Trakai Vokės Manor invites creators, researchers and cultural professionals from Lithuania and abroad to participate in a residency program dedicated to artistic and interdisciplinary practices related to history, nature, science and community.
The program is open to heritage conservationists, landscape architects, writers, screenwriters, educators, art historians, artists, exhibition curators, researchers and cultural mediators who want to create, explore, reflect on today and history and forge new creative connections.
During the residencies, the involvement of the local community is encouraged: meeting evenings, creative presentations, open residency days are organized. Residents share experiences, creative discussions take place, co-creation initiatives are launched, and creative networks are built.
The main themes of the residency:
Applications are accepted throughout the year. Specific residency dates and needs are agreed individually.
Duration of residency: from 1 week to 3 months.
Applications are accepted for individual projects or for a collective of authors (up to 2 people). Only one residency is granted to a collective.
You can submit an application by filling out the APPLICATION FORM.
The third participant representing Estonia is Ukrainian-born director Nataliia Domini, who will develop the script for the animated short film Nocturnal Theatre of Being Seen. The project explores shame, social roles in society, and the absurd efforts involved in being human in public spaces. The film combines surreal humor, bodily vulnerability, and dream logic.
Nataliia Domini describes herself as a multidisciplinary artist and animation director working across animation, illustration, and autobiographical fiction. Initially, she studied philosophy and psychology, but during the COVID-19 pandemic she turned to animation out of curiosity, which soon became her professional path. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, she relocated and completed a master’s degree in animation at the Estonian Academy of Arts.
Her graduation film “aɪs ˈkriːm, aɪ skriːm” has been screened at international festivals including PÖFF Shorts, Primanima Animation Festival, Anifilm, Sottodiciotto Film Festival, and the Melbourne International Animation Festival.
The third participant representing Estonia is Ukrainian-born director Nataliia Domini, who will develop the script for the animated short film Nocturnal Theatre of Being Seen. The project explores shame, social roles in society, and the absurd efforts involved in being human in public spaces. The film combines surreal humor, bodily vulnerability, and dream logic.
Nataliia Domini describes herself as a multidisciplinary artist and animation director working across animation, illustration, and autobiographical fiction. Initially, she studied philosophy and psychology, but during the COVID-19 pandemic she turned to animation out of curiosity, which soon became her professional path. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, she relocated and completed a master’s degree in animation at the Estonian Academy of Arts.
Her graduation film “aɪs ˈkriːm, aɪ skriːm” has been screened at international festivals including PÖFF Shorts, Primanima Animation Festival, Anifilm, Sottodiciotto Film Festival, and the Melbourne International Animation Festival.
Representing Latvia in this year’s residency is Marija Stefānija Linuža, who will develop the script for the fiction short film Hag Eyes during the residency. The film explores the world through a child’s eyes, where overheard stories about witches become a source of attention and imagination, connecting reality with fantasy.
Marija Stefānija Linuža studied film directing at the Italian documentary film school ZeLIG School for Documentary, Television and New Media. Their debut film AMA OSA received a special mention at the Filmmaker Festival and was screened at festivals in Italy and Germany, including DOK.fest München.
After eight years abroad, Marija returned to Latvia and is currently developing the hybrid short film I Am, which will draw on home movie footage from Baltic archives to explore the emotional heritage passed down through generations of women.
Representing Latvia in this year’s residency is Marija Stefānija Linuža, who will develop the script for the fiction short film Hag Eyes during the residency. The film explores the world through a child’s eyes, where overheard stories about witches become a source of attention and imagination, connecting reality with fantasy.
Marija Stefānija Linuža studied film directing at the Italian documentary film school ZeLIG School for Documentary, Television and New Media. Their debut film AMA OSA received a special mention at the Filmmaker Festival and was screened at festivals in Italy and Germany, including DOK.fest München.
After eight years abroad, Marija returned to Latvia and is currently developing the hybrid short film I Am, which will draw on home movie footage from Baltic archives to explore the emotional heritage passed down through generations of women.
In the seventh season of “Baltic Shorts Residency,” Lithuania will be represented by director Agnė Girsaitė, who will develop the script for her new fiction film Everyday, Everywhere. The story follows a woman who witnesses a disturbing incident through the window of a train. The film employs thriller elements such as uncertainty and rapid decision-making in critical situations, while centering on a woman’s experience between reality and her inner emotional world.
Agnė Girsaitė is a Lithuanian film director and screenwriter who graduated in 2024 from the National Film School KIMO at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre with a degree in video directing. Her bachelor’s graduation film Closeout (“Ką seniai užmiršau”) premiered at the 62nd Gijón International Film Festival and was screened at other European film festivals. Agnė also works in film education and is a coordinator at the Youngblood Film School, where she mainly works with teenagers taking their first steps into filmmaking.
In the seventh season of “Baltic Shorts Residency,” Lithuania will be represented by director Agnė Girsaitė, who will develop the script for her new fiction film Everyday, Everywhere. The story follows a woman who witnesses a disturbing incident through the window of a train. The film employs thriller elements such as uncertainty and rapid decision-making in critical situations, while centering on a woman’s experience between reality and her inner emotional world.
Agnė Girsaitė is a Lithuanian film director and screenwriter who graduated in 2024 from the National Film School KIMO at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre with a degree in video directing. Her bachelor’s graduation film Closeout (“Ką seniai užmiršau”) premiered at the 62nd Gijón International Film Festival and was screened at other European film festivals. Agnė also works in film education and is a coordinator at the Youngblood Film School, where she mainly works with teenagers taking their first steps into filmmaking.
The residency takes place in the historic Trakai Vokė Manor Palace, located just 15 km from the center of Vilnius. It is a unique place where history, nature and creativity meet – inspiring to step away from everyday life and focus on deep, purposeful work.
Trakai Vokė Manor is not a museum, but a living space for exploration, dialogue, experimentation and co-creation.
Price – 30 Eur/night (includes: accommodation and working conditions; excludes: travel, meals, material costs)
⚠️ The program does not provide funding, but an official resident acceptance letter is provided, suitable for applications to individual scholarship or residency funding programs.
