Audrius Stonys (born 1962) is a Lithuanian documentary filmmaker and director. He is considered one of the best documentary filmmakers in the world.
Stonys was born in Lithuania and studied cinematography at the Lithuanian Film Institute. He began his career as a cinematographer for documentary films in the mid-1980s. He has since directed and produced several successful documentary films including “The Wind Sculpted Land” (1990), “The Country of the Blind” (1994), and “The Wall” (1996).
Stonys’s films have won numerous awards, including the FIPRESCI Prize at the Berlin International Film Festival for “The Wind Sculpted Land” and the Silver Wolf Award at the Amsterdam International Documentary Film Festival for “The Country of the Blind”. His films have also been nominated for the European Film Award and the International Documentary Association Award.
Stonys’s films focus on the lives of ordinary people in his native Lithuania. He often uses a poetic approach to his stories, allowing his characters to tell their own stories in their own words. He also incorporates archival footage into his documentaries, creating an intimate portrait of his characters and their lives.
Stonys’s filmmaking style has been praised for its artistic vision and subtlety. He has been lauded for his ability to convey powerful emotions and ideas without resorting to didactic storytelling.
Stonys has also been involved in the development of the Lithuanian film industry. He has served on the boards of the Lithuanian Film Institute and the Lithuanian Documentary Film Association. He has also lectured at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, and has been a guest lecturer at many film festivals.
Stonys continues to make documentary films that explore the lives of ordinary people in his native Lithuania. He is considered one of the best documentary filmmakers in the world, and his films have won numerous awards and accolades.