Bio
Aiste Ptakauske is an award-winning content creator who successfully works across media and continents. She is a published author of two best-selling novels for young adults and a volume of short prose for which she has been awarded a national prize for the best fiction debut in Lithuania. She worked on a number TV series for all the biggest Lithuanian broadcasters in the capacity of a screenwriter, supervising producer, head writer or creator.
Her documentary Ethnic Kitchen and her podcast series The Sound of Things have been official selections of international film and media festivals around the globe. For her short-form digital series Little Incidents, she was honoured with the Best Creator award at Seoul Webfest 2019 (Seoul, South Korea).
She is a Fulbright grantee who holds an MA in Television-Radio-Film from the S.I.Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University (NY, USA) and is a proud member of the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
Artistic Mission
No matter in what medium or genre she works, the driving force behind Aiste’s writing is always the same – her belief that by making her audience walk, albeit for a short while, in her characters’ shoes, she can foster dialogue and mutual understanding among different individuals, communities, social groups, and even nations across the world.
Film & TV
LIFE STORIES (BTV)
Fiction
"LOOKING FOR A JOB!"
"SURREAL SUMMER BREAK"
"(UN)SAFE GAME"
”BEAUTIFUL LOSERS”
Plays
ETHNIC KITCHEN (2012)
A documentary play that tells real life stories of six very different women who immigrated to Lithuania from different countries and for different reasons, but with the same goal – to build a home away from home.
CLEAVAGE, AKA PERSONA F. (2012)
A one act play about a young woman who is literally torn between who she wants to be and who she thinks she should be.
BIRD OF TRUTH (2006)
A play about a group of schoolkids trying to put on a show for the community of their local town and uncovering their authentic selves in the process.
MIND THE ELEVATOR! (2001)
A one-act comedy about three girls who redefine their friendship while trying to break out of an old stinky elevator that gets stuck in between floors of a student dorm.
THE PILLOWMAN BY MARTIN MCDONAGH
A viciously funny and seriously disturbing tale of a writer in an unnamed totalitarian state who is interrogated about the gruesome content of his short stories and their similarities to a number of child-murders occurring in his town.
Translated into Lithuanian by Aiste Ptakauske for State Youth Theatre of Lithuania (2006)
ANNA IN THE TROPICS BY NILO CRUZ
A lush romantic drama that depicts a family of cigar makers whose loves and lives are played out against the backdrop of Depression-era America.
Translated into Lithuanian by Aiste Ptakauske for State Youth Theatre of Lithuania (2007)
Theatrical Productions
“Everything just as you Wanted or Inflation of Feelings”
CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF THE ARTS (2010)
“Everardo II, King of Lithuania”
PALACE OF GRAND DUKES OF LITHUANIA (2013),LAKE OF GALVE IN TRAKAI (2014)
The 6th Annual Blossom of Hope Charity Gala
VILNIUS TOWN HALL (2014)
“Ethnic Kitchen”
VILNIUS CHAMBER THEATRE (2013),STATE YOUTH THEATRE OF LITHUANIA (2012)
“Mind the Elevator!”
VILNIUS UNIVERSITY COURTYARD THEATRE (2000)Accolades
Official Selection
"The Sound of Things"New Media Film Festival 2024
Official Selection
"Ethnic Kitchen"Spotlight on Academics
Film Festival 2023
Official Selection
“Ethnic Kitchen”Ethnografilm 2020
Best Creator
"Little Incidents"Seoul Webfest 2019
Iconic Woman Creating a Better World for All
Women Economic Forum 2017
Gordon J. Alderman Memorial Prize for Excellence in Creative Broadcasting
Syracuse University (2010)
Independent Artist Award
CEC ArtsLink (2010)
Fulbright Graduate Student Grant
US State Department (2009)
Augustinas Gricius Prize
“Looking for a Job!”Best Lithuanian Fiction Debut of 2003
