Movie January premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival (USA), where it won the jury prize for best foreign film, starting its successful path through various cineforums. On Latvian screens January arrived November 11 In the first three weeks, more than 23,000 viewers watched this film, which made it possible to reach the record of the autumn marathon of Latvian cinema.
This film is aiming for the National Film Award Great Kristaps in the categories Best Feature Film, Best Director of a Feature Film, Best Actor (Karlis Arnolds Avots) and others. Director Aik Karapetyan’s black comedy is also competing for the title of best feature film Sam’s Travels (11 nominations in total), the story of the Abel brothers on the contemporary art environment Restless minds (10), a social family drama directed by Linda Olte Sisters and director Uģas Oltes’ mythological thriller in the wild Upurga – both of these films each received seven nominations.
The cinematographic work of director Ivars Zviedras will compete for the best feature-length documentary bah pre covid, a film directed by Pēteras Krylov and Iveta Budreviča Hekabe’s question, film work of director Ieva Ozoliņa my motherland a film directed by Kristine Brides Fluctuations and the latest work of Latvian documentary classicist Ivars Seleckis farmers, which continues his life’s work – recording the countryside and people of Latvia for fifty years – which began with the film Districts (1973).
On the other hand, three auteurs made their debut in Latvian cinema this year: director Mārcis Lācis with the surreal comedy Revolution about the crisis of the world behind the scenes of the theatre, directed by Tom Harjo with the deconstruction of three contemporary relationships Seed and director Elsa Gauja with a documentary film Meanwhile in Lucavsala. Also his debut feature film Mom is still smiling received a nomination: it was won by Baiba Broka in the category Best Leading Actress.
On this occasion, cinematographer Alvis Lapiņš, whose work includes film scripts, will be honored with the award for lifetime contribution to the art of cinema. Because of that stupid Pauline (1979), Emil’s misdeeds (1985), Zitar family (1989), Christmas jampadrace (1993) and many others.
It should be noted that, in general, the National Film Award Great Kristaps this year, 14 feature films, six short films, three minority co-productions, 17 feature-length documentaries, 16 documentary shorts, five multi-series, three animated films and 19 student films from the LKA National Film School, RISEBA and the Latvian Academy of Arts were presented.
National film awards Great Kristaps the festival will take place in 2023 from 23 to 26 February. During this period, the public will have the opportunity to watch films nominated for the award together, experience the premieres of new films and meet their authors. The solemn ceremony on February 26 can be seen in person or on Latvian television and Lsm.lv in live broadcasts. Further information on the National Cinema Award is available on the website Lielaiskristaps.lv.
