Latvian co-production film “Leap” will have its world premiere in Warsaw / Article / LSM.lv

The world premiere of director Giedre Žickīte’s Cold War documentary thriller “Leap” is expected at the Warsaw Film Festival on October 9, the film’s representatives informed.

The Jump is a documentary by director Giedre Žickīte about Lithuanian sailor and fugitive Sima Kudirka, who, in the words of the film’s representatives, “the desperate leap to freedom caused a series of chaotic events that eventually led to one of the Cold War’s greatest political clutter. “

On Thanksgiving 1970, the U.S. Coast Guard went to a meeting with a Soviet ship anchored off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard. The aim was a bilateral meeting to discuss fishing rights in the Atlantic. While the talks were in full swing, Sims Kudirka jumped on board the American ship in her desperate desire for freedom.

To his horror, seven hours later, the Americans extradited the fugitive to the Soviet Union, causing outrage in the world’s media.

Using eyewitness reports, rare archive footage and a dramatic reconstruction of events by 90-year-old Sims Kudirka, Leaps takes a journey that became an inspiration to the people, the media and politics, even reaching the epicenter of the White House.

The film is produced by the director himself, Uldis Cekulis from VFS Films and Katrīna Simeon (Faites un vœu, France), in collaboration with Daniel Chalfen (Naked Edge Films, USA). On the Latvian side, the film is supported by the National Film Center, and the film team included cameraman Valdis Celmiņš, sound cameraman Arvīds Ceļmalis, camera assistant Miks Ramāns, color correction and mastering by Krišs Roziņš.

The world premiere of “Leap” will take place at the documentary film competition of the Warsaw Film Festival this Friday, October 9. The director of the festival, Stefan Laudin, who had watched the film a year earlier, justified his choice as follows: “A modern and exciting cinematic adventure that will not leave any viewer indifferent. Watching the Leap, I exclaim – what a story! What a hero! ”

After participating in the Warsaw Film Festival, the film will participate in the competition program of the Rome Film Festival, as well as in the Jihlava and Lübeck film festivals. In total, in October and November, the film will be premiered at six major European and overseas festivals. The film will have its Latvian premiere at the new international festival “Artdocfest / Riga”, especially dedicated to documentary cinema, which will take place at the very end of November 2020. The jumping premiere in Latvia will be on November 27.

Director Giedre Žickīte has also recently produced the hit of the Sandens Film Festival “The Earth Is Blue As An Orange” (directed by Irina Tsilika) and co-directed the EFA-nominated short film “I’m Not From Here” with Maiti Alberdi. ‘m Not From Here”).

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