This year, Latvia is sharing a spotlight with neighboring Lithuania and Estonia at the European Film Market, which has dedicated its 2023 Country in Focus Spotlight to the Baltic nations. It’s a sign of the tremendous strides the country has taken to put itself on the world cinema map, with the screen industries both producing more films and TV series than ever before and luring increasingly ambitious international projects to Northeastern Europe.
Here’s a rundown of some of the top Latvian projects in the pipeline that their producers will be pitching in Berlin:
Blue Blood
Director: Juris Kursietis
Producers: White Picture, Stellar Film, Asterisk*
The follow-up to Kursietis’ Cannes Directors’ Fortnight player “Oleg” is the story of a successful couple whose comfortable life is turned upside-down when the husband is implicated in a massive corruption scandal.
Sales: N/A
Soviet Milk
Director: Ināra Kolmane
Producers: Jānis Juhņēvičs, Marta Romanova-Jēkabsone...
Here’s a rundown of some of the top Latvian projects in the pipeline that their producers will be pitching in Berlin:
Blue Blood
Director: Juris Kursietis
Producers: White Picture, Stellar Film, Asterisk*
The follow-up to Kursietis’ Cannes Directors’ Fortnight player “Oleg” is the story of a successful couple whose comfortable life is turned upside-down when the husband is implicated in a massive corruption scandal.
Sales: N/A
Soviet Milk
Director: Ināra Kolmane
Producers: Jānis Juhņēvičs, Marta Romanova-Jēkabsone...
- 2/17/2023
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
This contemplative and self-reflexive documentary from Latvian director Kristine Briede and Lithuanian filmmaker Audrius Stonys is both a love letter to the documentarians from the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania who, presumably, inspired them and a dialogue between the period in which these poetic pioneers - including Latvian Ivars Seleckis, Lithuanian Robertas Verba and Estonian Andres Sööt - were working and the present day.
The conversation between the Sixties (and onwards) and today shows the directors and some of their subjects now and then as well as offering up a meditation on the way that documentary may not just capture the quotidian goings on but also a spiritual element. As one of them puts it, "The meaning of life is searching for the meaning of it".
There is a wealth of archive clips from across the Baltics - from fishermen and women to a child reciting a poem.
The conversation between the Sixties (and onwards) and today shows the directors and some of their subjects now and then as well as offering up a meditation on the way that documentary may not just capture the quotidian goings on but also a spiritual element. As one of them puts it, "The meaning of life is searching for the meaning of it".
There is a wealth of archive clips from across the Baltics - from fishermen and women to a child reciting a poem.
- 7/13/2021
- by Amber Wilkinson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
2019 Foreign Language Film Oscar Submissions Algeria – Until The End Of Time – Yasmine Chouikh Argentina– The Angel (El Angel) – Luis Ortega Austria – The Waldheim Waltz – Ruth Beckermann Belarus – Crystal Swan – Darya Zhuk Belgium – Girl – Lukas Dhont Bolivia – Muralla – Rodrigo Patiño Bosnia – Never Leave Me – Aida Begic Brazil – The Great Mystical Circus – Carlos Diegues Bulgaria – Omnipresent – Ilian Djevelekov Cambodia – Graves Without A Name – Rithy Pan Canada – Watch Dog – Sophie Dupuis Chile – And Suddenly The Dawn – Silvio Caiozzi Colombia– Birds of Passage, Cristina Gallego & Ciro Guerra Croatia – The Eighth Commissioner – Ivan Salaj Czech Republic – Winter Flies – Olmo Omerzu Denmark – The Guilty – Gustav Möller Dominican Republic – Cocote – Nelson Carlo de los Santos Ecuador – A Son Of Man – Jamaicanoproblem and Pablo Agüero Egypt – Yomeddine – Abu Bakr Shawky Estonia – Take It Or Leave It – Liina Trishkina-Vanhatalo Finland – Euthanizer – Teemu Nikin France – Memoir Of War – Emmanuel Finkiel Georgia – Namme – Zaza Khalvashi Germany – Never Look Away – Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck...
- 8/21/2020
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
22nd edition of festival had its closing ceremony on Saturday (Dec 2).
Rubén Mendoza’s Colombia-France drama Wandering Girl scooped the top prize as the curtain came down last night on the 22nd Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival in Estonia.
The film, which had its world premiere in Tallinn, follows 12-year-old Angela and her three step-sisters who are approaching their thirties. The four meet for the first time when summoned for the death of their charismatic father. Daniel García produced.
