On June 21, Vilnius will host the largest international festival of activism, music, and cinema, "Break Free!". Organizers invite activists and everyone interested in activism to a free concert and the premiere of a film about Sviatlana Cichanouskaja.
"Break Free!" is a celebration of the global anti-corruption movement, taking place at the newly converted Lukiškės Prison. Once a symbol of oppression, the prison is now the epicenter of artistic expression. The event program includes the national premiere of a documentary and music performances from around the world. The event is free, but registration is required: bit.ly/breakfreelt.
From Cinema to Music
The celebration will begin with the national premiere of the film The Accidental President. This engaging documentary by Oscar-nominated creators Mike Lerner and Martin Herring tells the story of S. Cichanouskaja’s journey from an ordinary housewife to the head of state leading Belarus's democratic change. Forced to leave her country due to the dictatorship’s stolen elections, Sviatlana now leads the Belarusian Democratic Authority office in Vilnius.
After the film premiere, viewers can join the Q&A with the directors and the film’s heroine, Belarusian opposition leader S. Cichanouskaja.
Film trailer: https://vimeo.com/917972845
The evening's musical program will feature locally famous "Antikvariniai Kašpirovskio dantys". The band, known for its energetic performances, sings about contemporary issues such as crime, daily realities, the absurdity of fashion trends, and of course, love.
The well-known Lithuanian romantic hooligans will be supported by three foreign acts: Ukrainian girl pop-punk band "The Sixsters", Nigerian singer "Cill Soul", and the Afro-electro one-man orchestra "Faith Mussa" from Malawi. These inspiring musicians share not only a talent for rhythm and melody but also a passion for using art to address pressing democracy and social issues. The event will be hosted by journalist and music critic Ramūnas Zilnys.
Event Program
5:00 PM: Doors open.
6:00 PM: Premiere of the film The Accidental President and Q&A with Sviatlana Cichanouskaja and the Oscar-nominated directors Mike Lerner and Martin Herring.
7:30 PM: Live performances by "Cill Soul", "Faith Mussa", "The Sixsters", and "Antikvariniai Kašpirovskio dantys".
"Break Free!" is the closing event of the largest global International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC 2024) in Lithuania. The screening of The Accidental President is part of the documentary film festival "Films4Transparency", which features four more captivating anti-corruption films at the "Skalvija" cinema from June 16-19. More information can be found on the Skalvija website.
Important Links
Event registration: bit.ly/breakfreelt
Follow updates on social media: @Lukiskiukalejimas2.0
More about IACC (International Anti-Corruption Conference): https://iaccseries.org/iacc-2024/ and https://stt.lt/iacc2024