RIGA IFF 2018 INDUSTRY CATALOGUE (ENG) by Riga International Film Festival

VENUES SPLENDID PALACE

KINO BIZE

The festival’s home and primary event location. One of Europe’s most beautiful cinemas inspires a sincere celebration of cinema together with RIGA IFF. Long ago, it was the first theatre in Northern Europe to display sound motion pictures. No strange to festivities, it will host the Opening of RIGA IFF, the FEATURE FILM COMPETITION, the Award Ceremony, numerous premieres, and most of the screenings... You’ll find the festival’s Information Centre here as well!

Among the most recently set up cinemas in Riga, it is hidden away in the silent central neighbourhood. With its romantic attitude to alternative filmmaking and productions, it is the Art Nouveau of Riga’s film life. You must look for good cinema! To find the entrance of Kino Bize, follow the RIGA IFF sign through the triumphal arch. This venue will be displaying most of the SHORT RIGA programme, among other screenings.

K.SUNS

CAFE FILM NOIR

A legendary, cosy cinema. It screened excellent motion pictures already two decades before RIGA IFF was conceived. Nurtured in the best traditions of family business, this is a treasure trove of festival films and hosting special cinema events held by foreign embassies and cultural institutions. RIGA IFF will present here the BEAST programme featuring promising film directors from Eastern Europe, the special event May 68, A Fine Piece of Work and multiple other cinematic surprises.

A place that combines cafe, cinema and event venue. The basement storey of Splendid Palace is a hotspot for discussions among cinema industry professionals. Lectures, presentations and panel discussions held here shape the new cinema discourse – not only among adults, but among the RIGA IFF KIDS WEEKEND Children’s jury members as well. Have a look at the Event programme to discover where your presence is needed!

National Library of Latvia

Kaņepe’s Culture Centre

Two of the many introductions new to the festival this year are having the NLL as a venue, and the ARCHITECT’S CUT programme. The National Library of Latvia, dubbed the Castle of Light, is one of this decade’s most noticeable new buildings in Riga, and a hot topic for discussions – which is why we could not have imagined a better location for motion pictures and talks about architecture. As part of the programme, five films will be presented in four screenings at the Ziedonis Hall.

KKC represents the festival’s most informal zone. A great place to spend one’s free time. A meeting point where burning issues are raised over a drink. Some of the most heated debate – and some of the most light-hearted dancing – has taken place at this exact location. If you want to talk to someone after a screening, just say ‘See you at Kaņepe!’. For a break from the KKC’s extensive partying, enjoy the RIGA IFF’s selected Baltic Music Video Competition clips at the movie hall upstairs.

Elizabetes street 61, Riga, LV-1050

Skolas street 15, Riga, LV-1010

Friendly Hotels Ibis Riga Centre Hotel

Mercure Hotel Riga

+371 67 815 460

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Marijas street 5, Riga, LV-1050

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Dau

Elizabetes street 83/85, Riga, LV-1050

Elizabetes street 37, Riga, LV-1010

Elizabetes street 101, Riga, LV-1050

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

RIGA IFF FORUM

RIGA IFF GOES VR

EUROPEAN CHILDREN'S FILM PROJECTS

EUROPEAN SCRIPT MEETING

RIGA IFF INDUSTRY EVENTS SCHEDULE

ZIP-MEETING

SHORT RIGA DISCUSSIONS

BALTIC FILM TALENT LAB CRITICS MEETING SHORT RIGA: TEST SCREENINGS SHORT RIGA: WHAT'S UP?

HOME MADE

RIGA IFF TEAM

RIGA IFF FORUM Not more than five years ago, the Baltic scenery of children’s and youth films changed considerably. Children’s films of the region gained recognition at film festivals and traveled around the globe. During the couple past years the state funding (especially in Latvia and Estonia) for family friendly audiovisual content brought to life a versatile line-up of children’s films that in the past two years have set new box office records, powerfully proving that the Baltic audiences are thirsty for child friendly cinema. Knowing that the force behind the European works are co-productions and that good ideas need to be shared, RIGA IFF took on a challenge to create a meeting and exchange platform for children’s and youth films. Powered by the National Film Centre of Latvia, the annual event showcases and analyses upcoming Baltic productions as well as gathers children’s and youth film professionals from other parts of Central and Eastern Europe, in order to create a beneficial climate for co-productions among European countries. A line-up of handpicked projects from outside the Baltic region is showcased, in order to help them find co-producers within the Baltics.

As a result, the third FORUM - one of a kind event in the Baltic States - will include a pitching session of upcoming Baltic, East and Central European children’s and youth film projects, followed by a session of one-to-one meetings and last but not least - an opportunity for the filmmakers to pitch their projects to their potential audience - children. Also, recognizing the potential of the Baltic region in the tech domain, the FORUM will take on content creation in virtual reality (VR) medium, whose growth nowadays is more than fast paced. Therefore the festival, in cooperation with interactive media production company Story Hub and start-up community holders Riga Tech Hub Riga present RIGA IFF GOES VR - series of inspirational talks and hackathon. It will challenge the local tech minds to join the most idealistic creative ideas, in order to create a brand new audiovisual product for children’s educational purposes.

RIGA IFF FORUM JURY Jana Wolff Marketing and advertising director at Berlinale’s European Film Market (EFM) - one of the leading film markets in the world.

Danckert Monrad-Krohn Director and programmer of the largest children’s film festival in Norway - Kristiansand International Children’s film festival.

Gert Hermans Content manager at JEF - a Belgium based networking organisation and an intermediary among policy makers and international film industry.

SCHEDULE Thursday, 18 Oct. RIGA IFF FORUM pitching sessions European children’s film projects 11.00 – 13.00 Cafe Film Noir For registered participants RIGA IFF FORUM one-to-one meetings Individual meetings among children’s film project representatives and buyers 14.00 – 17.30 Cafe Film Noir For registered participants

Friday, 19 Oct. RIGA IFF GOES VR Inspirational talks: molding together cinema, virtual reality and education 09.30 – 13.30 Cafe Film Noir For registered participants 09.30 – 09.45 Introduction

Michael Harbauer Director of SCHLINGEL - International Film festival for children and young audience, not only bringing the latest films to German audiences but also showcasing German films around the globe.

Zane Kauliņa Programme manager at Forum Cinemas. Zane’s current duties involve programme and content planning for Latvia’s largest film theatre - Kino Citadele.

09.45 – 10.25 Introduction in the World of VR and VR as a Learning Tool Wim Forceville 10.25 – 11.05 Creating and Prototyping for VR Alexander Herrmann 11.05 – 11.45 Why VR? Making With Meaning Tessa Ratuszynska Price and Fiona Frances Nicholson 12.00 – 12.40 Emotions in Interactive Virtual Experiences Wim Wouters RIGA IFF FORUM Film project pitching session for children’s audience 14.30 – 18.30 Cafe Film Noir For registered participants

Riga IFF Forum

NETWORKING & RIGA IFF FORUM AWARDS EVENT 20.30 – 23.30 Cafe Film Noir For registered participants

Saturday, 20 Oct.

