Discoveries from Latvia World Cinema

A fight breaks out between two guys at youth house-party and one beats the other to death. The next morning killer refuses to acknowledge any responsibility, leaving the others to decide what to do next.

The film is based on a little-known historical episode, in which a Latvian family—Roberts and Johanna Seduli—hid 11 Jews in the basement of their apartment building in Liepāja during World War II, thereby saving their lives. It is a story of humanity and courage at a time when the reward for such acts could be death rather than medals. Gunta Gaidamaviča, journalist and editor of the LTV program "Kultūršoks," managed to capture the memories of several rescued Jews at the very last moment and also listen to the unique life story of the rescuers' family.

The film tells the story of the regime in the maternity ward of the hospital during the day from 6.00 - 24.00. Morning, women prepare for feeding, wash breasts. The nurse brings the babies, the mothers feed the babies. Mothers express milk with a breast pump. Women paint, file nails, receive milk, read letters, newspapers (large mourning photo of Leonid Brezhnev, photo of Yuri Andropov). A man under the windows of the maternity ward. Women having dinner. Dishwasher in the kitchen. Women dreaming - scenes in a hairdresser's, shop windows, the curtain of a theatre opening. At midnight, feeding the children again.

It's so cool to run barefoot through the fields and puddles in the summer, enjoying the sun, the sky and everything that surrounds you!

The 20th Latvian Song and Dance Festival was the first in which compatriots from all corners of the world gathered in a free Latvia, including those who had gone into exile in the West and those who had been forcibly deported to Siberia. Director Dzintra Geka also brings together those who were unable to return to their homeland – footage for the film was shot in Sweden, at the 6th European Latvian Song Festival in Norrköping, where Latvian Minister of Justice Laila Freivalde, who is of Latvian descent, marches alongside her compatriots, and in Siberia, in the village of Lejas Bulāna, where Latvian women sing "...because this is Latvia, this is Bulāna...". The older generation of Canadian Latvians also dance at the festival with the Dardedze dance group from Toronto, while Mārtiņš Brauns prepares his song Saule, Pērkons, Daugava (Sun, Thunder, Daugava) for the choir.

Why did we travel to Siberia for 20 years? Why did we make this film? How did we see Siberia? People who were deported as children in 1949 and 1941 searched for the places where their loved ones were buried. After 2014, we were watched more closely, we were not allowed into museums, we were followed, and the people we had met were interrogated. When we found graves, we were not allowed to take out our cameras and film. And yet... we would never have believed that Russia would attack Ukraine, threaten the Baltic states and the Western world.

The boys help the girl get her dog back, which has been captured by dog catchers.

The world is being ravaged by the Covid-19 pandemic and a state of emergency has been declared in Latvia. Street musician Normunds tries to fight the pandemic's caused depression by playing his cello in Old Riga.

The 1960s brought hope for the huge Soviet empire - a hope that the regime will become more humane. The optimism and youthful energy of the decade became the prevailing mood. Renewal of life vibrated in Latvia. The newly built Riga Film Studio was a strong impulse to the development of national cinematic art. A new generation full of energy came into the Latvian film industry; they created a style of documentary cinema that we now call Riga poetic documentary cinema (or Riga style).

Sometime in the near future, after the end of the world, a person gets into a family fight with a robot.

Two Rigans - Valentīna and Armands - make makeshift yard exhibitions by their homes out of objects they’ve found. They share the same hobby despite not knowing each other. As they’re decorating their little gardens of wonder for the upcoming Midsummer festival, it turns out that they too can find understanding and a sense of not being alone in their dreams.

In commemorating WWII events in Latvia each year, several “controversial dates” arise. These are remembrance dates that are viewed differently by Latvians, Russians and Jews. The film searches for answers through three main characters, each a representative of their nationality, and categorical in their opposing way of thinking. Why is a date that is celebrated and honoured by one side, also a symbol of deep pain and injustice for another? Why are there, to this day, in a country as small as Latvia, three or more completely differing historical interpretations?

