Cannes 2022: Lithuanian Director Vytautas Katkus Receives Critics' Week's Next Step Award
Katkus' Third Short Film ‘Cherries’ Celebrates Its World Premiere in Cannes' Short Film Competition 2022
Reported by: Taylor Lynn
Vytautas Katkus, one of the most promising directors from Lithuania and a Baltic disciple of Tsai Ming-liang, has received Semaine de la Critique's Next Step Award in Cannes this year for his feature debut ‘The Visitor’, produced by Marija Razgutė for M-Films. Through its Next Step programme, the Semaine de la Critique guides short-film directors who were selected for previous editions towards their first feature film. The award comes with a € 5,000 grant and was handed out by jury members Thibaut Bracq, Head of Marrakech International Film Fest Atlas Workshop; Sata Cissokho, Head of Acquisitions at Memento International; and Alexis Hofmann, Head of Acquisitions at Bac Films. ‘The Visitor’ is currently in development and expected to head into production in 2024. Katkus's first short ‘Community Gardens’ was selected for Semaine de la Critique in 2019, his second one ‘Places’ (2020) screened at Venice Orrizonti. His third short ‘Cherries’ (‘Uogos’) will celebrate its world premiere at this year's Festival de Cannes as part of the Short Film Competition.
Synopsis: The film centers around a recently retired father that invites his son to help him with the cherry picking in the garden. The father is in no hurry to finish the cherry job though, as he tries to catch up with his son. The cherries remain in the background.
About the director
Director Vytautas Katkus himself plays the role of the son alongside his own father. Born in 1991 in Vilnius, Vytautas Katkus is one of the most talented up-and-coming directors and cinematographers in Lithuania. He graduated with a BA in Cinematography and at the moment continues his MA studies at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. A Baltic disciple of Tsai Ming-liang, he debuted as a director with his first short film ‘Community Gardens’ (2019), which was selected to the 58th Semaine de la Critique, while his second short film ‘Places’ (2020) premiered in Venice, Orrizonti. ‘Cherries’ is his third film. Currently he is also developing his first feature ‘The Visitor’.
More information on ‘Cherries’ can be found below.
Credits
Written & directed by: Vytautas Katkus
Producer: Marija Razgutė
Cinematographer: Simonas Glinskis
Production designer: Sigita Šimkūnaitė
Sound designer: Julius Grigelionis
Editor: Laurynas Bareiša
Costume designer: Monika Vėbraitė
Make-up artist: Jurgita Globytė
Production manager: Brigita Beniušytė
Cast: Vytautas Katkus, Viktoras Katkus, Vismantė Ruzgaitė, Vitalijus Luciūnas, Audrius Luciūnas