New York, NY—The 8th Annual New York Baltic Film Festival (NYBFF) presented by Scandinavia House: The Nordic Center in America is back this November 5-16, 2025, with a mix of in-person and virtual screenings of the best new films from the Baltic region. From November 5-9, festival-goers can enjoy screenings and events at Scandinavia House in New York. For those across the U.S., virtual screenings of select films from this year's program as well as other special presentations will be available from November 10-16.

This year's Opening Night Celebration on Wednesday, November 5 will feature the North American Premiere of The Exalted (Cildenie, Latvia/Estonia/Greece, 2024). Established Latvian director Juris Kursietis' return to cinema follows Anna (Johanna Wokalek), an internationally renowned organist whose partner Andris (Juris Zagars) a successful CEO, is suspected of corruption. As Anna proceeds with a lavish birthday party in the countryside, she must navigate a crumbling reputation, moral dilemmas, false accusations, and religious uncertainty. The restless handheld camera draws us into her emotional turmoil, as the foundation of her life collapses alongside her partner’s arrest. A "bracing, sharp-toothed satire" (Wendy Ide, Screen Daily), the film was edited by Oscar-nominated film editor Yorgos Mavropsaridis (Poor Things). 

On Saturday, November 8, director Meel Paliale's "disarming" youth-centered comedy-drama Rolling Papers (Pikad paberid, Estonia, 2024) makes its New York Premiere. Rolling Papers follows Sebastian (Mihkel Kuusk), who leads a monotonous life as a store clerk. He finds his ordinary workday shaken up when he meets Silo (Karl Birnbaum), a free-spirited wanderer. Together, they smoke weed and dream of a one-way ticket to Brazil. The winner of the Audience Award at Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF), Rolling Papers is Estonia's official entry for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards. 

The in-person portion of the festival wraps up on Sunday, November 9 with the NYC premiere of The Visitor (Svečias. dir. Vytautas Katkus, Lithuania/Norway/Sweden, 2025). The film follows 30-year-old Danielius as he returns to his hometown to sell his parents’ flat, but the visit lasts longer than expected. With nowhere to rush, he tries to reconnect with the people and the town that no longer feels like his. Praised as "an appealingly offbeat debut" (Guy Lodge, Variety) and "a cinematic meditation on solitude" (Georg Szalai, THR), The Visitor offers an unhurried, gentle journey through the strange comforts of nostalgia and the meaning of home; winner of Best Director at the 2025 Karlovy Vary Film Festival.  

The full festival lineup will be revealed in late September. Early Bird In-Person Passes and Film Packages are now on sale; and tickets for individual in-person and virtual screenings will go on sale on October 1, 2025. 

ABOUT THE NEW YORK BALTIC FILM FESTIVAL
Established in 2018, the New York Baltic Film Festival is presented and organized by Scandinavia House in collaboration with the Embassy of Estonia, Consulate General of Lithuania, and Permanent Mission of Latvia to the United Nations in New York. Financial support for the festival comes from the Estonian Film Institute, National Film Center of Latvia, and Lithuanian Film Center, with additional sponsorship by 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, Sondra Litvatytė.