INDEPENDEAST - Review of Independent Cinema of Eastern Europe - 3rd edition

Already on October 8 and 9, 2026, the 3rd edition of INDEPENDEAST will take place in Suwałki — an event that will once again bring together artists, creators and art lovers.

We have two days ahead of us full of meetings, presentations and artistic inspirations. INDEPENDEAST is a space for independent creativity, exchange of experiences and discovery of new, interesting phenomena in culture.

The top three awards with a total value await the best films
8 000 PLN.

1st Place — 4000 zł
2nd Place — 2500 PLN
3rd Place — 1500 zł

In the Program:

Torsdag 8. oktober
Day of Lithuanian Cinema — Cinema Lumiere

9:00-10:45 — Part I Specificity and history of Lithuanian cinematography

11:15-13:00 — Hello II Lithuanian Film School

Hosted by Arnas Balčiünas from the Skalvija Cinema Center in Vilnius and Rasa Rimickaité, long-time cultural attaché of the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Poland

Fredag 9. oktober
Final of the competition | Suwalski Ośrodek Kultury

10:00 — opening of the 3rd edition and screening of 10 competition films

12:30 — non-competition screening: films by Bodo Kox and a meeting with the director

14:20 — announcement of results and presentation of prizes

15:00 — completion of the review

Conducted by: Jan Wyspiański

JURY:
Rasa Rimickaitė — cultural scholar, theatre scientist, translator, cultural activist. In the years 2012-2024, she was the Cultural Attaché of the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in the Republic of Poland. She graduated in Lithuanian Philology and Theatrology at Vilnius University and studied at the School of Social Sciences at the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw.
Anita Piotrowska — is a film critic and columnist for Tygodnik Powszechny, co-author of books on film topics, columnist for the magazine “Charaktery”. He also writes for “Screens” and “Cinema”. Artistic director of the Krakow Film Festival. As a member of FIPRESCI she has been a judge of numerous festivals in Poland and abroad. In the category of film criticism, she received awards from the Polish Film Institute (2014) and ZAICS (2021).
Bodo Kox — director, screenwriter and happener. Creator of author's cinema combining magical realism and absurdity with a sensitive look at outsiders and people who escape social schemes. He is the author of films such as The Girl with the Wardrobe and The Man with the Magic Box. His latest feature film, Horizon, will premiere in 2027. Winner of numerous film awards in Poland and abroad.