The jury, which was headed by Italian director Andrea Pallaoro, cited the film for “powerfully exploring themes of grief and abandonment through a very moving,...
Rubén Mendoza’s Colombia-France drama Wandering Girl scooped the top prize as the curtain came down last night on the 22nd Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival in Estonia.
The film, which had its world premiere in Tallinn, follows 12-year-old Angela and her three step-sisters who are approaching their thirties. The four meet for the first time when summoned for the death of their charismatic father. Daniel García produced.
The jury, which was headed by Italian director Andrea Pallaoro, cited the film for “powerfully exploring themes of grief and abandonment through a very moving,...
- 12/3/2018
- by Tom Grater
- ScreenDaily
Director’s The Crossroad Street won an Efa in 1990.
The Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival will present a lifetime achievement award to Latvian documentary filmmaker Ivars Seleckis.
The director will be in the Estonian capital on November 28 to receive his prize at a screening of his latest documentary To Be Continued, which is part of the festival’s Baltic Competition programme.
To Be Continued, which follows seven children in Latvia over the course of two years, is the country’s submission for this year’s foreign language film Oscar.
Seleckis, who has been directing films since the 1970s and is...
The Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival will present a lifetime achievement award to Latvian documentary filmmaker Ivars Seleckis.
The director will be in the Estonian capital on November 28 to receive his prize at a screening of his latest documentary To Be Continued, which is part of the festival’s Baltic Competition programme.
To Be Continued, which follows seven children in Latvia over the course of two years, is the country’s submission for this year’s foreign language film Oscar.
Seleckis, who has been directing films since the 1970s and is...
- 11/28/2018
- by Tom Grater
- ScreenDaily
‘Jirga’
Benjamin Gilmour’s Afghanistan-set drama Jirga will carry Australia’s hopes of being nominated for this year’s Best Foreign Language Film Oscar.
The international recognition as Australia’s official submission follows the film’s international premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and winning the $100,000 best film prize, Australia’s richest, at CinfestOZ.
Produced and distributed by John Maynard, the film stars Sam Smith as a former Australian soldier who returns to Afghanistan seeking forgiveness and puts his life in the hands of the village justice system – the Jirga.
There are 87 countries vying for the prize, including first-time entrants Malawi and Niger and high-profile contenders such as Mexico’s Roma and Poland’s Cold War, both of which are hoping to break out of the foreign race and earn nominations for best picture, best director and more.
Gilmour said: “We are thrilled about the honour of representing Australia.
Benjamin Gilmour’s Afghanistan-set drama Jirga will carry Australia’s hopes of being nominated for this year’s Best Foreign Language Film Oscar.
The international recognition as Australia’s official submission follows the film’s international premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and winning the $100,000 best film prize, Australia’s richest, at CinfestOZ.
Produced and distributed by John Maynard, the film stars Sam Smith as a former Australian soldier who returns to Afghanistan seeking forgiveness and puts his life in the hands of the village justice system – the Jirga.
There are 87 countries vying for the prize, including first-time entrants Malawi and Niger and high-profile contenders such as Mexico’s Roma and Poland’s Cold War, both of which are hoping to break out of the foreign race and earn nominations for best picture, best director and more.
Gilmour said: “We are thrilled about the honour of representing Australia.
- 10/8/2018
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
First-time submissions come from Malawi and Niger as Austrlia and New Zealand join the list.
Eighty-seven countries have submitted films for this year’s foreign language film Oscar, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has revealed, a drop from the record 92 that submitted last year.
Countries submitting films in the category for the first time include Malawi, which has entered Shemu Joyah’s The Road to Sunrise, and Niger, whose submission is Rahmatou Keïta’s The Wedding Ring.
Submissions that had not previously been confirmed include Australian entry Jirga, from director Benjamin Gilmour, and New Zealand contender Yellow Is Forbidden,...
Eighty-seven countries have submitted films for this year’s foreign language film Oscar, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has revealed, a drop from the record 92 that submitted last year.
Countries submitting films in the category for the first time include Malawi, which has entered Shemu Joyah’s The Road to Sunrise, and Niger, whose submission is Rahmatou Keïta’s The Wedding Ring.
Submissions that had not previously been confirmed include Australian entry Jirga, from director Benjamin Gilmour, and New Zealand contender Yellow Is Forbidden,...
- 10/8/2018
- by John Hazelton
- ScreenDaily
First-time submissions come from Malawi and Niger as Austrlia and New Zealand join the list.
