Jonas Vaitkus

Jonas Vaitkus was born on 20 May 1944 in Lithuania. From 1969 to 1974, he studied at the Leningrad State Institute of Theatre, Music, and Cinema in Saint Petersburg, Russia. From 1978 to 1980 he studied cinematography for two years at the All-Union State Institute of Cinematography (VGIK). ==Career==

From 1974 to 1975 he was chief of the Šiauliai Drama Theatre. Vaitkus has mentored a number of actors and directors, including director Oskaras Koršunovas and actress Ingeborga Dapkūnaitė. He has directed several films, including Utterly Alone (Vienui vieni; 2004) and A Thrush, a Green Bird (Drozd - ptakha zelyonaya; 1990). In February 2018, following the worldwide spread of the Me Too movement Vaitkus was publicly accused of sexual harassment or assault by some of his former students. He has denied the allegations, claiming instead that this is a defamation campaign carried out by Russian propaganda. == Awards and nominations ==

Vaitkus has won several awards including: • 1987: Lithuanian State Award • 1990: "Scotsman Fringe First Award", Edinburgh Fringe, Scotland • 1990: "Golden Fleece" award for the best musical film at the International Musical Film Festival in Tbilisi, Georgia • 1996: St. Christopher Award for the best director of the year • 2004: National Award • 2008: Nominated, Best Male Supporting Actor in Sidabrinė gervė, for Perlas ==Footnotes==