ASPIC BISTRO Selected for KVIFF’s Inaugural Book-to-Screen Showcase
ASPIC BISTRO by Ieva Dumbrytė was selected for Karlovy Vary International Film Festival’s inaugural Book-to-Screen Showcase, bringing this Lithuanian novel to the attention of international film professionals and adaptation partners.
BOOK FAIRSAWARDS
7/6/20261 min read
ASPIC BISTRO (orig. ŠALTIENOS BISTRO) by Lithuanian author Ieva Dumbrytė, represented by Book Smugglers Agency, was presented at the inaugural Book-to-Screen Showcase held during the 60th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF), one of Europe’s most renowned film festivals. The showcase brought together producers and industry professionals to explore literary works with strong potential for screen adaptation.
Selected as one of eight books from Central and Eastern Europe featured in the programme, ASPIC BISTRO introduced international film professionals to a distinctive literary voice combining dark humour, sharp social satire, and a highly original vision.
The novel follows a young history graduate struggling to find his place in the world who takes a job at a strange bistro, where social frustrations, rigid hierarchies, and love lead him into an increasingly surreal reality. Reminiscent of DELICATESSEN set inside an Eastern European kitchen, ASPIC BISTRO offers a wildly chaotic and imaginative world where absurdity becomes a lens for exploring contemporary society.
After receiving Lithuania’s award for the most creative book of the year, ASPIC BISTRO continues its journey beyond the page. Through its presentation at KVIFF’s Book-to-Screen Showcase, the novel entered conversations with international film professionals and opened new opportunities for adaptation.
Book Smugglers Agency is excited to support the next chapter of ASPIC BISTRO as it moves from literary recognition toward new creative possibilities.
