The Golden of Latvian Animation

The creative potential of Latvian animation and successful co-productions have brought about fantastic results.

By Kristı¯ne Simsone

Animated films from Latvia are being selected for acclaimed international film festivals, included in the regular programming of cinemas around the world, and featured on global streaming platforms.

Latvian animation has had a long, and in a way symbolic relationship with the Berlin International Film Festival. It is here that the puppet animation Let’s Fly?! (Munks un Lemijs. Lidojam!? from the Munk and Lemmy series) by Nils Skapāns received the Crystal Bear in

1995; the first award that a film from Latvia received at an A-list festival after the country restored its independence. Since then, 19 animated films from Latvia have screened at Berlinale, mainly in the Generation and Generation Kplus sections for children and young people. Some films, such as Signe Baumane’s series of shorts, have also screened in the festival’s short film programme.

Returning To Berlinale

This year, Latvian animation returns to the Generation Kplus programme with the film A Greyhound of a Girl (Meitene dzinējsuns). The film, which is a collabo -

Flow (dir. Gints Zilbalodis) is a co-production between three countries (Latvia, France and Belgium) and will soon enter the active phase of production.