The start of the year
In the “Starts” category, the audience and listeners highly rated the concert performance “Nestāstot” by singer Aleksandras Spitzberga, which was made together with choreographer and poet Agri Daniļevič and dancer Pauli Bārzdiņa. Upon receiving the award, singer Aleksandra Spitzberg said: “Thank you for the evaluation! I definitely want to thank my family first – my mother Mara, without whom nothing would be possible, she is the author of the idea and the fulfiller of dreams. Likewise, I would like us to stick together, to be brave, to defeat the darkness together.”
Pop culture laureate
In the “Pop culture” category, the opening concert of the XXVII General Latvian Song and XVII Dance Festival, which took place on July 2 at the “Rīga Arena” (artistic director Guntis Ērglis-Lācis, chief musical director Kārlis Lācis, chief conductor of choirs Jānis Ozols, director Mārtiņš Meiers) won the award , producer “Institute of Ideas”, National Cultural Center of Latvia). The head of the creative group Guntis Ārglis-Lācis, upon receiving the kilogram, admitted: “I can safely say that it is the first kilogram that I have received, which I am happy about. We were more than 108 people – a special big thank you goes to each of them. The collaboration was so cool and positive that we were able to give that energy to the audience. And that was also the secret of its success. And, of course, the biggest thanks goes to the participants of the Song and Dance Festival.” On the other hand, the chief conductor of the choirs, Jānis Ozols, adding to the festive address, added: “Those members are meant to be the participants of the Songs and the festivities, because, in my opinion, that is the best part of Latvia, because they are the ones who nurture the feeling of Latvianness.”
Cinema of the year
In the “Cinema” category, the feature film “Mātes piens” (director Ināra Kolmane, studio “Deviņi”) received the highest recognition. In the moment of celebration, producer Jānis Juhņēvičs thanked both the jury that nominated the film for voting, the audience that voted, and the entire film team, while promising: “We will try to make you happy with the next film as well.” Actress Ruta Kronberg also expressed gratitude: “I thank everyone, everyone, as a result of their work and support, we feel a sense of satisfaction right now.”
Actress Maija Doveik, the main character of the film, said: “I read these words a few days ago. This is God’s law and it reads like this – “do not boil a kid in its mother’s milk”. It reveals that suffering and death do not and should not come from the one from whom life and love come. Such a law is given so that the legislator himself does not violate it, but unfortunately there are those who violate it. Therefore, please remember that a kid should not be boiled in its mother’s milk. Generations are behind all of this – when one sinks, it is very difficult for the others not to sink with it.”
Legacy of the Year
In the “Heritage” category, the XXVII General Latvian Song and XVII Dance Festival folk art exhibition “We”, which was created by the works of around 1300 authors in the 2nd block of Sporta Street, received the most votes. Artistic installation working group: Mārtiņš Heimrāts, Baiba Vaivare, Juris Leitāns, Dace Pudāne, National Cultural Center of Latvia. In his acceptance speech, artist Mārtiņš Heimrāts stated: “We are honored to share this award with all 1,300 participants. Thank you to those who have carried our colors, our symbols and our craft through the ages to this day. Thank you. We are honored to share.”
Music of the year
In the “Music” category, the grand concert of the XXVII General Latvian Songs and XVII Dance Festival choirs “Tīrums. The song’s path”, which was performed on July 6 at Mežapark’s Great Stage (complex choir of mixed, women’s and men’s choirs, artistic directors Ārijs Šķepasts and Kaspars Ādamsons, director Juris Jonelis, Latvian National Culture Center).
Artistic director Kaspars Adamson, receiving the award, said: “Thank you for the evening of July 6. Thanks for the first week of July. And many, many thanks for the years of preparation. Thanks to the creative team. And a big thank you to the 15,000 singers who made what we all experienced on July 6 possible with their voices.”
The director of the grand concert, Juris Jonelis: “We did it with a huge sense of responsibility – I hope you felt it. Thanks to all the people who stood by it. Every person we met along the way really gave a lot. The philosophy of that field is like a plowed field that looked a little over the borders of Latvia. At that moment, we didn’t know what would happen, but today, sitting and seeing what people are talking about “Tiruma”, I have realized that this field is still alive in the inner world of every person. And the art of making the feeling of happiness contagious is very important – especially at this moment. In historical context, it is through song that we have remained so strong. I wish to keep clean every day and in everything we do. Thank you.”
Category “Visual art”
In the “Visual art” category, the personal exhibition “Gleznas” of Dace Liela, art gallery “Daugava” won the prize. The curator of the exhibition and art scholar Diana Barčevska, receiving the award and at the same time representing the artist Daca Lielo, said: “On behalf of Daca, of course, I would like to thank everyone. Gallerists are very lucky because they are on a playing field where they get the catharsis of this pleasure from both sides – from the artist and the art, as well as from the viewer. An indescribable adventure and experience. Thank you all!”
Category “Literature”
In the “Literature” category, Sven Kuzmin’s novel “Beauty and Unrest” (publishing house “Dienas Book”, book editor Gundega Blumberga) received the award. Writer Sven Kuzmins: “This novel is about an era in which every word written and expressed in poetry may even have the power to decide fate, which is, of course, a great responsibility. I may be exaggerating. But I know, as long as literature has not started to vegetate as harmless entertainment, the power of the word is still there.”
