Andrius Blaževičius + screening of How to Divorce During the War (2026)
Andrius Blaževičius is a Lithuanian film director and screenwriter born in Vilnius, whose work has become one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary Lithuanian cinema. After initially studying cultural history and anthropology at Vilnius University, he shifted his focus to filmmaking and completed a master’s degree in film directing at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre in 2011. His background in the humanities continues to inform his interest in characters shaped by social change and historical pressure.
During his studies, Blaževičius directed six short films, including a documentary, gradually developing a filmmaking style attentive to emotional intensity and lived experience. His collaboration with producer Marija Razgutė and the production company M-Films began with the short film Ten Reasons (2011), which received two Lithuanian Film Academy awards and marked the start of a long-term creative partnership.
His feature debut The Saint (2016) premiered at the Warsaw and Busan International Film Festivals and went on to win six Lithuanian Film Academy Awards, becoming one of the most successful independent Lithuanian films at the national box office. His second feature, Runner (2021), premiered at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and further established his ability to portray characters navigating emotional urgency within contemporary urban settings. The film’s lead actress, Žygimantė Elena Jakštaitė, was selected as a European Shooting Star, and the film received two national awards.
Blaževičius’ latest feature, How to Divorce During the War (2026), marks a new chapter in his filmography. Set in Vilnius in 2022, the film follows a couple attempting to finalize their divorce just as the Russian invasion of Ukraine reshapes the atmosphere of their country and everyday life. Starring Marius Repšys and Žygimantė Elena Jakštaitė, the film blends intimate personal conflict with the tension of unfolding geopolitical events. An international co-production between Lithuania, Luxembourg, Ireland, and the Czech Republic, the film premiered in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, where Blaževičius received the Directing Award, confirming his growing international recognition.
Alongside his directing career, Blaževičius has been deeply involved in the Lithuanian film community, serving since 2010 as programme director and member of the selection committee at the Vilnius International Film Festival, as well as a jury member at several international festivals.
How to Divorce During the War (2026)
How to Divorce During the War (2026) is Blaževičius’ latest feature, an intimate drama set in Vilnius in 2022. The film follows Marija and Vytas, played by Marius Repšys and Žygimantė Elena Jakštaitė, as they attempt to navigate their divorce just as the Russian invasion of Ukraine reshapes the atmosphere of their city and country.
An international co-production between Lithuania, Luxembourg, Ireland, and the Czech Republic, the film premiered in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Directing Award. Blending a deeply personal story with the tension of unfolding historical events, the film explores how private relationships are inevitably shaped by forces beyond their control.
