MAIN DRAMATIC COMPETITION “MAKING WAY”

RENOVACIJA

2025 / 90 min / color

Ilona, who’s about to turn 30, just moved into an apartment with her boyfriend, in a typical Eastern European block of flats. The couple seems happy leading a relatively peaceful life, filled with work and occasional get-togethers with friends. Everything changes when a loud and disruptive renovation of their building starts, turning their everyday routine upside down and putting their relationship to the test. Meanwhile Ilona gets to know Oleg, a Ukrainian construction worker, and this new friendship makes her question her life choices. Lithuanian director Gabriele Urbonaitė depicts Millennial angst skilfully and with a dose of reflection and irony, showing how they get caught up in the promise of a better, Western life while still heavily influenced by the post-Soviet past. In her debut feature, she paints an intimate generational portrait with references to the current, deeply complicated political climate, bringing forth a sense of being lost and confused typical of contemporary 30-year-olds.

• Molodist Kyiv IFF – Audience Award