It’s 1938 and Lithuania is threatened by impending war. At this time Feliksas Gruodis devotes himself to the bizarre project of creating a “backup Lithuania” intended to protect. Alas, the prime minister rejects the anxious but determined geographer’s pitch, just to get back on it quickly. In wonderful composed black-and-white shots, Karolis Kaupinis creates an equally melodious and grotesque drama.

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Karolis Kaupinis, born in Vilnius/Lithuania in 1987, graduated from Vilnius University with a Master’s Degree in Comparative Politics. His first short film THE NOISEMAKER (2014) was screened at more than 50 international film festivals, among them Locarno Film Festival, winning two Lithuanian Film Awards. Kaupinis’ second short, WATCHKEEPING (2017), premiered at IndieLisboa Film Festival and was selected to screen at 20 international film festivals. NOVA LITUANIA is his debut feature film.

Filmography: 2014 THE NOISEMAKER, 2017 WATCHKEEPING (both short films), 2019 NOVA LITUANIA