Alief Acquires International Rights to Lithuanian Film 'Dice-Ching-O-Mat'
U.K.-French sales company Alief has picked up international distribution rights outside the Baltics and Poland for the Lithuanian feature 'Dice-Ching-O-Mat'. Directed by Kristijonas Vildziunas and produced by Uljana Kim, the film is set for its world premiere in competition at the Warsaw Film Festival. Vildziunas previously screened works at Venice and Cannes and was twice selected as Lithuania's Oscar submission.
The acquisition extends Alief's slate with a director whose festival pedigree includes Venice and Cannes premieres, alongside two selections as Lithuania's official Oscar entry. Vildziunas's partnership with producer Uljana Kim, honored with the Eurimages International Co-Production Award in 2023, lends the project considerable European industry credibility.
The Warsaw Film Festival competition slot offers a strategic launch venue, positioning the title for further festival circulation across Europe. With Baltic and Polish rights already carved out separately, Alief's mandate covers the remaining international marketplace, a structure that could facilitate staggered theatrical and streaming rollouts in key territories.
This deal could strengthen the international visibility of Baltic cinema, which often struggles for distribution beyond regional borders. Festival exposure in Warsaw may attract art-house programmers and streaming platforms seeking distinctive European voices, potentially benefiting both the director's career trajectory and Lithuania's broader film industry reputation. For audiences, the film represents an opportunity to encounter storytelling outside mainstream Western European production hubs, though its ultimate reach will depend on how effectively Alief leverages the director's prior festival recognition.