News

From November 7 to 9, 2025, the Consul General Sandra Brikaitė and diplomat Justina Jakavonytė participated at a remarkable event – San Francisco hosted the inaugural European Film Festival “Ode to Joy”, which attracted a large audience of curious film enthusiasts.

Over the course of three days, the festival offered viewers the opportunity to explore the diversity and creativity of contemporary European cinema. The program featured nine films across various genres – from engaging dramas and imaginative animations to thought-provoking documentaries – all exploring themes of love, friendship, and the human experience.

A highlight of the festival was the Lithuanian film “Pietinia kronikas” (The Southern Chronicles), which received enthusiastic responses from the audience. Consul General Sandra Brikaitė addressed attendees, expressing pride that the film, included in the festival program, has been selected as Lithuania’s official submission for the 2025 Academy Awards in the International Feature Film category. The Consul General extended heartfelt congratulations to director Ignas Miškinis, producer Lukas Trimonis, and the entire creative team for this remarkable achievement.

The 2025 European Film Festival was organized by the Consulate General of the Republic of Lithuania in Los Angeles, in close cooperation with the EU Office in San Francisco and partner institutions — including the Consulates General and Cultural Centers of Italy, Sweden, France, Latvia, Germany, Finland, Ireland, and the Czech Republic. The Consulate General sincerely thanks the entire festival organizing team for their significant contribution to the initiative.

The inaugural festival “Ode to Joy” marks an important step in strengthening cultural cooperation and promoting European cinema in the United States. We hope that this successful debut will establish a new tradition of European film festivals in San Francisco and the Bay Area.