A documentary detective film about the construction of a 870 kilometres long highspeed railway line that started with a dream to connect the Baltic States to rest of the Europe when in 1991 Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania regained their independence from Soviet Union. Filmmaker Kārlis Lesiņš becomes a ‘citizen-investigator’ and goes on the road to find out why after 30 years and with only few years before the intended launch of the Rail Baltica railway line, the construction of this EU-funded project is significantly behind the schedule, over the budget and may never be finished at all. Kārlis follows the trail of Rail Baltica project, trying to get the answers - what has happened and what is happening? Traveling through all the involved countries, he meets officials, military personnel, investigative journalists, people whose land will be expropriated, employees implementing the project and potentially benefiting entrepreneurs, who open up to him with their versions of the story.

This documentary explores the historical and emotional significance of the Staburags cliff, combining personal memories, archival footage, photographs, and contemporary landscapes. Through people’s testimonies and visual material, viewers are invited to reflect on whether it is possible to reclaim what time and water have washed away. Once one of Latvia’s most popular sightseeing spots, Staburags has been widely celebrated in legends, folktales, and songs. Audiences will have the opportunity to see rare footage filmed 40 meters below the surface of the Daugava River, as well as follow a modern expedition during which special equipment was used to check whether the 18–20 meter-high Staburags cliff still remains in its place.

An ironic and unserious short film about a boy trying to find safety.

The film follows the last years of songwriter Harald Sīmanis' life, showing the true values of life – love, friendship, and the ability to be creative until your last breath. The film uses unique photo and video material from the 80s and 90s.

In his portrait of Valery Vikanov, director Reinis Ūbelis hands over the reins to the ballet dancer. Together, they begin work on a short feature film in which Valērijs himself plays the sole role. Their conversations document the past of Latvian ballet, the inner world and the view of the oldest artist, whose career peak has long since passed. And about Valery Vikanov himself - a Siberian-born ballet soloist with a career spanning more than 20 years on the Latvian opera stage.

The Maris Liepa Charitable Foundation presents the one-act ballet "The Blue God" from Sergei Diaghilev's "Russian Seasons". A girl saves a young man from becoming a monk with the help of the Lotus Goddess and the Blue God. Despite his participation in the main roles of Nijinsky and Karsavina, "The Blue God" in 1912 failed in Diaghilev's entreprise, as it was set to the faded music of Reynaldo Khan. Andris Liepa replaced it with Alexander Scriabin's "Divine Poem", and Mikhail Fokin's unreleased choreography with a modern interpretation by Englishman Wen Eagling, but theater-goers and critics considered the new production a failure, while noting the outstanding work of artist Anna Nezhnaya in restoring costumes and decorations. Recording of a performance at the Latvian National Opera (Riga).

In a space that seems to be shrouded in complete darkness, light finds a way to protrude, and somehow, warmth emerges. It is the New Year’s, a time to reconnect with family, friends, and have a nice time. It is a holiday of light and happiness. The time is life-affirming: by the celebrations and fireworks, people declare that they exist and that they will break through no matter how cold and miserable life may seem.

Modern-day society has become reliant and easily controlled by technology. The government can track all movements and most people live with their eyes closed. See this high-contrast world through the main character’s eyes, who wants nothing more than to escape, and in a way he does.

The film is based on the idea that each person is the forger of his or her own happiness. The film starts with the subtitle: "If a man is destined to live 75 years, he has 2.4 billion seconds to live". The film shows young people on the beach, at café tables, on a carousel, listening to the radio, dancing hippie-style. A sculptor working with clay and stone is shown alongside young people's lives.

Based on a comic riddle poem by Anna Brigadere.

Alice, Bob, Carol and David blurs the boundaries between film, gaming and performance. Inspired by Yvonne Rainer’s generative scores from the 1960s four protagonists move within an interdependent choreographic system, with repetitive, everyday movements, the piece invites us to reflect on the balance between improvisation, chance and structure.

