Born in Murmansk, Russia, in 1963. In 1987 successfully completed the directing studies at the University of Klaipeda. In 1992 graduated from the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre (LMTA), where he studied acting. Shortly afterwards he left for Sweden, where established an enterprise and ran it for 10 years. During that time he had nothing to do with theatre. However, in 2004, he returned to Lithuania and completed master studies in directing under the academic guidance of Jonas Vaitkus. As a freelance actor, he worked in almost all of the Lithuanian theatres, and as a director, he worked on numerous plays at the “Menas” theatre. Since 2009 has been lecturing at the LMTA, where he teaches Acting, and has been the artistic director of the “Menas” theatre in Panevežys. “The Gambler” is his first leading role in cinema – up until now, he has played several small parts in both Lithuanian and foreign films.

The daughter of filmmaker Jonas Mekas and photographer Hollis Melton, Oona began her love affair with cinema at a very early age. Some of her first memories are of dark theaters illuminated by the light of a projector, watching films by everyone from Stan Brakhage and Harry Smith to Buster Keaton and Sergio Leone. She started her film career in New York City, programming and co-founding a series called Fresh Film for Anthology Film Archives, a film theater and archive, where she serves on the board. These days, she calls Los Angeles home and continues her journey both in front and behind the camera as an actor, writer and director.

Born in 1971 in Lithuania, Ignas Jonynas has worked in theatre, film and advertising as a director, screenwriter, and actor. Graduated from A.Vienožinskis Art School, successfully obtained a bachelor's degree in TV Direction and later received a Master's degree in Theatre at the Lithuanian Academy of Music. He has worked as a construction worker, bartender, dock worker, medical orderly at a psychiatric hospital, and radio DJ. Ignas was involved with the music band Bango Collective. He has staged 10 theatre productions and directed one documentary and two short films. "The Gambler" is his debut feature film.

Kristupas Sabolius is an active public intellectual, a writer and an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Vilnius University. He recently published “Furious Sleep” (2012), a book on imagination and phenomenology. Sabolius also wrote several theatre plays and a novel (“Bad Book”, 2006). He has collaborated with contemporary artists, worked as a consultant for Oskaras Koršunovas theatre, and initiated several cultural projects (“One Minute Film Festival”, “Haiku To Vilnius”, “Freshmen Awards”). He also hosted a TV show on Lithuanian and European Theatre at Lithuanian National Broadcaster. His newest book on cinema and imagination is projected to be published in November 2013.

Born in 1971 in Lithuania, Ignas Jonynas has worked in theatre, film and advertising as a director, screenwriter, and actor. Graduated from A.Vienožinskis Art School, successfully obtained a bachelor's degree in TV Direction and later received a Master's degree in Theatre at the Lithuanian Academy of Music. He has worked as a construction worker, bartender, dock worker, medical orderly at a psychiatric hospital, and radio DJ. Ignas was involved with the music band Bango Collective. He has staged 10 theatre productions and directed one documentary and two short films. "The Gambler" is his debut feature film.

Janis Eglitis was born in 1968. He studied painting and acting, but ended up working in a documentary film studio as an assistant camera operator. Eglitis has been fortunate enough to have worked with the legendary filmmakers Juris Podnieks, Andris Seleckis and Davis Simanis. Later on, Eglitis worked as an assistant on fiction films, quickly moving on to doing the filming himself. He then attended the Latvian Academy of Culture and graduated with a degree in cinematography. Eglitis continues to do a lot of filming, working with leading advertising and music video directors in Latvia, Lithuania and Russia. He’s filmed music videos for such high-profile groups as Mumi Troll, B2, Zemfira, Kasta and Brainstorm. Many of his films and commercials have received awards. Alexey Mizgerev’s (Russia) film “Convoy” participated in the Panorama program at the Berlin Film Festival, while Aik Karapetian’s film “People Out There” was featured at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival.

Born in 1980. Studied Information Society Studies at Vilnius University (2005-2006) and Arts / Set Design at Vilnius Fine Arts Academy (2000-2004).
Has been actively working on commercials and short films.
“The Gambler” is his first full length feature film.

The Bus is a Lithuanian music duo composed of Paulius Kilbauskas and Domas Strupinskas, both of whom have a history of producing successful projects. To name a few: Empti, Dublicate, MIR project, Bango Collective, No Dog Barking, Overtone, Dykumos, Snapsounds, etc. Currently this creative collaboration is involved in making movie & game soundtracks, but is always open to new artistic challenges. Their sound is recognizable by heavily distorted reverberant guitars, complex rhythms, deep warm analog synth lines and huge organic soundscapes.
More info: www.thebus.lt

Born in 1964. Sound director, sound designer, producer of audio recordings, as well as audio post-production of films.
Started his career in 1987, as a specialist of electronic music instruments and creator of synthesizer sounds.
Later, he worked with music recordings ranging from pop, rock, and jazz to classical symphony orchestras. His career in cinematic sound department started in TV films, later – cinematic featurettes. Arturas’ works were highly acclaimed by film directors and producers, therefore he received many proposals for designing the sound of feature films.
For impeccable sound and sound design, he was nominated for several national “Silver Crane” awards, as well as the Latvian “Christopher” awards, and in 2005 he was awarded at the international Clermont-Ferrand short film festival (Prix de la Meilleure Creation Sonore). Additionally, he has been nominated for and awarded with several national “Bravo” music awards.
For filmography, see imdb.com/Arturas Pugaciauskas

Born in 1969. Graduated from the Institute of Cinematography in Moscow (VGIK) in 1993 and is a film critic by education. She began her career in cinema as the executive producer of the documentary film PAVASARIS (SPRING) by Valdas Navasaitis, which won the best short film prize in the Cinema du Reel in 1997, Paris, and the main prize in the Oberhausen in 1998. Her first produced full-length feature film KIEMAS (COURTYARD) by the same director was presented in Cannes in 1999 (Quinzaine des realisateurs). The second feature film she produced - NUOMOS SUTARTIS (THE LEASE) by Kristijonas Vildžiunas – was included in the Venice Official selection „Upstream“ in 2002, and another feature film, which she produced, entitled „YOU AM I“ by the same director was presented in Cannes, the official selection „Un Certain Regard“, in 2006.
She has been running „Studio Uljana Kim“, which is a leading company in the production of full-length feature films in Lithuania.
Since 2004, she has been running the project “Lithuanian Film Promotion and information agency”. www.lfc.lt

Roberts Vinovskis was born in 1975, in Riga. He studied applied design and painting, and then philosophy at the University of Latvia. From 1991 to 1994 he worked at Juris Podnieks’ studio. Vinovskis founded “Locomotive Productions” in 1999 and continues to work there today. Vinovskis has made several documentary films, but in the last few years has actively worked as a producer for both fiction and documentary films that have been shown in numerous international festivals. The feature film “The Gambler” is his first co-production with Lithuania. Roberts is currently working on a Latvian – German co-production, in remembrance of the 100th anniversary since the start of WWI. Roberts is a member of both the Latvian Filmmakers Union and the Latvian Film Producers Association.