“Divorce in Wartime” is the third feature film by director and screenwriter Andrius Blaževičius. At the heart of this emotional drama are Marija, an ambitious head of a large advertising agency department, and Vytas, a film director searching for himself. When Marija finally dares to admit she wants a divorce, she chooses the worst possible time for an open conversation. The main roles in the film are played by Žygimantė Elena Jakštaitė, Marius Repšys, and the young actress Amelija Adomaitytė.
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“One of the key reasons we chose this film was its relevance and closeness – it intertwines universal human relationships and geopolitical reality, as the film’s title itself suggests. The film carries the backdrop of war – what is happening right next to us, yet it also speaks about universal themes – anxiety, tension, uncertainty about the future, the collapse of relationships and its impact not only on two people but on the entire world around them. These themes are recognizable regardless of country or context,” shares this year’s National Selection Committee chairman, director Ignas Miškinis.
“In my opinion, the film’s strength is its simplicity in a good sense: the story is understandable, it is easy to identify with its characters, and their motives for actions are clearly revealed. At the same time, director Andrius Blaževičius managed not to overshadow the complex themes – despite the divorce and uncertainty, the film retains a sense of light and a path forward. The organic, genuine acting of the actors greatly contributes to its impact,” adds I. Miškinis.
After its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, where A. Blaževičius won the Best Director award, the film has already visited nearly twenty international festivals and received special prizes. The love drama, co-produced with Luxembourg, Ireland, and the Czech Republic, will be released in Lithuanian cinemas from September 18.
“I am very happy that the love drama ‘Divorce in Wartime’ will represent Lithuania in the Oscar race. I am grateful to the committee that made this decision. I believe this will add even more value to the film internationally – especially in the USA, where the film will be released in cinemas at the end of August. Together with the ‘M FILMS’ team, we will strive to represent Lithuanian cinema loudly and professionally worldwide. Of course, we are also very much looking forward to meeting Lithuanian audiences in mid-September,” says director A. Blaževičius.
“Divorce in Wartime” was awarded Best Director at the most important North American film festival, Sundance, which opened the doors to US cinemas and established connections with partners. Such international attention to Lithuanian cinema is rare. I am very happy for the entire film team, especially for director Andrius Blaževičius, who received this recognition with his third film – this shows that his consistent professional path leads exactly where it should,” summarizes the film’s producer Marija Razgutė.
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Becoming the official Lithuanian contender for the Oscar nomination in the Best International Feature Film category is only the first stage of selection. From films submitted by various countries worldwide, the US Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will first select a shortlist and later announce five final nominees. One of them will receive the prestigious Oscar. The 99th Oscar ceremony will take place on March 14, 2027.
About the Oscar contender selection
The selection of the contender for the Oscar nomination in the Best International Feature Film category is organized by the Lithuanian Film Centre and the Lithuanian Filmmakers’ Union (LKS).
The LKS Trustees’ Council, composed of heads of main film profession guilds (trustees), reviewed the candidates submitted by LKS guilds for the National Oscar Selection Committee.
The 2026 selection committee consisted of: director I. Miškinis (committee chairman), film critics Rasa Paukštytė and Neringa Kažukauskaitė, director and producer Arturas Jevdokimovas, film distributor Giedrė Krikščiūnaitė, animator Valentas Aškinis, cinematographer and director Eitvydas Doškus.
In 2025, the Lithuanian contender for the Oscar nomination was I. Miškinis’s film “Southern Chronicles,” in 2024 – Laurynas Bareiša’s “Sisters,” in 2023 – Marija Kavtaradze’s “You Don’t Remind Me of Anything,” in 2022 – L. Bareiša’s “Pilgrims,” in 2021 – Jurgis Matulevičius’s “Isaac.”
