Janina Lapinskaite (b. 1953, Šilauliaim, Lithuania) studied film direction at the Music Academy in 1970-75 and then began working in television. She debuted with a short film, This Is My Destiny (Tai mano likimas, 1994), then followed it up with other shorts, including From the Life of the Ants (Is skruzdeliu gyvenino, 1995), which won a prize at the art documentary festival in Monte Carlo. From the Life of Elves (Is elfu gyvenimo, 1996) was honoured with the Special Prize at Prix Europa in Berlin and with the Grand Prix in Monte Carlo. Her other films, From the Life of Lambs (Is avineliu gyvenimo, 1998), Magic of Travels (Kelioniu magija, 1999) and An Act (Aktas, 2000), were also well-received at various festivals. The director's first feature, Venecius Life and Death of Caesar (Venecijaus gyvenimas ir Cezario myrtis), appeared in 2002 and took awards in Perm (Russia), Portugal and Riga.
MFF Karlovy Vary