BEST PROJECT 5000 EUR

RIGA IFF GOES VR RIGA IFF Hackathon Creating educational VR content for children and youth 10.00 – 10.00 (24 h) H206, Architecture and Media Center, Durbes street 4 For registered participants

With kind support of BBrental - a full service professional filming equipment rental house with branches in Riga, Tallinn and Vilnius, RIGA IFF FORUM is proud to have the best project award that will be bestowed on a project, selected by an international jury of film experts. The beneficiary of the BBrental prize will obtain 5000 euros, worth of post-production services or filming gear.

Sunday, 21 Oct.

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RIGA IFF GOES VR RIGA IFF Hackathon Hackathon VR project presentations and networking event 14.30 – 17.30 Cafe Film Noir Free admission

HACKATHON RIGA IFF Hackathon is a short-term creative incubator for constituting new forms of cooperation among filmmakers, other creative minds and VR programmers. With the support of international mentors and technology experts, the Hackathon participants are to acquire fresh experiences through group assignments for creating real-life products targeted for children’s and youth audiences. The newly formed teams of creative industries and fluent coders are to take on a challenge that will come to a wrap with a public pitching session and cross industry networking event in Cafe Film Noir, organised as part of the Cross Motion project funded by the EU. The winning team with the best project will be determined and awarded by an international jury of VR mentors.

Riga IFF Hackathon supported by

Riga IFF Forum

RIGA IFF GOES VR. CINEMA AND VIRTUAL REALITY ARE CLOSER THAN YOU THINK In cooperation with interactive media production company Story Hub and start-up community holders Riga Tech Hub, RIGA IFF is opening doors to Virtual Reality and presenting a new initiative - RIGA IFF GOES VR - in the framework of the festival. Our common goal is to break the invisible wall between traditional filmmakers and VR content creators by sharing tips, advices and remarkable case studies that have the potential to inspire the crowd to start experimenting and developing ideas in the fast developing VR environment. The inspirational talks focused on educational content for children and youth will include a set of topical updates on the VR world, its storytelling and valuable case studies, featuring savvy speakers and bold ideas. This seminar is organised as a part of the Cross Motion project funded by the EU. To put the newly gained expertise in to action, we invite you to challenge yourself and take part in RIGA IFF Hackathon. Participants, creating teams, will be able to work on childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and youth VR content, providing creative solutions or bringing to life ideas of their own.

Riga IFF Forum

INSPIRATIONAL TALKS Lectures will be moderated by Latvian animator Reinis Kalnaellis, who will briefly introduce the audience with VR in Latvia - its challenges, future opportunities and his perspective on the topic as a children’s content producer.

Introduction into the world of VR and VR as a learning tool An inspirational introduction into the world of VR and answers to questions like: why is this environment so disruptive for the framed media? The lecturer will give an insight into the VR application as a learning tool and guide us through some very exciting case studies that he has produced. Wim Forceville Creative producer A creative producer and director in immersive media. Wim focuses on producing high quality VR experiences that show a social relevance. He is also affiliated to the LUCA School of Arts, Ghent (Belgium), where he works as a researcher and lecturer.

Creating and prototyping for VR A hands on presentation on how to create a VR experience. Starting out with very simple techniques and tools speaker will also project more difficult workflow through two case studies of his recent work: ‘Cabinets of Wonder’, a project about the imaginary world of children, and ‘Future Diaries’, a sci-fi transmedia project. Alexander Herrmann Founder and head of development at Expanding Focus GmbH is the founder and head of development of Expanding Focus GmbH – a Germany based VR production house specialised in the conception, production and distribution of VR experiences and cinematic VR content. He works in the fields of documentary, fiction, installations, music and games.

Why VR? Making with meaning

Emotions in interactive virtual experiences

Artist collective’s The OthVRs approach to VR and what they find exciting about the industry, including predictions about the future of the medium relating to how it differs from the traditional cinema and how 360˚ filmmaking uses theatre and installation art techniques as well as technical skills. The creative duo will present case studies that might be used in educational settings and encourage newcomers to engage in VR.

There is a gap between the emotional experience then watching a movie and playing a video game. There are certain emotions that work better in games. Fear is one of them. But also pride, guilt and anger work quite well. On the other hand love, sadness and more empathic emotions are stronger in movies. Both mediums seem to draw emotions from a different pallet.

Tessa Ratuszynska Price and Fiona Frances Nicholson Artists and filmmakers at The OthVRs The creative duo represent The OthVRs which is an open 360˚/ VR/ XR collaborative group based in Bristol. Their aim is to encourage a broader and inclusive spectrum of individuals within this emerging media by democratising access to materials, funding and resources.

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Wim Wouters Digital product designer A digital product designer with more than 15 years experience in designing, developing and producing games and interactive installations. He is co-founder the Belgian Game Association and is now part of ‘Poppins & Wayne’, where he explores technology and story to make imagination come to life.

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EUROPEAN CHILDRENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S FILM PROJECTS

Riga IFF Forum

MARTIN AND THE FOREST SECRET

Synopsis

About the production company

The kids from a scout club often spend summer vacation at a place hidden in mountains of the romantic Kralovka region. For three weeks they live like savages - sleeping in a tepee, washing in a creek, cooking their meals on fire and having fun in the woods around. This time, the club goes to Kralovka for the last time. Due to a plan to build a transmitter here, the wilderness will disappear forever.

BFILM was founded in 2010 in Slovakia and in 2017 in Czech Republic by Peter Badač as a film production company working with art-house fiction, animations and TV series. BFILM focuses on remarkable artistic quality and innovative approaches, working with carefully selected directorial talent. BFILM is one of the leading companies on the Slovak market with 3 award winning feature films and 7 short films already produced. Our films has received several awards and nominations, were in competition in Cannes, Annecy, Berlinale or Locarno, were screened in Rotterdam, Karlovy Vary, Warsaw, Cairo and many other festivals. Their vision is to bring local stories for the broad international audience while helping emerging talents to be discovered and grow.

About the director Petr Oukropec is Czech director and producer. He produced his first feature film – Indian Summer by Saša Gedeon – in 1994. Film was released in wide distribution despite the fact that it was only a graduate film from the FAMU film school. In 1995 Petr, together with Pavel Strnad, established a production company called Negativ. In this company they produced more than 30 feature fiction, documentary and animated films. Since 2003 he has been lecturing at Department of Production at Prague’s FAMU. He continues to work with kids and non-actors in his private theatre called ‘Zmrzlik’. Based as a social project, in the years since its inception, it has gained a wide audience and recognition. In 2012 he made his first film as a director. ‘Blue Tiger’ was screened at dozens film festivals and won several awards. ‘In Your Dreams!’ his second film, was premiered at Berlinale in 2016.

