Arunas Matelis was born in 1961 in Vilnius, Lithunia.
1979 –1983 Vilnius University, studies at mathematics faculty.
1984 –1989 graduated from Lithuanian Music Academy, Theatre and TV
faculty.
1992 Arunas Matelis established one of the first independent film production company in Lithuania called "Nominum". Films directed and produced by A. Matelis are basically focusing on creative documentary, based on Arunas’ idea-manifest of “total cinema or poetic documentary”:
"In the cinema world there are no genres, the truth of reality (documentary) is not a fact, it’s an impression. Editing is not telling a story, but giving a form".
Arunas Matelis directed 8 documentaries and produced about 20 films.
Films directed by Arunas Matelis were awarded and presented in many film festivals around the world like Cannes , Rotterdam , Torino , San Paulo , Oberhausen and others
A selection:
2003 "SUNDAY. The Gospel According Liftman Albertas" was presented at Cannes’ directors' Fortnight", Torino, Rotterdam and others film festivals. The best Lithuanian film of 2003
The short documentary "Flight over Lithuania or 510 of silence" was awarded first "Platinum Film" in Lithuania for best results of distribution (including mainstream European and USA production) of DVD and VHS in Lithuania.
2005 "Before the flight back to the Earth"
A TAG/TRAUM/Nominum Production in co-production with ZDF/ARTE will be presented at the 48th International Leipzig Festival for documentary and animated film.
Extra facts:
Since 1994 A.Matelis is a delegated member (from Lithuanian Filmmakers union) of Lithuanian Radio and TV Commission.
He was a chairman of Lithuanian film experts' board for several years
Jury member in Bornholm (Denmark), documentary and TV film festival
A. Matelis is also the "Minister of Migration and Changes" in the "Republic of Uzupis" (the bohemian district of Vilnius, similar to Montmartre in Paris).
Married, three children .
