Kaunas International Film Festival was opened with a premiere of a Lithuanian film Kaunas International Film Festival, one of the most important Lithuanian cinematic events has began. The festival opened by a Lithuanian film „The Field of Magic“ premiere in Kaunas cinema “Cinamon“. The best films of contemporary cinema and retrospectives will be also shown in “Zalgiris arena“ and Kaunas District Public Library. Next week the festival is coming to Vilnius and other cities.

During the opening Kaunas Film Festival was congratulated Minister of Culture Arūnas Gelūnas and Mayor of Kaunas City Rimantas Mikaitis. Opening film “The Field of Magic“ director Mindaugas Survila and the film crew met the audience. The young director made a warm and poetic story about people who were estranged by a society.

Béla Tarr is coming back to Kaunas with “The Turin Horse“ and special masterclass courses Organizers of Kaunas International Film Festival have promised a surprise: a Hungarian film directorBélaTarr is coming back to Kaunas for the second year in a row. One of the famous master of auteur cinema is going to present his latest film “The Turin Horse“, winner of Silver Bear and FIPRESCI at this year's Berlin Film Festival. Moreover, an iconic director will take camera and teach young cinema trainees.

B. Tarr has announced that “The Turin Horse is his final film. Director feels he has said everything and do not want to reiterate so he has decided to make a pause and give of his time to help young film makers.

Kaunas Film Festival and Silver channel to present the Audience Award for the second year For the second year in a row, the viewers of Kaunas International Film Festival will be entitled to vote for and award the film that they like best. This is the continuing cooperation between the Festival and the quality film channel Silver managed by Turner Broadcasting System. The film of the viewer's choice will be presented with the Silver Audience Award Cup and receive free marketing on the channels Silver and Star! in the Baltics.

The 5th Kaunas International Film Festival to be opened by Mindaugas Survila's film The Field of Magic For the second year in a row, Kaunas International Film Festival will be opened by a Lithuanian film - this year it will be the documentary The Field of Magic by Mindaugas Survila. The premiere of the story about the people who have been living in the Buda Forest near the former Karijotiškės landfill for over 20 years will take place in Kaunas on September 27.

“We are establishing a tradition to begin the programme of the Festival with a Lithuanian film - last year we screened Eastern Drift by Šarūnas Bartas, and this year we chose the work of Mindaugas Survila who represents the young generation of Lithuanian filmmakers. Each year, we try to introduce both renowned Lithuanian works of cinematography and promising filmmakers,“ said the Festival's director Ilona Jurkonytė.

CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS Kaunas IFF Film Journalism Workshop 2011 As an observatory member of the NISI MASA network, Kaunas International Film Festival has a big pleasure to present it's first upcoming film journalism workshop, which will take place from 28th of September to the 3rd of October, during Kaunas IFF.