Genre: Adventure, Family Film Countries: Czech Republic, Slovakia Estimated run time (min): 90 Director: Petr Oukropec Producer: Peter Badač Stage of the project: Development Estimated date of the project: 07/02/2020 Production company: BFILM.cz Looking for: Co-production, Distribution, Broadcasters, Funding Target audience: 7 - 10

Peter Badač Producer BFILM.cz info@bfilm.cz

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TOTALLY BOSS

Synopsis

About the production company

Encouraged by their teacher Janek, two 13-year-old boys Oliver and Sass create an ingenious new product – a nose-shaped glasses holder – that unexpectedly draws the attention of a major investor. Meanwhile, Oliver’s father Artur who was laid off work is looking for a new respectable job. At the same time, the boys must meet with the investor. However, they realise that they are too young to do business by themselves – it’s highly unlikely that an investor would give two teenagers 100 000 euros! Therefore Oliver gets an idea on how to kill two birds with one stone – they hire Oliver’s father to run their company. He will meet with the investor and get the necessary funding for their business. The catch is that Oliver’s father doesn’t know he’s working for his son and Sass.

Since 2009, Nafta Films has been producing audiovisual content of all forms (film, TV productions, TV commercials). The first feature film produced by Nafta Films, the family adventure film ‘Secret Society of Souptown’, rapidly ascended to become Estonia’s most watched family film of all time and subsequently was sold by Beta Film to eight countries and to Netflix U.S.A. Nafta Films has produced and participated in the production of several television serials (‘After school’, produced for the Russian market in cooperation with Walt Disney Productions, and the science fiction serial ‘IT Planet’ in co-production with the Estonian National Broadcasting Corporation). On top of this, they have internationally co-produced two feature films and numerous short films.

About the director

Genre: Comedy, Family Countries: Estonia Estimated run time (min): 90 Director: Ingomar Vihmar Producers: Diana Mikita, Esko Rips Stage of the project: Early development Estimated date of the project: 2020 Production company: Nafta Films Looking for: Co-production, Sales agents, Broadcasters, Funding Target audience: 8 - 15

Ingomar Vihmar has previously worked as an actor and director at the Ugala Theatre for some ten years, he’s been a freelance director for a few years and worked as a copywriter at an ad agency. After all that he worked as a director at the Estonian Drama Theatre for about ten years and since 2015 he has been the creative director of Endla Theatre.

Diana Mikita Producer Nafta Films diana@nafta.ee

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RAGGIE

Synopsis

About the production company

Ruby is turning six and her life is in balance - she has an older brother Mark, who is her best friend. But then summer ends and Mark has to go back to school, he won’t have time for her sister anymore. Mark tries to comfort Ruby and makes her a doll - Raggie. In a magical moment Raggie comes to life! Now Ruby has only eyes for her new friend. This changes the relationship between brother and sister, and causes problems in the family. Raggie feels guilty and decides to leave the family hoping that this move will bring the siblings back together. When Mark realizes that Ruby will go through fire and ice in order to find her doll, he decides to join her on the rescue mission. Together they manage to save Raggie. Ruby and Mark are reunited and now Ruby has two best friends in her life.

A Film Estonia is an animation studio in Tallinn, Estonia, established in 1994. As a production house, it produces 2D and 3D animation for feature-length movies, broadcast TV, educational productions and commercials. A Film Estonia was mainly a sub-contracting studio up until 2005. The studio has worked for many major European and US studios including Columbia Pictures, Warner Bros. Feature Animation, Prima Linea, Rome Animation, Anima Vitae. In 2005 A Film Estonia started with their own productions and has produced 8 short films since then. A Film Estonia animators and designers have also created illustrations for various publications and designed logos and designs for different products.

About the director Meelis Arulepp has worked as an animator in various animation studios since 1987, in 1994 he co-founded A.Film Estonia. Meelis has worked as the creative head of the studio since then. Meelis´ filmography includes over 30 feature films, where he has been directing animator, designer, storyboarder or supervisor. Meelis has co-directed 8 short films and over 300 commercials. He is also well know book illustrator and caricaturist. Karsten Kiilerich is one of the founders of A. Film, the largest animation studio in Denmark. Karsten has experience in all branches of animation, ranging from feature-films, shorts and TV-series. He has worked as an animator, scriptwriter, director, concept-developer and creative producer. In addition, Karsten Kiilerich is a winner of a large number of international film prizes and was Oscar nominated in 1999 (Director - When life departs). Kristel Tõldsepp Producer A Film Estonia kristel@afilm.ee

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Genre: Adventure, Animation Countries: Estonia/Denmark Estimated run time (min): 73 Directors: Meelis Arulepp, Karsten Kiilerich Producers: Kristel Tõldsepp, Anders Mastrup Stage of the project: Production Estimated date of the project: 17/01/2020 Production company: A Film Estonia, A Film Production ApS Looking for: Distribution, Broadcasters Target audience: 4 - 8

Meelis Arulepp Director meelis@afilm.ee

FRIEND FOR A SUMMER

Synopsis

About the production company

For the protagonists Peter and Valdis - summer in the countryside is time to test their friendship. Who can resist a powerful tablet? As well as it is supposed to modern children, children come together with parents to have a rest for the summer in village, but business does not do without the most interesting investigation. The intrigue of the plot is intertwined with the story of one of the main acting heroes of history, who secretly planted his own cherry orchard in secret from the dacha. From this, history acquires volume and an additional lyric line.

LLC Producer company ‘Rus’ was founded in 2015. Produces video and documentary films for the Russian market and CIS countries. Ready for co-production.

About the director Julia Gorbachevskaya Graduated in 2004 Moscow State University, journalist. 2017 – GITIS, director (Master, professor – Boris Morozov, National artist of Russia). Julia has been teaching a scriptwriting and screenwriting at the Russian State University for the Humanities from 2016.

Genre: Comedy, Adventure Countries: Russia, Latvia Estimated run time (min): 20 Director: Julia Gorbachevskaya Producer: Irina Soina Stage of the project: Early development Estimated date of the project: 01/06/2019 Production company: LLC Production company ‘Rus’ Looking for: Co-production, Festivals, Funding Target audience: 4 - 99

Selected films:

2018 - short feature film ‘Forgive us, Yushka!’, author and director 2018 – short feature film ‘Start for a swimmer - to the water’, director 2010 - documentary film ‘Moscow is multinational. Kurds ‘(commissioned by Gosfilmofond) 2009 - documentary film ‘Olga Land’, a film for the 50th anniversary of the director.

Anna Utrobina Executive Producer LLC Production company ‘Rus’ annautrobina@gmail.com

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ARTIST AND ANGEL

Synopsis

About the production company

A frustrated actor works as a Santa Claus. One day he encounters a homeless boy, who is not able to speak. He gives him a shelter and takes him to the work. He gives him a costume of an angel and they entertain kids in these costumes. Things start to change and through series of ups and downs the actor achieves everything he dreamed about. In the end the boy occurs to be a real angel and the actor was rewarded for his kindness.

