The capital of legends

Vilnius begins with a dream. Grand Duke Gediminas, resting after a hunt, saw an iron wolf standing on a hill, its howl echoing as if hundreds of wolves were inside it. The prophecy spoke of a powerful city that would one day rise there — and so Vilnius became the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, a meeting place of cultures, faiths, and ideas.

A city alive with culture

Every day brings something to discover: concerts, films, theater, or a festival. International stars share stages with local talents, while visitors and residents mingle in buzzing cafés, hidden courtyards, and late-night bars. At night, Vilnius transforms again, its clubs and music carrying the city’s rhythm until sunrise.

Vilnius is old and new, sacred and rebellious. Its cobblestone Old Town — a UNESCO World Heritage site — reveals baroque spires, Gothic cathedrals, and medieval courtyards. Yet just across the river lies Užupis, the bohemian “republic” with its own constitution and angel watching over artists and dreamers.

A city of seasons

Vilnius changes with the year. Winter drapes the Old Town in snow and lights, spring blooms with flowers and riverside walks, summer hums with open-air cafés and golden evenings, while autumn paints the city in fiery colors. Each season reveals a new face of Vilnius — always welcoming, always changing.

The National Film School (KIMO) at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre is a dynamic centre for film education in Northern Europe. Though young, it stands firmly on a tradition that has shaped world cinema - the school of Baltic poetic documentary. Here, innovation and heritage intertwine: students are encouraged to experiment boldly while remaining grounded in the depth of cinematic reflection that defines Lithuanian film culture.

Located in Vilnius, a city where history and modern creativity coexist, the KIMO campus offers an inspiring environment for emerging filmmakers. Its studios, editing rooms, and screening spaces form a living laboratory where students and mentors collaborate closely, exploring the language of film through both practice and contemplation.

As the host of the second semester of the DocNomads^PLUS Joint Master in Documentary Filmmaking, KIMO welcomes international students into its vibrant academic and artistic community. The arrival of new filmmakers from around the world enriches the school’s rhythm - introducing new perspectives into dialogue with a sensibility shaped by silence, patience, and metaphor.

KIMO is not only a place to learn filmmaking; it is a place to develop a way of seeing. Each student’s presence adds a new pulse to the community, turning the campus into a space where films are not only made, but where cinematic thought and vision quietly take root.