Eighty-seven countries have submitted films for this year’s foreign language film Oscar, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has revealed, a drop from the record 92 that submitted last year.
Countries submitting films in the category for the first time include Malawi, which has entered Shemu Joyah’s The Road to Sunrise, and Niger, whose submission is Rahmatou Keïta’s The Wedding Ring.
Submissions that had not previously been confirmed include Australian entry Jirga, from director Benjamin Gilmour, and New Zealand contender Yellow Is Forbidden,...
Eighty-seven countries have submitted films for this year’s foreign language film Oscar, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has revealed, a drop from the record 92 that submitted last year.
Countries submitting films in the category for the first time include Malawi, which has entered Shemu Joyah’s The Road to Sunrise, and Niger, whose submission is Rahmatou Keïta’s The Wedding Ring.
Submissions that had not previously been confirmed include Australian entry Jirga, from director Benjamin Gilmour, and New Zealand contender Yellow Is Forbidden,...
- 10/8/2018
- by John Hazelton
- ScreenDaily
Eighty-seven countries have submitted films for consideration in the foreign language category for the 91st Academy Awards.
Oscar nominations will be announced on Jan. 22 and the ceremony will be held on Feb. 24 at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre. Malawi and Niger are first-time entrants. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made the announcement on Monday.
High-profile titles include Alfonso Cuaron’s “Roma,” the Mexican entry; Denmark’s “The Guilty”; Germany’s “Never Look Away,” from previous Oscar winner Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck; Hirokazu Kore-eda’s “Shoplifters,” the Japanese entry that won the Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival; Nadine Labaki’s “Capernaum,” the Cannes jury prize winner from Lebanon; and Pawel Pawlikowski’s “Cold War,” the Cannes best director prize winner from Poland.
The 2018 submissions are:
Afghanistan, “Rona Azim’s Mother,” Jamshid Mahmoudi, director;
Algeria, “Until the End of Time,” Yasmine Chouikh, director;
Argentina, “El Ángel,...
Oscar nominations will be announced on Jan. 22 and the ceremony will be held on Feb. 24 at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre. Malawi and Niger are first-time entrants. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made the announcement on Monday.
High-profile titles include Alfonso Cuaron’s “Roma,” the Mexican entry; Denmark’s “The Guilty”; Germany’s “Never Look Away,” from previous Oscar winner Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck; Hirokazu Kore-eda’s “Shoplifters,” the Japanese entry that won the Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival; Nadine Labaki’s “Capernaum,” the Cannes jury prize winner from Lebanon; and Pawel Pawlikowski’s “Cold War,” the Cannes best director prize winner from Poland.
The 2018 submissions are:
Afghanistan, “Rona Azim’s Mother,” Jamshid Mahmoudi, director;
Algeria, “Until the End of Time,” Yasmine Chouikh, director;
Argentina, “El Ángel,...
- 10/8/2018
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
A whopping 87 countries submitted entries in the Foreign-Language Film race at the 2019 Oscars. That is down by five from last year’s record 92 submissions but up by two from 2017, which had broken the benchmark of 83 set in 2015. The nations represented ranged from A (Afghanistan) to Y (Yemen). Among the contenders is the Mexican entry “Roma” by Oscar winner Alfonso Cuaron (“Gravity”). This Venice Film Festival winner is a strong contender in both this and the Best Picture race at the Oscars.
Predicting the eventual five Oscar nominees for Best Foreign-Language Film is made difficult by the two-step process.
First, the several hundred academy members of the Foreign-Language Film screening committee are required to watch a number of the submissions (upwards of a dozen) over a two-month period that ends in mid December. They will rate them from 6 to 10 and their top six vote-getters make it to the next round, as...
Predicting the eventual five Oscar nominees for Best Foreign-Language Film is made difficult by the two-step process.
First, the several hundred academy members of the Foreign-Language Film screening committee are required to watch a number of the submissions (upwards of a dozen) over a two-month period that ends in mid December. They will rate them from 6 to 10 and their top six vote-getters make it to the next round, as...
- 10/8/2018
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the official list of submissions for the 2019 Oscar for best foreign language film. There are 87 countries vying for the prize this awards season, including first-time entrants Malawi and Niger. Included among the titles are high-profile contenders such as Mexico’s “Roma” and Poland’s “Cold War,” both of which are vying to break out of the foreign race and earn nominations for best picture, best director, and more.
