Paris-based Totem Films has shared an exclusive first-look clip of “The Visitor,” set to world premiere in the main competition at the 59th Karlovy Vary Film Festival. Totem Films holds world sales rights to the film, which is directed by Lithuania’s Vytautas Katkus.
The film centers on 30-year-old Danielius, who has been living in Norway for over a decade. He has everything he needs — a job, a family, and friends. But when his father passes away, he is forced to return to his hometown in Lithuania to sell his childhood apartment.
Arriving at the end of summer, the small resort town feels like a temporary retreat. Yet he quickly realizes that everything has changed. As Danielius reconnects with familiar places, old friends, and lingering memories, he is confronted by a quiet sense of loneliness. Instead of resisting, he allows himself to explore it.
Between farewells and fleeting moments, Danielius embraces the present — immersing himself in the town one last time before finally letting go.
“ ‘The Visitor’ asks what it means to revisit the places, people, and emotions we thought were long behind us,” Katkus said. “Through Danielius’s journey, the film becomes a quiet exploration of memory, longing, and the subtle disorientation of returning to a life that no longer feels like your own. I wanted the viewer to feel as though they’re being led through a landscape of their own past — familiar, faded, and filled with unexpected emotion. It’s about arriving too late, or staying too long, and confronting what still lingers.”
Totem Films, which came on board as the film’s world sales agent in 2023, said: “Vytautas continues to immerse us in his artistic universe built around human relationships and a great attention to the cinematic form. We love how his films are also always infused with humor and believe that ‘The Visitor’ will resonate with international audiences.”
“The Visitor” is produced by Marija Razgutė and Brigita Beniušytė for Lithuania-based production company M-Films, with co-production by Staer and the Arctic Film Norway Invest in Norway and Garagefilm International in Sweden.
“The Visitor” is co-written with Marija Kavtaradze, writer/director of Sundance award winner “Slow” in 2023, on which Totem Films and M-Films collaborated. “Slow” was also screened at the 2023 edition of Karlovy Vary; it has since been sold to more than 20 countries.
Distributors for the production countries are already confirmed, with Kino Pavasaris for Lithuania, Staer for Norway and Folkets Bio for Sweden. The film is supported by the Lithuanian Film Centre, Eurimages – Council of Europe, Swedish Film Institute, Creative Europe MEDIA and Lithuanian National Radio and Television.
Katkus’ “Places” was at Venice in 2020 as a nominee for the Horizons’ best short film award, and “Cherries” was in Cannes’ short film competition in 2022.
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