AceShowbiz - Lithuanian screen and theater luminary, often hailed as “the James Dean of the Baltics,” Juozas Budraitis is set to receive the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the upcoming 29th edition of the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF). Organizers made the significant announcement on Friday, recognizing the actor’s profound impact on cinema and stage.

Active since 1966, the prolific 85-year-old Juozas Budraitis boasts an impressive filmography, with more than 120 film and television roles to his name. His versatile career has seen him embody characters ranging “from revolutionaries to kings,” including several notable performances in Estonian cinema. Among his most recognized works is the Soviet production Wounded Game, which garnered attention at the 1977 Cannes Film Festival. More recently, he captivated audiences with a memorable small part as an old chess player in the critically acclaimed Netflix miniseries The Queen’s Gambit, starring Anya Taylor-Joy.

In a special tribute to Juozas Budraitis, the Tallinn Film Festival will present two significant screenings. The first is Nerijus Milerius’ biographical documentary, Old Man’s Journeys, described as “a portrait of Baltic film and theater icon Juozas Budraitis, revisiting his roles, places and friends, on and off screen.” Additionally, audiences will have the opportunity to see Mantas Verbiejus’ Sand in Your Hair, a film whose synopsis reads: “As time slips away, two aging hearts escape society’s limits, finding freedom and love in the time they have left.” In this feature, Juozas Budraitis delivers a memorable supporting role alongside fellow Lithuanian icons Jūratė Onaitytė and Liubomiras Laucevičius.

The festival’s website offers further insight into Old Man’s Journeys, underscoring the enduring respect for the actor. It highlights that “Maestro Juozas Budraitis recently celebrated his 85th birthday, yet he still seems to be only 58.” The documentary delves into the actor’s vibrant journey through “memories, feelings, secrets, traumas and observations,” spanning from his childhood in Klaipėda to a poignant encounter with Slovak actress Zuzana Kocúriková in Bratislava in 1968, where he learned Czech. Filmmaker and philosopher Nerijus Milerius follows the restless actor across various modes of transport, capturing a candid essence. Amusingly, Juozas Budraitis himself joked that the film “should never have been made,” yet personally penned its title, a testament to his unique charm and enduring legacy.