A still from Jonas Mekas’ film Walden (Diaries, Notes and Sketches), (1968)

In January and February 2022, Flagey Art Centre in Brussels invited cinephiles to the Lithuanian film programme, Cinéma Lituanien, which presented films by avant-garde filmmaker, film critic, writer and poet Jonas Mekas on the occasion of his centenary.

According to Vida Gražienė, the Attaché for Culture, Audiovisual Affairs and Copyright at the Permanent Representation of Lithuania to the European Union, who coordinated the event, the pandemic had caused the cancellation of the Baltic Music Festival and the premiere of Giedrė Žickytė’s documentary The Jump, which had been scheduled at the Flagey at the end of January, however, the events scheduled after 29 January were to take place.

On 29 January and 5 February, Jonas Mekas’ 60’s Quartet A (Scenes from the Life of Andy Warhol and Zefiro Torna or Scenes from the Life of George Maciunas) was screened. On 30 January, 14 February and 28 February, 60’s Quartet B (This Side of Paradise and Happy Birthday to John) was presented to viewers. Walden was screened on 29-30 January and 16 February.

The programme Cinéma Lituanien also featured a film by Šarūnas Bartas Few of Us (on 3 and 9 February) and Arūnas Žebriūnas’ films The Beauty (on 5 and 19 February), The Last Day of Holidays (on 29 January, 13 and 16 February) and The Devil’s Bride (on 30 January, 10 and 17 February).

On 30 January, a programme of Lithuanian animated films was also presented at the Flagey Art Centre.

The Lithuanian film programme was organised in cooperation with the Lithuanian Culture Institute, the Lithuanian Film Centre, and the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania to the Kingdom of Belgium.

All films have been translated and subtitled into Dutch and French under the strict bilingual law of Belgium.

The Lithuanian film programme is available here: https://www.flagey.be/en/group/8716-lithuanian-cinema

The international project Jonas Mekas 100! is dedicated to the centenary year of the birth of the avant-garde filmmaker, film critic and poet Jonas Mekas in 2022. The programme, comprising over 50 various events, has been prepared by the Lithuanian Culture Institute, the Lithuanian cultural attachés and the Estate of Jonas Mekas. Film screenings, exhibitions, video installations, concerts, poetry readings, discussion and thematic residency programmes, poetry translation workshops, publishing projects and other initiatives will take place in leading cultural institutions in many countries around the world. The programme is partially funded by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania. The Jonas Mekas 100! programme is available on the website www.jonasmekas100.com.