On Wednesday afternoon, the Vilnius City Council approved the establishment of the Vilnius Film Fund. The purpose of the first city film fund in Lithuania will be to support filmmakers whose work increases the visibility of Vilnius. More than 90% of the country’s film industry is currently located in the capital city, and the number of foreign projects developed in Vilnius is also growing.
The fund will aim to contribute to the city’s economic growth and international competitiveness, and to shape the image of Vilnius as an attractive shooting location and a film-friendly city. When financing projects, their financial benefits to the city, internationality, and the inclusion of local film professionals will be taken into account.
“We are pleased to be taking another major step in promoting the image of Vilnius as a creative, open, and film-friendly city. The Lithuanian capital has been supporting film education, film academy activities, major film festivals, and projects for some time now. The Vilnius Film Fund perfectly complements the existing film funding model and becomes a platform to attract new ideas and strengthen the city’s cultural identity through film production projects,” says Simona Bieliūnė, Vice Mayor of Vilnius City Municipality.
Vilnius Film Office conducted a study of other regional funds in Europe and other regions of the world. Based on good practices, some of the principles of the funds’ operation were transferred to Lithuania. According to Jūratė Pazikaitė, Head of Vilnius Film Office, regional film funds are a common international practice. Most European countries have such funds – Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Scandinavian countries, as well as neighboring Poland, Latvia and Estonia. This is an opportunity to support local creatives, promote international cooperation, and increase the city’s visibility in the film industry context, while attracting new projects and funding.
Vilnius Film Fund will finance the production of documentary, animated, and feature-length co-productions between Lithuanian and foreign filmmakers. This creates an opportunity to establish connections between Lithuanian and foreign filmmakers, and for Vilnius to become a regional hub for co-productions.
“With this support, the city of Vilnius will promote film industry development, contribute to experience exchange among film professionals, and promote high-quality production. We hope that Vilnius’ name will be heard even more often at international film festivals, and Lithuanian films will continue to earn appreciation all over the world,” Pazikaitė says.
The total budget of Vilnius Film Fund is 100.000 euros; the maximum amount per project is 30.000 euros. The first film projects will be financed this year.
