Vilnius is stepping firmly into the international film spotlight after How to Divorce During the War won the Directing Award: World Cinema Dramatic at the Sundance Film Festival.
The darkly comedic drama, directed by Lithuanian filmmaker Andrius Blaževičius, is set in the Lithuanian capital against the backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Its success not only marks a major achievement for Baltic cinema but further cements Vilnius as one of Europe’s most versatile and in-demand filming locations.
With global studios including HBO, Netflix and the BBC already choosing Vilnius for high-profile productions, the city’s reputation as a European film hub continues to grow.
A Story of Marriage, Privilege and War
How to Divorce During the War follows Marija, an ambitious executive who files for divorce from her husband just one day before Russia launches its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. As war erupts a few hundred miles away, the couple are forced to confront their own privilege, moral compromises and the uncomfortable tension between personal crisis and geopolitical catastrophe.
The film explores how ordinary Europeans responded emotionally and socially to the unfolding conflict — capturing a specific historical moment in 2022 when Ukraine’s invasion reshaped everyday life across the region.
Director Andrius Blaževičius described Vilnius as “the perfect setting”:
“Vilnius in 2022 was a city transformed – there was a huge number of Ukrainian refugees, Ukrainian flags appeared everywhere. As it is the capital, it is where the country’s response to the war was very visible. There was that tension between normal life and geopolitical crisis.”
Even three years after the invasion began, many of those flags remain visible in the city’s streets — a powerful visual reminder preserved on screen.
Vilnius: Europe’s ‘Chameleon’ Film City
The film was shot extensively throughout Vilnius, including its UNESCO-protected Old Town and the suburb of Antaviliai. Over the past decade, Vilnius has quietly become one of Europe’s most adaptable filming destinations.
The city famously doubled as 1980s Ukraine in Chernobyl, Cold War-era Siberia in Stranger Things, and 19th-century Vienna in Sisi.
Its mix of baroque, renaissance and socialist modernist architecture allows it to stand in for cities including Rome, Berlin, Vienna, Stockholm and even Washington.
The award also shines a spotlight on the newly established Vilnius Film Fund, administered by the Vilnius Film Office. Launched in 2025, the fund supports international co-productions filmed in the Lithuanian capital.
Jūratė Pazikaitė, Head of the Vilnius Film Office, said the city sustains a vibrant ecosystem of creators and producers, hosting everything from historical dramas and sci-fi series to children’s films and action thrillers.
Filming Locations You Can Actually Visit
For film fans planning a European city break, Vilnius offers more than just cinematic credentials — it provides tangible locations you can explore.
Highlights include:
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Lukiškės Prison 2.0 – A converted 19th-century prison turned cultural centre, featured in Stranger Things and the Netflix series Clark.
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Fabijoniškės & Šeškinė districts – 1960s neighbourhoods whose socialist modernist architecture doubled as Malmö in Young Wallander and as locations in Chernobyl.
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Lithuanian National Philharmonic Society – Used as a backdrop in Sisi.
The Vilnius Film Office also curates guided tours that take visitors to iconic filming spots across the city.
A City Deeply Connected to the Ukraine Conflict
Beyond its cinematic versatility, Vilnius has a deeply personal connection to the film’s themes. In the first year of the war alone, the city welcomed around 19,000 Ukrainian refugees. Many residents opened their homes to those fleeing conflict — a solidarity reflected in the visual landscape captured by Blaževičius’ camera.
The film has already drawn critical acclaim. Variety praised the leads for their “finely tuned, delicately ironic performances,” while The Film Verdict called it “intelligent” and highlighted one scene as “one of the best portrayals of marital fracture in recent memory.”
Why Vilnius Should Be on Your Travel List
Vilnius is easily accessible from the UK, with direct flights from London Stansted, London City and London Luton several times per week. It also serves as a convenient gateway to Riga, Tallinn and Poland — making it ideal for a wider Baltic or Eastern European itinerary.
For readers interested in screen tourism, cultural travel or Europe’s emerging film capitals, Vilnius is increasingly impossible to ignore.
As the success of How to Divorce During the War proves, this Baltic capital isn’t just a backdrop — it’s a character in its own right.