Laureate of “Theatre”.
In the “Theatre” category, the play “Jāzeps and his brothers” (Valmiera Theater, director Inese Michule) is the most highly rated. Director Inese Mičule: “First of all, thanks to the jury that came and saw two teams, secondly, thanks – in a good way – to all the competitors. I think that this year in general theater in Latvia is something so powerful! We often have to go through theaters and constantly hear – we don’t have tickets. The audience is buying! And this award also means that – they are our viewers. Thank you very much.” Adding to the thank-you speech, actor Mārtiņš Meiers says: “The theater is a very dramatic environment, also cruel to each other, but that’s why I love it. Thank you to the jury and thank you for the fact that there is such a “Kilograms culture” award, where there are not only artists of one genre, but the most diverse ones. It inspires me a lot, because culture is not just me – it’s all of us. I don’t know of another event through which so many new things can be discovered. Thank you.”
Surprise of the year
In the “Surprise” category, the award went to Vilis Daudzis for the drawing book “First Latvian Singing Festival in Pictures” (publishing house “Neputns”). Upon receiving the award, actor Vilis Daudzins: “Surprise. Really! Because to be nominated in such a category is already a surprise, where else can you get a kilogram of culture. I am grateful to the jury for noticing and to the readers for voting. Thanks to the publishing house “Neputns” for this risk. Will you agree? This is a risk! Publish a book featuring illustrations made with your finger on your phone. Many thanks to my wonderful wife, Zane, for thinking that this technique could be called ‘finger prints’. She also opened the doors of her virtual showroom as these drawings were first published on her Facebook profile. And, of course, thanks to the hundreds of thousands of singers who have brought this tradition to us over the course of a hundred years. My little book is a token of my love and respect for them.”
Event of the year
Spectators and listeners recognized the XXVII General Latvian Song and XVII Dance Festival (National Cultural Center of Latvia) as the most vivid cultural event of the past year in the “Event” category.
Director of the Latvian National Culture Center Signe Pujāte said: “The words – to be together, to feel together – were born in a very difficult time for the world. Nevertheless, more than 40,000 musicians from all over the world were ready for the Song and Dance Festival. The values of the song and dance festival – tradition, participation, continuation – really embody the principle that traditions go hand in hand with professionals, amateurs and representatives of various fields. This event is the pride of the entire nation. It is our identity. And I would like to boldly say that the Song and Dance Festival is also a lesson about democracy.”
Daina Markova, executive director of the XXVII General Latvian Song and XVII Dance Festival, stated in her speech: “It is an extremely great honor for us to be and participate in this event. The song and dance festival is something much, much bigger than each of us. This award is for the whole of Latvia – all the thousands of participants who dance, sing, embroider, weave, knit and more and more. And it is due not only to this year’s participants, but also to the past and future participants. Our Song and Dance Festival is our life, our inspiration, our dream – it is truly a treasure. And what’s more – by giving your all, you can do huge and unimaginable things together. Thank you all!”
The leitmotif of the ceremony
The leitmotif of this year’s ceremony was change – the nominees of the award, the teachers of the awards, as well as the leader of the ceremony himself – actor Jānis Skutelis, allowed themselves to change throughout the evening. Musical moments were provided by the band “Very Cool People” and singer Paula Saija, violinist Elza Siliņa, singer Intars Busulis and “Abonementa OrĽestris”, musicians Jānis Šipkēvics (Shipsea), Una Daniela Aizgale and “Sinfonietta Rīga” string quartet, as well as the choir “Sōla ”, while ballet soloist Darius Florians Katana pleased with a dance from the ballet “Jungle Book”.
The creative team of the “Kilograms kulturas 2023” ceremony of the Latvian public media annual award: director – Zita Kaminska, screenwriters – Jānis Skutelis, Ieva Bite and Reinis Piziks, scenographer, lighting director – Pāvels Armanis, artist – Kristīne Lasmane, editors – Eva Heinsberga and Henrieta Verhoustinska, director of nominees’ business cards – Agita Cāne-Ķīle.
The “Kilograms kulturas” jury consisted of cultural professionals from LTV, LR and LSM – Ieva Rozentāle, head of the LTV Kulturas editorial office, journalists Lilita Eglīte, Daira Āboliņa and Henrieta Verhoustinska, editor Aigars Bumburs, producer of the LTV program “Kultūrdeva” and music journalist Kaspars Zaviļeiskis, LR3 ” Klasika” director Gunda Vaivode and journalists Orests Silabriedis, Liene Jakovljeva, Anete Ashmane-Vilsone.
About the “Kilogram of Cultures” award
“Kilograms kulturas” is a public media award in the field of culture, which confirms the active participation of public media in the cultural life processes of Latvia. The award is given by Latvian Television, Latvian Radio and Latvian public media portal LSM. The tradition started in 2012, when the awards were presented for the brightest cultural events of 2011.
The award nominees were nominated by a jury of professionals in the field of social media culture, but the final decision was made by the viewers and listeners. In ten categories – “Music”, “Cinema”, “Theatre”, “Visual art”, “Literature”, “Pop culture”, “Start”, “Heritage”, “Surprise”, “Event” – convincingly selected laureates who won the gold-plated kilogram weight.
2024-02-16 22:33:56
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