The festival first set off on its journey toward the exploration of alternative cinema and audio-visual arts in Lithuania, Nida, in 2016. Each year the programme encompasses unconventional cinematic and audio-visual art forms and means of expression: hybrid film, non-narrative cinema, technology and process centred experimentation in art.

Particular focus is laid on a short film as an independent artistic medium on par with that of a feature film, yet understood as a self-sufficient form of art rather than a mere segment or a fragment of the whole, and as such related to and typical of experimental cinema.

The international festival “Suspaustas Laikas” strives to create opportunities and environments conducive to exploration and learning about experimental cinema and audio-visual arts. It probes the trajectory of the evolution of cinematic language and the role of technologies, intercepting the novel and the archaic, that makeup and are in turn remade in search of audio-visual forms of artistic expression. In so doing the festival contributes to the reach of cinema art and bolsters cultural education of youth and communities in Lithuanian.

Festival “Suspaustas Laikas” in general is not competition.
Selected films will receive screening/copyrights fees.
Selected filmmakers will get invited to the festival.
The Festival will cover travel costs and accommodation.

The Festival is open to all kinds of experimental films, including:
- animation
- video art
- silent films
- narrative films
- non-narrative
- short films
- feature film
- underground films
- documentary films

Screening formats:
- digital
- analogue (8mm, super 8 and 16mm)

Selected analogue film copies must be shipped to the festival team at least two weeks before the screening,

The Festival will cover back-and-forth shipping costs,

No length limitations

Entry fee non-refundable

Applicants must hold the copyright and the right to show the film at the festival.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Marco Douma

    Notice for participation came quite late but we were eg happy to be selected for this festival.

    December 2023
  • Yannick Dauby

    Thank you very much ! It's an honor to have my work in this festival.

    September 2022
  • It was an absolute joy to have my film shown at Suspaustas Laikas. The festival's programming was superb and although I wasn't able to attend, it looked as though the screenings were always close to full. Thanks again to Artūras and the team!

    August 2022
  • Karolis Dikčius

    A really cool festival with a great curation of experimental films. The venues in the three cities were distinct and had different cultural vibes.

    16mm and digital projections are accepted 📽️🎞️

    August 2022
  • Hesam Rahmani

    It was amazing and incredible. Thanks for sharing our work at your festival.

    August 2021