Lithuania selects ‘Drowning Dry’ for International Film Festival
Lithuania has chosen Laurynas Bareisa’s second film Drowning Dry as its entry for the Best International Feature category at the 2025 Oscars.
The film, which follows two sisters dealing with a life-changing family tragedy, recently received the Best Directing award at the 77th Locarno Film Festival. It also won one of the two Best Performance awards for its ensemble cast, including Gelmine Glemzaite, Agne Kaktaite, Giedrius Kiela, and Paulius Markevicius. A review from THR described the movie as “subtle and haunting.”
This is not Bareisa’s first time receiving festival awards or entering the Oscars race. His debut feature, the crime drama Pilgrims, won the Best Film award in the Horizons section at the 2021 Venice Film Festival and was Lithuania’s submission for the Best International Feature category.
The original Lithuanian title of his second film is Seses, meaning “sisters.” The English title refers to a medical condition resulting from underwater accidents. Bareisa explained that he used this condition as a structural element in the story to explore different ways of coping with trauma.
Bareisa felt that Drowning Dry was a fitting title for the film, representing its themes effectively. Neringa Kazukauskaite, chairwoman of the Lithuanian commission for Oscar submissions, praised the film for its original storytelling, unique direction, and exceptional ensemble acting.
Lithuania has a history of submitting films for the international Oscar category but has never received a nomination.