Nominations for the 91st Academy Awards will be announced on Tuesday, January 22, 2019. The 91st Oscars will be held on Sunday, February 24, 2019. Click here to view predictions for the foreign language Oscar race from IndieWire’s awards editor Anne Thompson.
2018 Foreign Oscar Submissions
Afghanistan, “Rona Azim’s Mother,” Jamshid Mahmoudi, director
Algeria, “Until the End of Time,” Yasmine Chouikh, director
Argentina, “El Ángel,” Luis Ortega, director
Armenia, “Spitak,” Alexander Kott, director
Australia, “Jirga,...
Nominations for the 91st Academy Awards will be announced on Tuesday, January 22, 2019. The 91st Oscars will be held on Sunday, February 24, 2019. Click here to view predictions for the foreign language Oscar race from IndieWire’s awards editor Anne Thompson.
2018 Foreign Oscar Submissions
Afghanistan, “Rona Azim’s Mother,” Jamshid Mahmoudi, director
Algeria, “Until the End of Time,” Yasmine Chouikh, director
Argentina, “El Ángel,” Luis Ortega, director
Armenia, “Spitak,” Alexander Kott, director
Australia, “Jirga,...
- 10/8/2018
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences announced today that 87 countries have qualified for this year’s Foreign Language Film competition. With some of the
strongest entries in recent years this is shaping up as one of the richest fields of contenders in memory. Of course one of the Netflix titles, Mexico’s Roma from director Alfonso Cuaron has been widely acclaimed at numerous festivals and already won top prize at Venice which makes it the front runner here. It is also expected to be in contention for a Best Picture nomination as well as other categories and that could enhance its chances. However could an upset be in the offing? I would say there are a number of equally fine movies in the mix here including Japan’s Cannes Palme d’Or winner, Shoplifters; Denmark’s riveting The Guilty; Germany’s epic Never Look Away from previous Oscar winner...
strongest entries in recent years this is shaping up as one of the richest fields of contenders in memory. Of course one of the Netflix titles, Mexico’s Roma from director Alfonso Cuaron has been widely acclaimed at numerous festivals and already won top prize at Venice which makes it the front runner here. It is also expected to be in contention for a Best Picture nomination as well as other categories and that could enhance its chances. However could an upset be in the offing? I would say there are a number of equally fine movies in the mix here including Japan’s Cannes Palme d’Or winner, Shoplifters; Denmark’s riveting The Guilty; Germany’s epic Never Look Away from previous Oscar winner...
- 10/8/2018
- by Pete Hammond
- Deadline Film + TV
Latvia has selected veteran filmmaker Ivars Seleckis' documentary To Be Continued for best foreign-language film for the Oscars.
Shot over the course of two years, To Be Continued follows seven children from various social backgrounds who live in different parts of Latvia in a bid to explore the skills, values and hopes instilled into them by the legacy of the past and the reality of today.
To Be Continued was funded under the Latvian Films for Latvia's Centenary program. The documentary premiered in Latvia on March 23 and had its international premiere at the festival Visions du Réel in Switzerland.
Seleckis, at ...
Shot over the course of two years, To Be Continued follows seven children from various social backgrounds who live in different parts of Latvia in a bid to explore the skills, values and hopes instilled into them by the legacy of the past and the reality of today.
To Be Continued was funded under the Latvian Films for Latvia's Centenary program. The documentary premiered in Latvia on March 23 and had its international premiere at the festival Visions du Réel in Switzerland.
Seleckis, at ...
Latvia has selected veteran filmmaker Ivars Seleckis' documentary To Be Continued for best foreign-language film for the Oscars.
Shot over the course of two years, To Be Continued follows seven children from various social backgrounds who live in different parts of Latvia in a bid to explore the skills, values and hopes instilled into them by the legacy of the past and the reality of today.
To Be Continued was funded under the Latvian Films for Latvia's Centenary program. The documentary premiered in Latvia on March 23 and had its international premiere at the festival Visions du Réel in Switzerland.
Seleckis, at ...
Shot over the course of two years, To Be Continued follows seven children from various social backgrounds who live in different parts of Latvia in a bid to explore the skills, values and hopes instilled into them by the legacy of the past and the reality of today.
To Be Continued was funded under the Latvian Films for Latvia's Centenary program. The documentary premiered in Latvia on March 23 and had its international premiere at the festival Visions du Réel in Switzerland.
Seleckis, at ...
Kosovo on track to join Creative Europe; Lgbt road movie scores Us, UK deals.
