The Master Plan—an investigative documentary that explores the methods through which Russia influences the domestic policy of the Baltic States—was successfully screened at The Music Box Theatre in Chicago on November 13, 2017, and in December at the Chicago Ukrainian Cultural Center.
The film explores how Putin’s propaganda machine has been implemented in the Baltic States—well-known to leaders in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia for years—dividing the local community, promoting nostalgia for the Soviet Union and dismissing the recovered independence of the Baltic States.
I am grateful to all who donated. We raised $1,500 to bring the film here and I was then able to coordinate an expert panel of guests to comment on the film, including one of the filmmakers from Latvia (by way of NYC) and two General Consuls. (Note to self: next time, don’t try to single-handedly plan an event + fundraise + work full-time. Extra special thanks to Larry Sawyer for moral support, helping to get the film poster made, and manning the ticket table.)
Robert Blumberg, Honorary Consul General of Latvia; Mantvydas Bekesius, Consul General of Lithuania, Chicago; Lina Ramona Vitkauskas, poet and activist; Inga Springe, Investigative Journalist, Founder of Re:Baltica; Artis Inka, Editor of Čikaga, at the Music Box Theatre
THE MASTER PLAN
dir. Juris Pakalniņš, 52′, Latvia/Lithuania/Estonia, 2016
Production company: Mistrus Media | www.mistrusmedia.lv
In Co-production with Monoklis (Lithuania), Allfilm (Estonia)
Supported by
National Film Centre of Latvia
State Culture Capital Foundation
Lithuanian Film Centre
Creative Europe programme of the European Union
Estonian Public Broadcasting
Latvian Television
Lithuanian Radio and Television