A short film for kids by Lizete Upite with the topic - my best friend a vampire

One night he did not go to sleep and watched a horror film. He drank a glass of water and needed to go to the toilet. While going there, the boy's heart stopped. He saw himself.

An artist, a zoologist, a nature scholar, and a sheep farmer working in the IT sector, who also happens to be an astronomy enthusiast, all view the demise of biological bodies differently. Forest carrion, larvae under tombstones, sheep in the barn, layers of feathers and bones, and shimmering green flies on decaying flesh – amidst all this is a human trying to understand their place in cosmology. In this grand tapestry of transformation, what is the human species: part of a cycle or more akin to superhuman?

The most impressive arena show of the twenty years of creative work by Latvian hip-hop pioneer Ozols has been captured in a spectacular concert film lasting almost two hours, which will allow you to relive the feelings of the evening of December 28, 2023, at Arena Riga, and see and experience the biggest local hip-hop event of the past year in close-up once again.

Smiles belong only to humans. Perhaps some animals can smile, but I'm not sure about that. A smile is a sign of a warm heart, said the Dalai Lama when he met with Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga. Unique, rare footage from the president's press service video archive. A smiling president and an emotional conversation about eight years of presidency in Latvia.

Shammies long to have a pet. They know they would need to take care of it and everyone is ready to build a house for it. But what kind of pet it will be?

Sunshine is a short about lunacy, love, sadness and a world created by these three emotions in the hands of a young artist Anna. It is a story about a mother who cannot leave behind any of ghosts illuminating the past. She loves, cares and never forgets, even when death is long keeping her apart from those, she keeps alive in her own, special world.

An inspiring story about the adventure of Edgars Trankalis as he travels alone, on different roads and mountain trails, on a psychologically and physically challenging bikepacking trip from Rucava (Latvia), to Rome (Italy).

He pours water into a pot, adds salt and brings it to the boil. He steps into the boiling water and cooks until it is almost soft (he looks at passers-by for 10-15 minutes), then adds milk and brings it back to the boil. He may add salt or sugar for taste. To avoid the milk foiling, keep stirring.

An exercise for one voice, a few memories and a greenhouse that is the threshold between two worlds.

Mischievous animals - such as the Tiger Calamazoo and his bird friend Councel - and goofball humans with big faces, cobbled together from cardboard and bits of string, face new, insurmountable problems and perilous situations throughout 7 short adventures: The Movie Studio, The Baby Bird, Holes in the House, Bonjour les sauvages, Early Morning, The Thief, Upside Down.

A particularly hot day in the savannah is tormenting both people and animals. The local savannah inhabitants decide to ask the idol for help, offering the captured Munka as a sacrifice.

One day, Munch and Lemmy accidentally stumble upon a photography studio and want to take a picture. Unfortunately, they can't sit still for a moment.

Bite collects honey from orchid flowers and also shares with Munk and Lemmy. When suddenly there are no flowers left, it turns out that the local tribe uses the orchid flowers for their rituals. Munk and Lemmy try in different ways to cheer up the saddened bee.

A flight is departing from the airport. An absent-minded mother checks in her child along with her suitcases. When she notices this, there is great commotion and, of course, the emergency services are called.

Autumn has arrived and this time the naughtiness of little Peter saves his friend, the pink ruxie, from his harsh fate. They both end up in school, and then it begins.

Peter often unwittingly triggers a whole series of ridiculous and tragicomic actions.

While playing hide and seek, children discover unprecedented objects, places, and creatures behind the doors of an antique wardrobe! They find themselves in an unexpected universe full of colours and sounds, inhabited by beings both real and only encountered in fantasy. They, too, hide and seek each other throughout the year.

The journalist of the project and the author of the film "I Killed" Katya Fomina managed to recreate in detail the events during the occupation of the village of Andreevka, Kyiv region. She was also able to record a video interview with Russian servicemen of the 64th Motorized Rifle Brigade, who were directly involved in crimes in the occupied territories - Dmitry Danilov and Daniil Frolkin.

