It was time to watch a special program of the festival. Incredible exotic films from Columbia “Los Archivos Mayo” gladdened mine and I guess everyone’s eyes. After the break special hardcore video art program “The end and new beginnings” was show for the toughest. I wasn’t one.

The last day of the festival and we are nearly our main stop – awards. Jury is not nervous and actually with very different decisions what is best and what is not. After a bit of being late organizers are on stage to announce the greatest of this year’s NEXT.

And the winners are: best festival film – “Between you and me” by Patryk Rebisz from Poland, best Baltic film – “Dentist” by Sine Baumane from Latvia, best Lithuania film “Loading” by Antanas Zygavicius. Applause, applause!

Well, it was really quite subjective winners and not everyone agreed on that. But NEXT festival is not trying to be very objective and strict to video works. Actually, it’s up to you – just choose the winners for yourself.

Time to take a break and celebrate! DJ Walkman spined some lazy tunes. Tomas Dobravolskis, probably now the most interesting Lithuanian composer and musician, played with his own made brass globe and was accompanied by Lithuanian jazz musician Neda on flute.

IJO another Lithuaniai artist presented some of his breaking beats. The concert was finished up by powerful gig of German duo Funksturung with the tracks from their future album. It was georgious concert! All the event was visualized by RUT RUT VJs.

NEXT train left for the next year, but it will be moving around this year to other cities to show some of the selected video works. I liked the easy mood of the festival with none profesional attitude. Everything seemed so simple, subjective but still I guess that was why NEXT is becoming more and more popular.

Next Festival 2006
Date: March 14th – 18th, 2006
Place: Vilnius international railway station
https://www.nextfestival.net