RIGA: Latvian coming-of-age war drama Blizzard of Souls / Dvēseļu putenis directed by Dzintars Dreibergs for Kultfilma and supported by the National Film Centre of Latvia, has been picked up by the Swedish sales agent Eyewell. The international version of the film will have its premiere at Berlinale’s European Film Market (EFM, 20-27 February 2020).

RIGA: The Latvian film Blizzard of Souls directed by Dzintars Dreibergs broke box-office records existing since the early 1990s, showing the continuing demand for local films, that was significantly boosted by the Latvian centenary film programme, which peaked in 2018.

RIGA: The historical drama City on the River / Pilsēta pie upes, the fourth feature film directed by Viesturs Kairišs, has dominated the Latvian box office for two consecutive weekends since its release in mid-January 2020. The Latvian/Czech/Lithuanian coproduction has reached 28,872 admissions on 20 screens across Latvia.

RIGA: Dzintars Dreibergs's debut feature Blizzard of Souls has reached 207,892 admissions in Latvia in five weeks since its opening, a record number since the country regained independence in early 1990s. This coming-of-age historical drama surpassed Hollywood blockbusters Avatar and Titanic.

RIGA: Dāvis Sīmanis’s sophomore feature The Mover / Tēvs nakts will have two screenings in the USA for the American Motion Picture Arts and Sciences members in December 2019. The film is Latvia’s candidate for the 92nd Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences award in the best international feature film category.

RIGA: Oleg by Juris Kursietis was awarded the Lielais Kristaps best feature length fiction film prize at the 12 November 2019 closing ceremony of the Latvian National Film Festival, held at the historic cinema Splendid Palace. The Lielais Kristaps national film awards were given to films and film professionals in 23 different categories.

RIGA: The Latvian National Film Festival, which runs from 7 – 12 November 2019 in Riga, will showcase 25 films in competition and out of competition screenings. Out of 95 submissions, the selection committee has nominated films and film professionals representing 25 of the submitted films, which will compete for the national film award in 23 different categories, including best fiction film, best documentary, animated film, fiction film director and others. The prizes will be awarded by an international jury.

RIGA: The 6th Riga International Film Festival, running through 27 October 2019, launched a new innovative workshop Riga IFF Goes VR as part of this year’s expanded industry section, handing out three awards at the end of the workshop.

RIGA: The National Film Centre of Latvia (NKC) will distribute up to 1.5 M EUR for the production of three films dealing with historical subjects and national identity.

RIGA: Estonian director Jaak Kilmi started principal photography on Latvian/Estonian coproduction Christmas in the Jungle / Ziemassvētki džungļos on 7 September 2019. The shooting for this children’s adventure film takes place in Indonesia and will last for almost two months.