Danielius Kokanauskis

Danielius Kokanauskis, born in 1978 in Vilnius, Lithuania, isn’t your average film guy—he’s the sort of behind-the-scenes legend who never chases the spotlight, but somehow, the credits always find him anyway. Editing? He’s got it down to an art, slicing and splicing scenes with this almost reckless precision that makes stories hit harder. And when he steps up as an assistant director, you bet the chaos of a film set turns into this weirdly synchronized dance—probably because he’s seen it all and then some. Take The Southern Chronicles (2024)—that film’s got his fingerprints all over it. The mood, the pacing, the way the story creeps under your skin and hangs out there, making you think for days. You can tell he’s not afraid to shake things up and break a few storytelling rules if that’s what the movie needs. Jump back a bit: Mr. Landsbergis (2021). That one’s got Danielius digging into the messy, tangled history of Lithuania, and the way he pieces it all together is honestly pretty wild. History feels alive, like it’s breathing down your neck, and you just know half of that comes down to the guy in the editing booth, sweating the details. And don’t even get started on Meistras Ir Tatjana (2015). Totally different vibe, but still, his style is unmistakable. He’s one of those rare editors who can make even a quiet moment feel loaded with tension. At the end of the day, Danielius Kokanauskis is the type who may not always be front and center, but trust—his work is the glue that holds a story together, even if you don’t notice it at first.