Main producer: Vars-Studio is a film production company based in Tbilisi Georgia. Since the foundation in 2008, they made 8 feature films as a main producer and several other projects as a service company. Their 2009 film ‘Kvelaperi Kargad Ikneba’ broke Georgia’s box office rating and is considered as commercially the most successful film since the independence in 1991. Co-producer: Zentropa Spain is a subsidiary entity of Zentropa Denmark. It took part in most of Lars Von Trier’s movies as a co-producer. Company has made independently several films and has a history of being on major festivals, including Cannes official selections.

About the director George Varsimashvili is a Georgian writer and director born in Tbilisi in 1986. After graduating university in Georgia, he went to study film making in Paris 8 university (bachelor’s and master’s degree) and ESRA Paris film school. During his studies he made a dozen of short films, which traveled on different film festivals. He shot his debut feature film ‘Particulier a Particulier’ (2012) in France. Although film didn’t have any producer or distributor behind and had a minor budget equal of a student short film, it was still released in film theatres in France, Russia and Georgia. This achievement brought him recognition in his homeland, where he is working on various film projects. In 2016 he made a film for the national television ‘Dzmebi Qalaqshi’.

Genre: Fairy tale Countries: Georgia, Spain Estimated run time (min): 90 Directors: George Varsimashvili, Avtandil Varsimashvili Producer: George Varsimashvili Stage of the project: Early development Estimated date of the project: 25/12/2019 Production company: Vars-Studio, Zentropa Spain Looking for: Co-production, Distribution, Sales agents, Broadcasters, Festivals, Funding Target audience: 6 - 40

George Varsimashvili Director, producer Vars-Studio vars-studio@hotmail.com

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KILLER, PENGUIN, TOM, DOLL FACE

Synopsis

About the production company

‘Killer, Penguin, Tom, Doll Face’ is a transmedia concept consisting of a few different formats: VR Experience, animated feature length documentary film and interactive web platform/series. This projects aim is to give a view on social exclusion and alienation of troubled teenagers, and evoke reconsideration of social values and social phobias, resulting in systematic discrimination of those who appear to deviate from perceived norms and thereby become subject to coarse or exclude. All the formats of the project are based on personal stories of the teenager patients of the Child Psychiatric Development Centre in Vilnius, Lithuania - the HOUSE. More things happen in just one day inside the HOUSE than most people living outside will experience during their whole life. The HOUSE guards zillions of secrets. The banal ‘skeletons in the closet’ that outsiders see are only a small part of the closed Universe that exists within the HOUSE.

JONI ART is a young and dynamic production company created in 2008 and based in Vilnius, Lithuania. The trademark of JONI ART is to experiment with multiple techniques, through combining innovative and traditional approaches, creating entertaining and convincing films that leave a memorable and long lasting impact. JONI ART is committed to developing and producing films that reflects emotions and stories beyond borders. The films produced by JONI ART are very successful at the film festivals and were awarded various international and national awards. JONI ART is organizing and conducting training, where the techniques of animation and filmmaking process are being introduced to young audience.

About the director Tomas Tamosaitis gained his film education in the Theatre and Film Department of the Lithuanian Music Academy, then continued his studies at the European Film College in Denmark and at the Andrzej Wajda Master School of Film directing in Poland. Tomas is interested in and committed to making films that often explore the fine line between the different forms of the medium of film. Tomas is a co-owner of the JONI ART production company, where he works on the development and production of various animation, documentary, film and TV projects. Tomas Tamosaitis is also the author of film and culture related reviews for journals and newspapers, a Lithuanian Film Program producer for the Summer Film Academy in Poland, and a lecturer at the Vilnius Film Centre. Tomas Tamosaitis Producer, author, director tomas@joniart.com

Genre: Hybrid / Animation/ VR (+ feature film, web series) Countries: Lithuania, France, Slovenia, Germany Estimated run time (min): 10 Director: Tomas Tamosaitis Producers: Tomas Tamosaitis, Emmanuel Rouglan, Sara Bozanic Stage of the project: Early development Estimated date of the project: 11/2020 Production company: Joni Art, Insomniak, Institute for Transmedia Design Looking for: Co-production, Distribution, Sales agents, Broadcasters, Festivals, Funding Target audience: 14+

Emmanuel Rouglan Producer, author emmanuel@insomniak.co

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THE TINDERBOX

Synopsis

About the production company

The King of one small country, governed in secret by a cunning and stupid Oberpolitzmeister, hears a prophecy that the Princess will marry a simple soldier. The King imprisons the Princess in a tower, executes all storytellers and fortune tellers, sends all soldiers to war, and orders his general that the war should never end… But a brave soldier Hans accidentally gets a magic Tinderbox from an unlucky Witch. He befriends giant Dogs and liberates them from terrible enchantment, marries the beautiful Princess, and saves the country from an unnecessary and senseless war, and from the power-grabbing Oberpolitzmeister.

Kamer-Ton-Film-Russia LTD was founded by Anastassia Razlogova in 2000. Main activity: production of feature films, production of documentary films, production of television programs (Russia Culture TV channel). Artistic Director of the Studio, Professor Kirill Razlogov, is a venerated film scholar and TV personality. General director of the Company - Anastasia Razlogova - Graduated the economic department of the Russian State Institute of Cinematography (VGIK), Member of the Russian Documentary Film and Television Guild. Producer of fiction and documentary features, participants and prize-winners of Russian and International film festivals. Since 2001 producer of the popular weekly program ‘Cult Movies’ on TV Channel ‘Russia-Culture’, devoted to classical and art-house cinema – the only program on Russian television that combines film screenings and conversations with the authors of these films and leading Russian and foreign filmmakers.

About the director Director and scriptwriter and Composer for cinema, theatre and television. Producer. Awards for original music – Prize for Best Music at Love International Film Festival (Los Angeles, USA), film ‘Defenders of life’ (dir. Dana Ziyasheva), Grand Prix of the festival FIPA (Biarritz, France) for original music, film ‘Franz+Polina’ (dir. Mikhail Segal); National film critics award ‘White Elephant’ (Russia) in the category ‘Best music’, film ‘Short Stories’ (dir. Mikhail Segal) and others. Prizes for film ‘Paratrooper’s day’ (scriptwriter, director, composer, producer Andjei Petras): Film Critic’s Prize the ‘Silver snow goggles’ at I Yakutsk international film festival, Best film of the VII Moscow short film festival ‘Other Lands’, Nikolay Ovsyannikov Prize for creative support at the XXI International film festival ‘Festival of festivals’ and others.

Anastasia Razlogova Producer Kamer-Ton-Film-Russia arazlogova@hotmail.com

Riga IFF Forum

Genre: Musical fairy tale Countries: Russia Estimated run time (min): 90 Director: Andjei Petras Producers: Anastasia Razlogova, Andjei Petras Stage of the project: Development Estimated date of the project: 15/12/2020 Production company: Kamer-Ton-Film-Russia LTD, DURIMAR PICTURES LTD Looking for: Co-production, Distribution, Sales agents, Broadcasters, Festivals, Funding, Other - Old European city as a setting, International casting, VFX partners Target audience: 6 - 99

Andjei Petras Co-scriptwriter, director, composer, producer anjeipetras@gmail.com

THE PACK

Synopsis

About the production company

David (16), a talented goalie, is placed in a new hockey team. He is determined to do everything he can to succeed, however, the team doesn’t exactly welcome David with open arms. He tries to stand up to the team’s unacceptance on his own, bracing the avalanche of bullying. Finally, the bullies’ brute aggression awakens David’s instinct of self-preservation. Grabbing his hockey stick, he strikes one of the bullies, Miky - a predator’s reflex more than anything else. Miky crumples to the damp floor, a pool of blood spreading around his head. David is terrified of what he had done. He hates himself for everything they did to him. For everything they made him do. He is one of them now - but is this the price he wants to pay?