Polish filmmaker Jan Matuszynski’s The Last Family has continued its successful festival run by being named best film in the New Europe - New Names competition at the Vilnius International Film Festival (23 March - 6 April).
Matuszynski’s feature debut - which is being handled internationally by New Europe Film Sales - had its world premiere at last year’s Locarno Film Festival and received the special jury award at the Sofia International Film Festival as well as four prizes at the national Polish Film Awards last month.
The competition’s international jury of Gothenburg Film Festival’s programmer Freddy Olsson, Russian film critic and programmer Boris Nelep and Fipresci president Alin Tasciyan presented its best director prize to the Bulgarian directorial duo Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valcahnov for their second feature Glory which also picked up the Cicae Art Cinema Award.
Moreover...
Polish filmmaker Jan Matuszynski’s The Last Family has continued its successful festival run by being named best film in the New Europe - New Names competition at the Vilnius International Film Festival (23 March - 6 April).
Matuszynski’s feature debut - which is being handled internationally by New Europe Film Sales - had its world premiere at last year’s Locarno Film Festival and received the special jury award at the Sofia International Film Festival as well as four prizes at the national Polish Film Awards last month.
The competition’s international jury of Gothenburg Film Festival’s programmer Freddy Olsson, Russian film critic and programmer Boris Nelep and Fipresci president Alin Tasciyan presented its best director prize to the Bulgarian directorial duo Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valcahnov for their second feature Glory which also picked up the Cicae Art Cinema Award.
Moreover...
- 4/7/2017
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
A total of 16 features will receive funding from the country’s national film centre.Scroll down for full list of projects
Latvia is celebrating the country’s centennial in 2018 by funding a slate of 16 feature-length films.
With a total budget of $8.5m (€7.5m) from the National Film Centre of Latvia, an independent jury selected projects out of 31 submissions in a bid to highlight a wide range of filmmaking talent and genres from the country.
The selected projects - six features, two animation films, eight documentaries - go into production this year and will premiere in 2018.
National Film Centre director Dita Rietuma said: “Our aim was to select artistically high-quality films of diverse genres and significant for society by examining Latvia’s national identity and history.
“We are especially happy to note that the selection includes as many as nine female directors from various generations such as one of our leading directors Inara Kolmane (Billie), but also newcomers...
Latvia is celebrating the country’s centennial in 2018 by funding a slate of 16 feature-length films.
With a total budget of $8.5m (€7.5m) from the National Film Centre of Latvia, an independent jury selected projects out of 31 submissions in a bid to highlight a wide range of filmmaking talent and genres from the country.
The selected projects - six features, two animation films, eight documentaries - go into production this year and will premiere in 2018.
National Film Centre director Dita Rietuma said: “Our aim was to select artistically high-quality films of diverse genres and significant for society by examining Latvia’s national identity and history.
“We are especially happy to note that the selection includes as many as nine female directors from various generations such as one of our leading directors Inara Kolmane (Billie), but also newcomers...
- 5/19/2016
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
New Riga Meetings platform welcomes projects including two projects by Finnish film-maker Aku Louhimies.
Janis Nords’ second feature Mother I Love You and Juris Kursietis’ debut Modris were the big winners at the ¨Great Christopher¨ (¨Lielais Kristaps¨) National Film Competition held during the first edition of the Riga International Film Festival (December 2-12).
Nords, who graduated in film directing from the UK’s Nfts, received the top honour of best film as well as the trophy for best feature film director and best actress (for Vita Varpina’s performance as the single mother trying to make ends meet).
On presenting the direction prize to Nords, the competition jury’s chairman, veteran film director Janis Streics, said that he saw “a bright future ahead for Latvian cinema” on the strength of the line-up for this edition of the national film awards.
Mother I Love You, which is handled internationally by New Europe Film Sales, premiered at the...
Janis Nords’ second feature Mother I Love You and Juris Kursietis’ debut Modris were the big winners at the ¨Great Christopher¨ (¨Lielais Kristaps¨) National Film Competition held during the first edition of the Riga International Film Festival (December 2-12).
Nords, who graduated in film directing from the UK’s Nfts, received the top honour of best film as well as the trophy for best feature film director and best actress (for Vita Varpina’s performance as the single mother trying to make ends meet).
On presenting the direction prize to Nords, the competition jury’s chairman, veteran film director Janis Streics, said that he saw “a bright future ahead for Latvian cinema” on the strength of the line-up for this edition of the national film awards.
Mother I Love You, which is handled internationally by New Europe Film Sales, premiered at the...
- 12/12/2014
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
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