Despite the challenges posed to the film industry by the pandemic constraints, work in the Latvian film industry continues successfully, and by the end of 2020, there are more than 60 films in various stages of production or readiness. Throughout the year, both the production of new films has started (moreover, in the autumn of 2020, following the decision of the Ministry of Culture, supplementing the sector budget with the allocated emergency funding), and the works of previous years have continued; Several films have already experienced international success at world festivals and are each waiting for their Latvian premiere, some of the works are still in the process of being made.
Dita Rietuma, Head of the National Film Center: “The past year has not been easy for the world film industry, therefore it is very important to realize that despite various shocks, the Latvian film industry continues to offer genre, thematic and stylistic diversity. offers a wide range of films, including contemporary films, recent history, screenings of popular literary works, films for children and young people, and extravagant applications even in the musical and western genres. men, both large and small film studios, so there is no reason to worry about the imbalance in the Latvian film industry. “
The operation of cinemas has been paralyzed for a long time this year and films are increasingly reaching viewers through various Internet platforms, however, the full development of Latvian cinema requires both cinemas as a traditional cinema screening platform and modern distribution channels. So the conversation Latvian cinema. What to expect? will take place in a cinema Cinema Citadele, it will also be available on LMT smart TV, but will be available on the Internet LMT Straume .
Event Latvian cinema. What to expect? is planned as an interactive reflection of the Latvian cinema process, in which producers and directors will take turns telling about upcoming films that have received support from the National Cinema Center, present visual material and answer questions from both Jānis Skutelis and online viewers (opportunity to ask – Facebook Event in the comments).
The following film studios and filmmakers will be ready to present their films and projects on December 8:
- study Ego Media with a feature film Kneel (director Marta Elīna Martinsone);
- study Nine with Nora Iksten’s novel Breast milk screening (director Ināra Kolmane);
- study Platform and director Aigars Grauba with the film Jumprava. The big event;
- study Company Hargla and director Laila Pakalniņa with the feature film In the mirror
- study K Films, producer Linda Krūkle and director Māris Martinsons with a historical feature film A land that sings and romantic comedy Say yes;
- study Locomotive with a feature film A year before the war (director Dāvis Sīmanis), full-length animated film My marriage project (directed by Signe Baumane) and a family film Christmas in the jungle (directed by Jaks Kilmi);
- director and producer Matiss Kaža in the studio Fenixfilm the upcoming western Where will the road lead and in the studio Deep Sea Studios upcoming youth film Neon spring;
- study Mistrus Media with documentaries Earth (director Ivars Seleckis) and Homo sovieticus (director Ivo Briedis), feature film Semuel’s travels (director Aiks Karapetjans) and a multi-series film Emilia. Queen of the Latvian Press (directors Kristīne Želve, Andis Mizišs, Dāvis Sīmanis);
- study Riverbed with director Elza Gauja’s debut feature film Mom is still smiling;
- study VFS Films with documentaries Fire circle (directed by Signe Birkova) and The question of Hecab (director Pēteris Krilovs), animated film Diendusa (director Nils Skapāns) and international co-productions – I was born Roselle u.c.
- study Film Mug with a feature film by director Stanislav Tokalov Darling;
- distribution company Spectrum with feature films Better (directed by Dace Pūce), Restless minds (directors Raitis and Lauris Ābele) and a low-budget feature film Upurga (director Uģis Olte’s debut);
- study Four Movies with a feature film The sun shines for 24 hours (director Juris Poškus) and a documentary My mother country (director Ieva Ozolina)
Online conversation Latvian cinema. What to expect? will be available in the LMT app Straume and LMT on smart TV, National Film Center and LMT Facebook accounts, it will also be recorded and later made widely available on the website of the National Cinema Center and in the LMT application. Straume.
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