Riga, December 14, LETA. The portal “filmas.lv” contains the second collection of a selection of anniversaries created by experts, which highlights the most important Latvian films of the past 30 years, celebrating 30 years since the establishment of the leading institution in the Latvian film industry – the National Cinema Center (NCC).
As the NKC representative Kristīne Matīsa informed LETA, the “essence” of the second decade is available on the portal today – ten films shot from 2001 to 2010.
According to Matisse, the NKC, which was founded almost at the same time as the restoration of the country’s independence in 1991, celebrates its 30th anniversary with a gift to the whole society, emphasizing the fact that these 30 years are also the history of the restored national film industry. That’s why NKC, together with industry experts and professionals, looks back over the past decades, highlighting the most significant films of each period. The release of the list of these films is planned for the whole of December, with the release of a selection of a new decade for three weeks in a row. From December 8, films made at the end of the 20th century, ie from 1991 to 2000, will be available on the portal, and from today the films of the first decade of the 21st century will join them.
In order to create a total list of 30 films, 30 experts were addressed – 15 film theorists and 15 practitioners, the films are ranked in the order of votes received and will be available on the portal “filmas.lv” free of charge throughout Latvia. Film theorists Daira Āboliņa, Zane Balčus, Sonora Broka, Dārta Ceriņa, Kristīne Matīsa, Inga Pērkone, Dmitrijs Rancevs, Agris Redovičs, Elīna Reitere, Dita Rietuma, Kristīne Simsone, Anita Uzulniece, Ieva Viese-Vif participated in the selection of the 30-year selection Uldis Cekulis, Antra Cilinska, Andrejs Ēķis, Gints Grūbe, Edmunds Jansons, Vilnis Kalnaellis, Pēteris Krilovs, Jānis Putniņš, Ivars Seleckis, Dāvis Sīmanis, Guntis Trekteris, Roberts Vinovskis, Kristīne Želve
The NCC representative pointed out that the 21st century is beginning in the Latvian film industry, becoming more and more aware that Latvia is a full-fledged European country, therefore Latvian cinema is one of the first national industries to join European organizations even before the referendum on Latvia’s accession to the European Union. In 2002, Latvia became a member of the European Co-production Support Fund “Eurimages” and the Creative Industries Support Fund “Media”.
According to Matisse, the expert vote confirms that documentary cinema with many feature films is coming to the fore this decade, but there are also some bright peaks in feature films and animation. In the middle of the first decade of the 21st century, the total funding of the Latvian film industry finally reaches the limit of two million lats for the first time, which means that it is possible to host more financially intensive projects. In the shadow of the crisis, funding in all sectors has fallen catastrophically and for some time in Latvia it is not even possible to allocate funding for the launch of new films, only for the completion of what has been started.
The NKC representative said that the selection included the old master Hercz Frank’s 2002 film “Flashback” and the 2004 film “Leiputrija”, which was directed by Laila Pakalniņa together with the cameraman Māris Maskalāns. Also included in the selection are Viesturs Kairitis’ 2004 film “Romeo and Juliet”, Pēteris Krilovs’ 2008 film “Klucis. The Wrong Latvian”, director Askols Saulītis’ 2003 film “Keep Smiling!” and Andis Mizis’ 2005 film “Worm”.
The selection also includes Roze Stiebra ‘s 2007 animation film “I Play, I Dance”, Aigars Graubas’ and producer Andrejs Ēķis’ s 2007 film “Rīgas sargi” (2007), director Juris Poškus’ s 2007 film “Monotonija” and director Gata Šmita’ s 2010. comedy “The Return of Sergeant Lapin”.
It is expected that next week the third selection will be published on the portal “filmas.lv” – ten films shot from 2011 to 2021.
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