing barge, wind gusts. It seems that both people and nature anticipate the forthcoming Farewell, while intermittent film, repetitive shots and phrases just highlight the importance of this passing moment.

"Ten minutes before Icarus flight" (1990, 10 min) is an ironic portrait of Užupis – a crumbling neighborhood in Vilnius.

Arūnas Matelis (b. 1961) is an acclaimed Lithuanian documentary film director. In 1992 he established one of the first independent film production companies in Lithuania named studio "Nominum". His films have been selected for many world-wide film festivals and awarded main prizes in a dozen of prestigious, world-famous documentary festivals. Since 2006 Arūnas Matelis holds membership in the European Film Academy with the right to vote, he is also in the Counsel Board of the project "Mission Siberia" and a Chairman of Lithuanian Selection Committee for Oscars Nomination in "Best Foreign Language Film" category.

Film Thursdays in the colony - as are all the good things - are for free. Come for a cup of tea and good cinema!