RIGA: Nine films from Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Denmark, Germany, and Sweden have been announced to compete in Riga International Film Festival’s main competition. The 13th edition of RIGA IFF will run from 15 to 25 October 2026.

RIGA: The National Film Centre of Latvia has allocated 250,000 EUR for five minority coproductions. A total of 20 projects applied (feature films, documentaries, and animated films of all lengths).

RIGA: Nauris Puntulis (National Alliance) has returned to office as Minister of Culture, following a parliamentary vote on 28 May 2026 leading to a new government cabinet led by PM Andris Kulbergs (United List).

RIGA: The Latvian government has planned an allocation of 3.581 m EUR to support foreign audiovisual productions and the organisation of a major international event in Latvia, in addition to the initial 3.401 m EUR. The funding package will be distributed in two tranches: 2.67 m in 2026 and 911,669 EUR in 2027.

RIGA: The National Film Centre of Latvia announced the results of its annual production grant competition on 6 May 2026. A total of 1,257,775 EUR was distributed to 14 projects including three feature films, seven documentaries (one short) and four animated films (including the second season of a mini-series project, and the launch of another mini-series).

RIGA: The 90s crime drama Red Code Blue and the Soviet-era sports drama Escape Net are the most awarded films at the Latvian National Film Awards “Lielais Kristaps”, held 1 March 2026 at the Riga Congress Centre. In total, awards were presented in 25 categories.

RIGA: Academy Awards winner Flow / Straume (2024) by Gints Zilbalodis remained 2025’s biggest draw with 204,039 admissions, reinforcing its position as the most watched film in Latvia since independence, with a total of 377,577 admissions.

RIGA: Kylie Minogue visited Latvia’s capital city to shoot three music videos for new songs from her recently re-issued Christmas album Kylie Christmas (Fully Wrapped).

RIGA: The Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) has launched the second round call for its Foreign Film Reception and Major Events Support Programme, making 3.26 m EUR available for projects shooting or staged in Latvia in 2025.

RIGA: Viesturs Kairišs is currently in postproduction with a new biographical drama about the world famous basketball player Ulyana Semyonova. The film follows her path from an old-believers community on the South Eastern border of Latvia to international fame, portraying both her personal journey and her symbolic role as a Cold War-era sports icon.