Naiku
Ten eccentric hooligans recklessly drive a jeep around abandoned industrial neighbourhoods. The one sitting on the roof holds a kite, which allures a passer-by, Adomas, to join them. He is drawn into a game, which turns out to be a violent tournament. The winner may wield the kite. However, due to the nature of the game maintaining humanity becomes a struggle.
Information
Team
Director's biography
Pijus Mačiulskis
Pijus Mačiulskis is a film director and screenwriter from Lithuania who has been creating since 2015. Pijus is also participating in Lithuanian academic development of film studies as well as creating new connections with new generation filmmakers from Europe and the wider world. He graduated from the Film Studies department at King’s College London in 2023.
His independent short films have been showcased at over 30 international film festivals, earning various accolades such as “Grand Prix” with his latest film Naiku (2023) at the iconic Japanese Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival 2023. “Naiku” was also included in Mirrorliar Films Season 5. The film had its theatrical release across Japan in June 2024, with streaming and DVD releases starting in September 2024. “Naiku” was further screened in festivals in Hong Kong, San Francisco, London, Leiden, Lodz and others.
In 2020, Pijus was chosen to represent Lithuania as a member of the official jury for Giornate degli Autori at the Venice International Film Festival. In 2023, Pijus was invited to a team creating a first-of-its-kind in Lithuania Film Studies course in the Lithuanian Theater and Music academy. Recently, he has also been fostering collaborations between youth filmmakers in Europe and beyond – he worked as an executive producer in a Lithuanian/French coproducted short film “Ungurys” (directed by Sacha Tabeoul, Rostislav Kirpicenko, 2023). In his newest films “Bravado”, “Lark Ravenhair” and “Smoke” Pijus has been working with Japanese, French and Great Britain artists – opening new pathways for Lithuanian cinema.
Filmography:
Somnium (2015, short fiction)
Atony / Atonija (2016, short fiction)
34 / 34 (2016, short fiction)
Butter / Sviestas (2016, short fiction)
Idea / Idėja (2017, short fiction)
Waves shine in grey / Bangos spindi pilkai (2019, fiction)
Grid / Tinklelis (2020, short fiction)
Vilnius. Electric gardens 1 / Vilnius. Elektriniai sodai 1 (2020, short experimental)
Naiku / Naiku (2023, short fiction)
Smoke / Smoge (2023, short fiction)
Bravado (2025, short fiction)
Lark Ravenhair / Sakalas ir juodaplaukis (2025, short fiction)