8Heads Productions was established in 2010 in order to produce author-based projects in close creative co-operation between writer, director and producer. The founder of the company, Julietta Sichel, is a former Program Director of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and an experienced film producer with several successful international co-productions in her record. When choosing her projects, Sichel relies on her more than 20 years of experience from international film scene. Sichel focuses on films with international potential and with chances of success at the leading world film festivals. Films produced or co-produced by 8Heads Productions were presented at numerous festivals around the world including Montreal, Karlovy Vary, Tallinn, Busan, Chicago, Jeonju, Teheran, Raindance, Sarajevo, Kiev, Jihlava Documentary Film Festival, ZagrebDox, Houston and many others.

About the director Tomáš Polenský (1987) studied film direction at the Film School in Zlin and then took his MA at FAMU. Despite short filmography he has received numerous awards for his work. Besides directing his own films, he edits films by his colleagues and acts as DOP of feature films, documentaries, music and commercial spots. He is currently finishing feature-length documentary ‘Instrument of War’ dealing with psychology of a soldier. Tomáš knows the environment depicted in The Pack more than well: his sister is the captain of the Czech Republic women’s national ice hockey team; Tomáš himself spent 16 years playing minor and junior hockey, and even acted as a youth coach for several seasons. Tomáš aims to base his approach to making The Pack on his experience with documentary films, striving for a raw style with a focus on the expressive depiction of the main character’s feelings.

Genre: Drama, youth film Countries: Czech Republic, Latvia Estimated run time (min): 90 Director: Tomáš Polenský Producers: Julietta Sichel, Jan Froněk, Guntis Trekteris Stage of the project: Development Estimated date of the project: 03/02/2020 Production company: 8Heads Productions Looking for: Co-production, Sales agents, Broadcasters, Festivals, Funding Target audience: 14+

Julietta Sichel Producer 8Heads Productions julietta@8heads.com

Riga IFF Forum

RING OF LIFE

Synopsis

About the production company

Mari is smart and sharp-tongue daredevil of a girl, raised by a single father-inventor. Trying to earn his recognition, she secretly finishes his latest work – the flying suit – and flies off the roof. Something goes wrong: she falls through the ground and enters the Dreamy World, a place between life and death, looking like Elysium version of Disneyland. In order to get back home, she has to find friends, overcome magical illusions, defeat the evil Minister SHHH, enter the Ring of Life and hear her father’s call for the return.

Pronto Film is a full-service independent production company, based in Kyiv, Ukraine. Headed by Maxim Asadchiy since 2004, Pronto produces films, tv series, commercials, and foreign service projects. Pronto’s films have been shown on festivals around the world like Rotterdam, Warsaw, Shanghai, São Paulo, Chicago, Palm Springs, Moscow, Beijing, Leipzig, and many more and have won various international prizes. Two Pronto’s films became Ukrainian Oscar submissions. Pronto Film is the founding member of the Film Industry Association of Ukraine. Pronto’s family feature ‘Foxter & Max’ is now in post-production.

About the director After work at the top Ukrainian TV channels, Sasha directed over 20 films and series in Ukraine and Russia. His 2008 fantasy thriller ‘Illusion of Fear’ became Ukrainian Oscar submission. In 2018 he directed the adaptation of the Israeli fantasy thriller series SIRENS for the main Russian TV channel.

Sashko Chubko Development producer Pronto Film sashko@pronto.kiev.ua

Riga IFF Forum

Genre: Adventure, Family, Fantasy Countries: Ukraine Estimated run time (min): 90 Director: Sasha Kirienko Producers: Maxim Asadchiy, Kateryna Kopylova Stage of the project: Development Estimated date of the project: 22/10/2020 Production company: Pronto Film Looking for: Co-production, Sales agents, Festivals, Funding Target audience: 10 - 13

Kateryna Kopylova Producer ziluyko@gmail.com

THE NAP

Synopsis

About the production company

The city is in a crisis of creative ideas, meanwhile rascal Antons (~6) has to change kindergartens once again. However, this time the boy’s rebellious and curious spirit lets him unveil a shocking secret – turns out that the new kindergarten is not just a kindergarten but a secret project of the ‘creative industries’ designed to solve the deficiency of imagination and original ideas by stealing children’s dreams while they are napping.

VFS FILMS is an independent production company which houses a group of talented filmmakers around a tight nucleus – best at telling human stories through award-winning creative documentaries. Most of VFS films such as European Film Academy nominated ‘Dreamland’ as well as ‘Theodore’, ‘Ramin’, ‘Liberation Day’, ‘Wonderful Losers’ and 2015 IDFA Special Jury prize awarded ‘Ukrainian Sheriffs’ have travelled around the world. This will be our second animation project, but we have used lot of animated elements to enhance the stories in our documentaries.

About the director Nils Skapans is experienced artist, he have directed more than 30 animations. I like today’s technologies and the opportunities they give. And I also use them. But I must say that it is often because I have to and not because I want to. It is all good but... sometimes it makes me sick to think about how involved, addicted and calculatable we have become. It is stupid that a software can calculate what we want and, what is even crazier, that it knows how to make us get something we do not need. I might be naive but I believe in one’s common sense, fantasy and natural rowdiness that does not succumb to this ‘artificial intellect’. And that is what my new movie will be about. He says: ‘It will not save or even change the world, but at least I will have expressed my point of view.’

Uldis Cekulis Producer uldis@vfs.lv

Genre: Action, Animated triller Countries: Latvia Estimated run time (min): 26 Director: Nils Skapāns Producer: Uldis Cekulis Stage of the project: Early development Estimated date of the project: 01/06/2021 Production company: VFS FILMS Looking for: Co-production, Funding Target audience: 8 - 12

Nils Skapāns author, director VFS Films skapans@inbox.lv

Riga IFF Forum

THE FLOOR IS LAVA

Synopsis

About the production company

Someone has to get higher than a ground not to be caught by ‘lava’, the rules of the game The Floor Is Lava state. Being a teenager, you want desperately to feel something special WHEN something meaningful happens to you. But it seems that nothing is happening. That feeling of anticipation mixed with fear of possible emptiness is so painful as if everything around was covered with hot lava. Kyiv school with ruthless discipline, traditional community work day, discotheque on holidays. But there are growing ‘wild’ things (such as friendship, love and first sensual experience that even stronger than sex) inside the blue walls and the black form for teens. And in the most difficult moments of maturation, the 16-year-old Masha wants to get beyond the boundary of the world and back again.

