THE SITUATION

Baltic Pride is a LGBT parade which take place every year in a different baltic country (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania). This year, it will take place in Vilnius, Lithuania, a country which counts 62% of the population who declares themselves against the parade. In Lithuania, the sexual relationships between same-sex couples has been decriminalized in 1993, three years after the independance of the country from USSR.

In 2010, the city hall didn't allow the first lithuanian pride to take place on the main avenue. The parade gathered 500 LGBT-friendly people, 600 police officers, and around 2000 protesters against the event. For this second edition, the LGL is actually on trial against the city hall to win the right to march on the main avenue.

The Baltic Pride 2010

WHAT WE ALREADY DID

The LGL during the shooting

In april, we had the opportunity to work for the LGL (Lithuanian Gay League), the french institute and the french embassy in Vilnius in order to direct two TV spots about the Baltic Pride, human rights and tolerance in Lithuania. In the spot dedicated to the Baltic Pride, LGBT people had the courage to express themselves openly in the crowded streets.

The first spot, about the Baltic Pride itself

The second spot, about tolerance in Lithuania

WHAT WE WANT TO DO

Our purpose is to return to Lithuania in July to film the Baltic Pride and the events that take place around it. There also will be interviews that will allow the public to understand the social context of LGBT people in Lithuania, three years after the events of the first parade. This initiative is supported by the LGL, the french embassy and the french institute in Vilnius, where we will stay during the shooting.

The events :

Tuesday 23rd July : Opening of exhibition: 20 years of the LGBT movement in Lithuania

Wednesday 24th July : Literature reading with Eileen Myles

Thursday 25th July : Film festival opening

Friday 26th July : International Human Rights Conference: Baltic States and EU Roadmap for LGBT Equality, Workshop organised by Estonian LGBT Association and Mozaika

Saturday 27th July : March for Equality