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November 4, 2025. The 8th Annual New York Baltic Film Festival (NYBFF), presented by Scandinavia House: The Nordic Center in America, returns November 5–16, 2025, showcasing the best new films from the Baltic region through a mix of in-person and virtual screenings.
From November 5–9, audiences can enjoy screenings and events in person at Scandinavia House in New York City, followed by virtual screenings nationwide of select films and special presentations from November 10–16.
The full in-person program begins tomorrow, Wednesday, November 5, with the Opening Night Celebration at 6:30 PM featuring the North American Premiere of The Exalted (Cildenie, Latvia/Estonia/Greece, 2024). The screening will include a film talk with actor Juris Žagars. Directed by Juris Kursietis, The Exalted follows organist Anna (Johanna Wokalek) as she faces moral and spiritual turmoil amid accusations of corruption surrounding her partner. Edited by Oscar-nominated Yorgos Mavropsaridis (Poor Things), the film has been described as a “bracing, sharp-toothed satire” (Screen Daily). A second screening will take place Thursday, November 6 at 6 PM, also followed by a discussion with Žagars.
Festival Highlights
Other highlights include:
- Saturday, November 8: the New York Premiere of Rolling Papers (Pikad paberid, Estonia, 2024), directed by Meel Paliale, winner of the Audience Award at Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival and Estonia’s official Oscar entry for Best International Feature Film.
- Thursday, November 6 at 8 PM: the New York Premiere of the Estonian sci-fi parable The Black Hole, followed by a director talk with Moonika Siimets.
- Friday, November 7: the North American Premiere of The Mutiny (Dumpis, dir. Andrejs Ēķis, Latvia, 2024), introduced by producer Dita Cimermane — a gripping miniseries based on the true events that inspired The Hunt for Red October.
- Saturday, November 8: the North American Premiere of the documentary Murmuring Hearts (Murmančios Širdys, dir. Vytautas Puidokas), winner of the Young Europeans Award at FIPADOC; followed by Becoming Roosi (Varastatud tulevik, dir. Margit Lillak) and Renovation (Renovacija, dir. Gabrielė Urbonaitė*).
- Sunday, November 9: the North American Premiere of To Be Continued: Teenhood (Turpinājums: Pieaugšana, dir. Ivars Seleckis & Armands Začs), a sequel to the 2015 documentary To Be Continued, followed by a Baltic Shorts program and the U.S. Premiere of The Visitor (Svečias, dir. Vytautas Katkus, Lithuania/Norway/Sweden, 2025) — winner of Best Director at the 2025 Karlovy Vary Film Festival.
Each in-person day concludes with a reception, offering audiences the chance to connect with filmmakers and fellow movie lovers.
Virtual festival tickets will be announced shortly. For the latest updates, visit balticfilmfestival.com and subscribe to newsletters from both the festival and Scandinavia House. Follow NYBFF on Instagram and Facebook for live updates and highlights.
ABOUT THE NEW YORK BALTIC FILM FESTIVAL
Founded in 2018, the New York Baltic Film Festival is organized by Scandinavia House in collaboration with the Embassy of Estonia, Consulate General of Lithuania, and the Permanent Mission of Latvia to the United Nations in New York. The festival is supported by the Estonian Film Institute, National Film Center of Latvia, and Lithuanian Film Center, with additional sponsorship from the American-Scandinavian Foundation, American Latvian Association, Edhard Corporation, Estonian Ministry of Culture, Estonian American National Council (EKRÜ), Honorary Consulate General of Latvia in New York, Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, and Sondra Litvatytė.