ESSE Production House is the first full-service film production company in Ukraine. Since 1991, the company has delivered more than 800 commercials, industrial and music videos as well as numerous TV series and feature films. The company’s work has been recognized by various awards and nominations, including an Academy Award® nomination for Best Short Film, Live Action for ‘The Door’ (2010) by Juanita Wilson, for which ESSE provided production services in Ukraine. Upcoming features include the Lithuanian-Ukrainian-French co-production ‘Stasis’ by Mantas Kvedaravicius.

About the director Kateryna Gornostai graduated from the School of Documentary Film and Theatre in Moscow. After returning to Kyiv, Kateryna started developing educational film programmes and her own documentary and fiction films. In 2016, she curated a documentary programme at the ‘86’ Festival of Film and Urbanism in Ukraine. She is currently working as an associate teacher for the master’s course ‘Documentary and Factual TV’ at Kyiv-Mohyla School of Journalism. Among her seven short and medium-length films to date, ‘Away’ (2015, fiction, 11 min) won Best Ukrainian Film at Wiz-Art Film Festival, Best Acting at OIFF 2015, and Best Ukrainian Short at Molodist IFF 2015. Her documentary ‘Maidan is everywhere’ (37 min) won the Andriy Matrosov Award at the Docudays UA Festival 2015. Her latest fiction short ‘Lilac’ (2017, 30 min) received a Special Jury Mention and the FIPRESCI Prize for Best Ukrainian Short Film at OIFF 2017.

Riga IFF Forum

Genre: Drama, teens Countries: Ukraine, Poland Estimated run time (min): 90 Director: Kateryna Gornostai Producers: Natalia Libet, Vitaliy Sheremetiev, Viktoria Khomenko, Gennadiy Kofman, Olha Beskhmelnytsina, Kuba Kosma Stage of the project: Development Estimated date of the project: 01/08/2020 Production company: ESSE Production House, MaGiKa Film, Takfilm Sp. Z. o.o. Looking for: Co-production, Sales agents, Festivals, Funding, Other - feedback Target audience: 14+

Kateryna Gornostai Director kate.gornostai@gmail.com

THE DAY I MET MY SUPERHERO

Synopsis

About the production company

Iga (11) wants to be a superhero like her idol Agnes from a popular TV show. In her imagination she often dons a superhero suits and helps those who need it, in the reality she is a butt of jokes because of her chubby build. Her main antagonist is skateboarder Kuba, who has talent, friends and courage - all what Iga wishes to have. Iga gets a chance to meet her idol in Berlin during the casting for the TV show - she decides to get there at any price. While her dad is busy at work and mum is being hospitalized because of epilepsy episode, Iga meets Olek who has his own reason to travel to Berlin. The kids accompanied by Iga’s dog Dreamer, get on the journey. Through her adventure she will learn that she doesn’t have to be superhuman to be a hero.

BeGood Films is specialized in children, youth and family films. They recognize and answer their audience needs. They create projects that entertain, affect and show the world from kids perspective.

About the director Maria graduated from the Film and Television Direction Department and of the Polish Film School in Łódź. Her full-length feature debut Dzień Kobiet has been awarded multiple times: among others with the Grand Prix of the 22nd Film Festival Cottbus. Her last film The Art of Loving, was a great success and took over 1.8 million admissions, making it the most popular film of 2017 in Poland with the runners-up such as Sing, Fifty Shades Darker and La La Land. Maria Sadowska is also a popular musician present on the music scene for nearly 20 years. She is very versatile and combines such different genres as jazz, funk, electronic music and pop. She is a recognized vocalist, composer, songwriter and music producer, a jury member of the popular TV show ‘The Voice of Poland’. An uncompromising artist, who follows her own path while avoiding sensation and publicity.

Genre: Family film Countries: Poland Estimated run time (min): 85 Director: Maria Sadowska Producer: Magdalena Rychła Stage of the project: Development Estimated date of the project: 2021 Production company: BeGood Films Looking for: Distribution, Sales agents, Broadcasters Target audience: 9 - 12

Magdalena Rychła Producer BeGood Films magda@begoodfilms.com

Riga IFF Forum

SECRET SOCIETY OF SOUPTOWN AND THE CUCUMBER MAFIA

Synopsis

About the production company

When children begin acting strangely for no apparent reason, Mari, Anton, Olav and Sadu aka The Secret Society of Souptown find themselves in the middle of a mystery that’s threatening the whole city.

About the director Their team were all very closely tied in with the birth of the Secret Society of Souptown film. It can be said that Oskar found those wonderful little actors out of over five thousand children, Helen as a fragile woman directed the masses of people when the more large-scale scenes were shot, and Margus directed the film. This time the roles are changing. Oskar and Helen will be directing and Margus will be active in the background. This fact leads them to the main theme of this future serial. Times and things change and although this can at times be difficult, it is always necessary for something.

Genre: Adventure, Family Countries: Estonia Estimated run time (min): 208 - 8 x 26’ TV series Directors: Helen Takkin, Oskar Lehemaa Producers: Esko Rips, Diana Mikita Stage of the project: Development Estimated date of the project: 2020 Production company: Nafta Films, Solar Films Looking for: Co-production, Broadcasters, Funding Target audience: 8 - 14 Looking for: Co-production, Sales agents, Festivals, Funding, Other - feedback Target audience: 14+

Esko Rips Producer Nafta Films esko@nafta.ee

Riga IFF Forum

EUROPEAN SCRIPT MEETING At RIGA IFF, we believe everything that happens is a story, and anything that can be told can become a film and create hundreds of new stories each time it is screened – no matter how and where the screening takes place. European Script Meeting encourages new international partnerships among screenwriters and creative film crews looking for writing professionals – screenwriters, co-writers, editors, consultants, doctors, analysts, mentors etc. During the event, select participating authors of film projects and project ideas

from all over Europe will get to meet with screenwriting professionals and discuss their potential collaboration in the nearest future. The event is structured as individual one-on-one meetings – however, to provide a productive setting for shaping new ideas at the conception stage, crossover meetings and participant brainstorming are encouraged. The selected participating projects can be found on esm.rigaiff.lv.

PARTICIPATING SCREENWRITERS SCHEDULE

Larisa Gūtmanis Moderator / writer, story editor, Canada

Tuesday, 23 Oct.

Larisa has worked at Alliance Atlantis in Toronto and HBO Films in New York, and is presently the Co-Producer for the OMDC’s International Financing Forum, in association with the Toronto International Film Festival. A graduate of the feature film screenwriting program at Canadian Film Centre and the Praxis Story Editing Program. , she also works as a story editor and screenplay evaluator for several production companies and teaches screenwriting at the University of Toronto, the National Film School of the Latvian Academy of Culture. , as well as teaching media studies at Ryerson University.

