Arūnas Matelis
Lithuanian documentary film director Arūnas Matelis is thought to have made the greatest personal contribution to spreading Lithuania‘s name abroad in 2006. His documentary “Before Flying Back to Earth”, showing the lives of children undergoing treatment for cancer and the lessons of love, faith and strength they learn in hospital, has won awards in Brooklyn and Silverdocs International Film Festivals (US), the Directors Guild of America Award and many awards from Amsterdam, Madrid and Leipzig film festivals. His film was also included in the list of 61 films eligible to be nominated in the Academy Award’s Best Foreign Language Film Oscar.