After returning to his homeland, Baltaine's bacon pie Henry The Great reveals that his homeland has been taken over by Oriental pies under the terrible leadership of Tsar Aivens, and there is nothing left but to start a heroic fight for the liberation of the homeland.

Uldis Brauns' conversation with Ivars Seleckis about films and time.

A colorful and slightly comical portrait of a group of people and a snapshot of an era, telling the story of Lucavsala, a green oasis in the center of Riga. Unique in Europe, this allotment garden colony, located almost in the city center, brings together a wide variety of social groups: modern flower children, city dwellers caught up in their daily routines, organizers of spiritual festivals, homeless people, and pyromaniacs, whom the director contrasts with urban planners working in air-conditioned offices. Each of them strives to realize their dreams on the island, which are as contrasting as the characters in the film themselves.

An experimental documentary on rhythms and melodies of Riga. It asks its inhabitants two important questions - who owns Riga and is it in the right hands?

Two boys find an unusual plastic bag with no handle. It turns out to be alive, moving around and being angry because it has become useless to everyone. The angry bag together with the boys is trying to find a new meaning of its life and a new use for other plastic bags that have become real trash hooligans.

A raccoon and his wife are having a regular nice day in their home in a tree. That's until they hear the noise of a woodchuck attacking their lovely abode...

Shortly before the card game, the tuba player in the brass band played his tuba. When they fail to get the tuba back, the band goes after the valuable instrument, using cunning guerrilla tactics.

Small incident makes a man realize that the world doesn't care about him. He then sets out on a way to personal revolution.

In the company of several friends, Peter's country house hosts his anniversary party, during which alcohol and jealousy are in the air, leaving Joanne nauseous. The next morning, she seeks revenge by recounting the misery of love she has experienced in her lifetime, which increasingly begins to resemble Peter's story.

Fighting as a partisan in the mythical Baltic past and in wars in 20th century Eastern Europe at the same time, Baņuta’s life is saved by weary and disenchanted Lithuanian prince, Daumants. Speeding away on a motorcycle, he brings the fighter back to his homeland in Romove, a holy Baltic site. There is about to be a wedding, but the preparations are interrupted by ravens. Their black feathers are a mirror for Daumants’ conscience and act as a reminder of his crime against Jargala, a girl he raped and killed. Soon Daumants falls in battle, and being a stranger in Romove, Baņuta is caught up in sacrificial rituals and revenge. However, she is strong-willed and will not bow to fate – no one will take her happiness away. A hundred years after the premiere of Alfrēds Kalniņš’ first Latvian opera Baņuta in 1920, comes the opera film Baņuta – an international project that melds opera, musical performances, the conditionality of the performing arts and contemporary performativity.

Dagne, her husband and teenage daughter live in a peaceful Latvian countryside. While everyone is busy with their own thing, the family ties are loosening. Dagne is diagnosed with slowly progressing deafness. Acceptance of the new situation and the need to adapt to new ways of communication, including learning sign language, is not easy for neither of them. Dagne feels left alone and not supported during this hard time of her life her. Her daughter is very busy with her music band and preparation for an upcoming contest. Her husband is occupied with work at the farm. Even simple daily things become complicated, impossible and emotionally hard.

Little Ani is the only child in an ordinary family. As all children, Ani likes to ask her parents unexpected and surprising questions, but they fail to give satisfactory answers. It’s her favourite plush toy Weasymartenette who always knows the best and funniest answers. We discover that all those puzzling questions such as “Why do wolves howl at the moon?” or “Why are clouds so odd-shaped?” have a single answer: because of Weasymartenette!

After his spaceship crashes, an astronaut finds himself on a mysterious metal planet. What he doesn’t know is that inside the planet is a mechanical clock – the heart of the universe. And it has stopped...

There is a Man, called Mitrais by locals, who is one of the first professional nature inspectors in Latvia. For an older generation people his name is associated with an image of a real ranger, while youngsters who know him highly respect him. Mitrais is sure that among today’s youth there are more idealists than ever before. And they are ready to do something real and tangible, and not surrender to the overwhelming virtual pseudo-reality.