One-to-one meetings for screenwriters and project representatives 10.00 – 20.00 Cafe Film Noir For registered participants

Wednesday, 24 Oct. One-to-one meetings for screenwriters and project representatives 10.00 – 13.00 Cafe Film Noir For registered participants

Ursula Wolschlager Producer, writer, CEO of Witcraft, Austria She has worked with e.g. M. Glawogger, K. Serebrennikov, N. Borgers, C. Frosch, B. Khodoynazarov. Her scripts received awards in Milan, Ghent, Graz, Sabam and she has been awarded the Carl Mayer New Talent Prize. In Witcraft she has created e.g. ‘The Fatherless’, ‘We Used to be Cool’ (M. Kreutzer), ‘Ma Folie’ (A. Mracnikar), ‘Gangster girls’ (T. Leisch), ‘Mademoiselle Paradis’ (B. Albert), ‘Anna Fxxxing Molnar’ (S. Derflinger, co-written with N. Proll). Developer of training initiatives Women Producers’ Programme (ProPro) and Diverse Geschinchen (Diverse Stories).

Agnieszka Kruk Screenwriter, founder of StoryLab.pro, Poland Scriptwriter, educator, creator and organizer of the festival for scriptwriters, Script Fiesta. Author of training programmes for screenwriting professionals, certified script coach. Translator of L. Aroson’s ‘21st Century Screenplay: A Comprehensive Guide to Writing Tomorrow’s Films’. She consults scriptwriters, novelists and filmmakers, helps producers establish writers’ rooms. Creative Europe MEDIA expert. Runs StoryLab.pro - a space for professional education, script development and creating networking opportunities for scriptwriters and filmmakers.

Mārtiņs Slišāns Screenwriter, Latvia Martins works as screenwriter and script consultant since 2010. He is writer of WW1 drama ‘Blizzard of Souls’ (novel adaptation, due in 2019). Projects in development include ‘The Attack’ (a thriller based on real-life events), ‘Christopher and the Order of Shadows’ (a sci-fi adventure, novel adaptation), ‘Christmas Tree Mystery’ (a fairy tale, co-story). His first screenplay ‘The Apartments’ was awarded The Krzysztof Kieslowski ScripTeast Award for the Best Eastern and Central European Script. He also works as a MEDIA expert.

European Script Meeting

Leana Jalukse Screenwriter, Estonia

Artur Wyrzykowski Script analyst, Poland

Justīne Kļava Playwright, scriptwriter, dramatist, Latvia

Leana holds a BA in Broadcast Media and an MA in Film Arts, majoring in screenwriting, and has been active in industry since 1997. ‘Mother’ (K. Kousaar), her debut as a writer on a full-length feature film, premiered internationally in competition at Tribeca, USA, won Best Feature in Kitzbühel, Austria, Best Estonian Feature at Tallinn Black Nights, Estonia, and was selected Estonia’s national entry for the Oscars. Her second film, ‘Fire Lily’ (M. Avdjusko), premiered in May 2018, and a short film, ‘Laika’, was shot in August 2018.

Artur has studied directing at Warsaw Film School, production managing at Lodz Film School and scriptwriting at Lodz Film School. He has taken part in several workshops and courses as a producer, writer and script consultant, such as: Eastweek, Maia Workshops, Ekran+, Films For Kids Pro, Canal+ Series Lab, Midpoint ‘Training The Trainers’. He watches over 200 films a year, runs a blog dedicated to analysing Polish film scripts and works as a script analyst for film producers and writers.

Justīne graduated Latvian Academy of Culture in 2015 and since then has been working in such theaters as Daile, Daugavpils Theatre, Valmiera Drama Theatre, Dirty Deal Teatro, Mikhail Chekhov Riga Russian Theatre, Great Guild/LNSO. Author of several original plays and stage adaptations for classical novels. Winner of Spēlmaņu Nakts award for best play or stage adaptation in 2016 and 2017. Winner of short movie competition Starmetis in 2014. Since 2017 teacher of dramatic writing in company Darbnīcas, supported by Latvian Writers` Union.

Margit Keerdo-Dawson Script consultant, Estonia

Ivo Briedis Screenwriter, Latvia

Matīss Gricmanis Scriptwriter, Latvia

Margit has been working in film industry since 1998. She studied cinematography and directing at Tallinn University, and screenwriting at the Northern Film School in the UK. As a screenwriter she has written of short films, feature films and TV dramas. She has 15 years of experience as a script consultant and has worked on short films, feature films and documentaries. Since 2013, she also works as a screenwriting lecturer at the Baltic Film, Media, Art and Communication School of Tallinn University (BFM).

Ivo is a screenwriter, playwright, performer and director. He works for screen, radio, stage and site-specific performances, collaborating with state owned organisations and independent groups in Latvia, Germany, Finland, Denmark and other European countries. His filmmaking biography consists of both documentary and fiction films, including animation. Ivo is also a lecturer on scriptwriting and dramaturgy in Latvian Academy of Culture.

Screenwriter and playwright working in Riga and Vilnius. Matīss is mainly interested in historical stories (‘The Mover’, ‘Jelgava94’, both due in 2018) and documentaries (‘Under the upturned moon’ - a documentary detective, 2018) and is experienced in researching and structuring complicated narratives. He has collaborated with most of the main Latvian production companies (Mistrus Media, Tasse film, Juris Podnieks Studio, Locomotive, etc.). Visiting lecturer at the Latvian National Film School and The Academy of Culture.

European Script Meeting

RIGA IFF INDUSTRY EVENTS

THURSDAY, 18 OCT. RIGA IFF FORUM

European children’s film project pitching sessions 11.00 – 13.00 Cafe Film Noir For registered participants

RIGA IFF FORUM

Individual meetings among children’s film project representatives and buyers 14.00 – 17.30 Cafe Film Noir For registered participants

FRIDAY, 19 OCT. RIGA IFF GOES VR

Inspirational talks: molding together cinema, virtual reality and education Wim Forceville, Alexander Herrmann, Tessa Ratuszynska Price and Fiona Frances Nicholson, Wim Wouters 09.30 – 13.30 Cafe Film Noir For registered participants

RIGA IFF FORUM

Film project pitching session for children’s audience 14.30 – 18.30 Cafe Film Noir For registered participants

NETWORKING & RIGA IFF FORUM AWARDS EVENT

20.30 – 23.30 Cafe Film Noir For registered participants

SATURDAY, 20 OCT.

RIGA IFF GOES VR RIGA IFF HACKATHON

Creating educational VR content for children and youth 10.00 – 10.00 (24 h) H206, RISEBA Architecture and Media Center, Durbes street 4 For registered participants

SUNDAY, 21 OCT.

RIGA IFF GOES VR RIGA IFF HACKATHON

Hackathon VR project presentations and networking event 14.30 – 17.30 Cafe Film Noir Free admission

TUESDAY, 23 OCT.

EUROPEAN SCRIPT MEETING One-to-one meetings for screenwriters and project representatives 10.00 – 20.00 Cafe Film Noir For registered participants

WEDNESDAY, 24 OCT.

