Lithuanian filmmaker Vytautas Katkus has been awarded the Best Director prize at the 59th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival for his debut feature film The Visitor (Svečias). The honour, one of the festival’s most prestigious, was shared this year with French director Nathan Ambrosioni, recognised for his film Out of Love.
Katkus’s film premiered in the festival’s main competition programme, one of the oldest and most respected showcases for international cinema in Europe. Competing against entries from across the globe, The Visitor stood out both to the jury and international critics.
“Only after spending some time here did I understand what everyone had been saying about Karlovy Vary,” said Katkus after the awards ceremony. “This city and this festival truly love cinema. The audiences are curious, enthusiastic, and eager to discover. It was wonderful to experience it both as a viewer and as a filmmaker.”
“What made it even more special was sharing the experience with the fantastic Lithuanian team who travelled with me. We supported each other throughout. After my premiere, I relaxed and watched many incredible films. When I was unexpectedly invited to the awards ceremony, I felt surprised and moved. I’m deeply grateful for this recognition,” he added.
Critical Acclaim
Following its world premiere, The Visitor received widespread critical praise. Film critic Wendy Ide (Screen Daily) described Katkus as “a distinctive new voice.” In a review for Cineuropa, Olivia Popp called the film “a gentle embrace,” writing: “Katkus seems to say, ‘Rest, and stay a while.’”
Guy Lodge, writing for Variety, praised the film’s visual storytelling:
“Every shot is like a room where the characters gradually begin to feel at home.”
About The Visitor
Set to premiere in Lithuanian cinemas this September, The Visitor follows Danielius, a man in his thirties who returns to his hometown to sell his late parents’ flat. In no hurry to leave, and quietly confronted by loneliness, he begins to reconnect with both people and a place that no longer feels like his own.
This marks Vytautas Katkus’s first feature-length film. The project had already received international recognition while still in development, winning the Next Step Award at the 2022 Cannes Critics’ Week and the main prize at the Les Arcs Co-Production Market in France.
Photo: Audrius Solominas