EUROPEAN SCRIPT MEETING One-to-one meetings for screenwriters and project representatives 10.00 – 13.00 Cafe Film Noir For registered participants

THURSDAY, 25 OCT. FRIDAY, 26 OCT.

SATURDAY, 27 OCT.

Works in progress short film presentations 10.00 – 11.00 Kino Bize For registered participants & RIGA IFF badge holders

Panel discussion: Premiere status of a short film Enrico Vannucci, Torunn Nyen, Asja Krsmanović, Per Fikse, Wouter Jansen, moderator – Anna Zača 12.00 – 13.30 Cafe Film Noir Free admission

SHORT RIGA: WHAT’S UP?

SHORT RIGA: TEST SCREENINGS

Baltic short film presentations for experts 11.00 – 14.00 Kino Bize For registered participants & Industry badge holders

SHORT RIGA: DISCUSSIONS Roundtable. Socially active film. Too much or not enough? 15.00 - 16.00 Kaņepe Culture Centre For registered participants

CRITICS MEETING

Critics Unite, You Have Nothing to Lose but Your Bylines: Towards a Permanent Criticism at a Time of Permanent Crisis. Lecture and meet-andgreet. Michael Pattison 16.30 – 18.30 Cafe Film Noir Free admission

CRITICS MEETING

Discussion: What to do with film criticism? Roberts Vinovskis, Ieva VieseVigula, Daniela Zacmane, Viktors Freibergs, Henriks Eliass Zēgners, moderator - Agnese Logina 19.00 – 21.00 Cafe Film Noir Free admission (working language - Latvian)

Works in progress short film presentations 10.00 – 11.00 Kino Bize For registered participants & RIGA IFF badge holders

Baltic short film presentations for experts 11.00 – 14.00 Kino Bize For registered participants & Industry badge holders

SHORT RIGA: DISCUSSIONS

CRITICS MEETING

Forever Young: Criticism as a Permanent Practice Lecture. Michael Pattison 14.30 – 16.00 Cafe Film Noir Free admission. Focus on young audience

SHORT RIGA: DISCUSSIONS

Discussion: Silver screen after VR Šelda Puķīte, Leena Jääskeläinen, Zane Zelmene 14.30 - 16.00 Art Academy of Latvia For registered participants

RIGA IFF ZIP-MEETING: THE BALTIC FILM SCHOOL MEETUP Film school presentations 10.00 – 13.30 Cafe Film Noir For registered participants

RIGA IFF ZIP-MEETING: THE BALTIC FILM SCHOOL MEETUP

Discussion of future perspectives 15.00 – 17.00 Cafe Film Noir For registered participants

CRITICS MEETING

Class Critique: How Film Can Enhance and Sharpen Critical Learning Lecture. Michael Pattison 18.00 – 20.00 Cafe Film Noir Free admission. Focus on teachers

ZIP-MEETING THE BALTIC FILM SCHOOL MEETUP

Every year the RIGA IFF ZIP-MEETING focuses on a different field within the industry to provide the time and space for an intensive yet informal networking session. This year ZIP-MEETING takes form of an unprecedented trilateral meeting of film schools from Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. Delegates from the seven most

prominent players of audiovisual studies in the Baltics (including animation studies) are meeting to gain apprehension of the audiovisual studies available in the Baltics, compare the study programs and approaches, share problems, solutions and ambitions and create a platform for further collaboration.

Zip-Meeting

PARTICIPANTS SCHEDULE

Baltic Film, Media, Arts and Communication School of Tallinn University BFM (founded in 2005) focuses on professional hands-on training designed for international careers. The curricula offered in English: Audiovisual Media (BA), Crossmedia in Film and Television (BA), Communications Management (MA), Documentary Film (MA), Joint Master’s Degree in Film Arts (Kino Eyes), Joint Master’s Degree in Cinematography (Viewfinder), Audiovisual Arts and Media Studies (PhD). BFM is a member of CILECT. Katrin Saks Director of Baltic Film and Media School katrin.saks@tlu.ee

Friday, 26 Oct. Film school presentations 10.00 – 13.30 Cafe Film Noir For registered participants Discussion of future perspectives 15.00 – 17.00 Cafe Film Noir For registered participants

National Film School of the Latvian Academy of Culture

Latvian Academy of Culture has been providing studies of audiovisual art since 1993. Currently the National Film School of the Latvian Academy of Culture offers studies in film directing, producing, cinematography, editing and sound design, screenwriting and film theory both on BA and MA levels.

Veiko Vaatmann Curator of Film Arts Curricula veiko.vaatmann@tlu.ee

RISEBA University of Business, Arts and Technology

RISEBA is ‘the place where business meets arts’ (arts program founded in 2008). It offers undergraduate studies in Audiovisual Media Arts and postgraduate studies in New Media and Audiovisual Art. BA is offered in TV and film producing, TV directing, cinematography and screenwriting. MA program is taught in English.

Jānis Putniņš Head of National Film School janis.putnins@lka.edu.lv

Jānis Holšteins Head of Audiovisual Media Arts Department janis.holsteins@riseba.lv

Daiga Livčāne Student film producer daiga.livcane@gmail.com

Aigars Ceplītis Creative Supervisor of Audiovisual Media Arts Department aigars.ceplitis@riseba.lv

Zip-Meeting

Estonian Academy of Arts

Art Academy of Latvia

The Department of Animation was established at the Estonian Academy of Arts in 2006. Since 2007 it offers a 2-year international MA programme in animation (taught in English). The programme is taught by Professor Priit Pärn and Associate Professor Olga Pärn. The school puts emphasis on the film scripts. Student films from the school have won numerous awards in international festivals.

The department ‘Motion. Image. Sound’ (founded 2015) is a part of the Faculty of Audio-Visual Media Art of the Art Academy of Latvia. Students learn to write screenplays, create storyboards and animatics, study composition, editing, animation techniques and animation history. MA study level will be introduced in 2019.

Olga Pärn Associate professor olga.parn@gmail.com

Maija Kurševa Lecturer (Illustration) maija.kurseva@gmail.com

Priit Pärn Professor priit.parn@neti.com

Edmunds Jansons Lecturer (Animation Directing) edmunds@atomart.lv

Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre

Vilnius Academy of Arts

LMTA’s Film and TV Department which is generally called the National Film School was founded in 1993. A cluster of study programmes such as directing, cinematography, screenwriting, sound directing, film management, film theory and acting are offered at the same time and the same study cycle. LMTA is a member of CILECT.

The Animation programme (since 2002) in the Photography and Media Arts Department of Vilnius Academy of Arts is oriented towards art culture, when changes for animated film language are sought by considering innovative technologies and contemporary art tendencies. Animation artists have the options of creating in traditional areas, as well as experimenting in interdisciplinary space.

Ramūnas Greičius Head of Film and TV Department ramunas.greicius@lmta.lt

Miglė Levickienė Coordinator of Film and TV Department migle.levickiene@lmta.lt

Arturas Bukauskas Head of Animation Programme arturas.bukauskas@vda.lt

Žilvinas Lilas Affiliated professor (Academy of Media Arts Cologne) zlilas@khm.de

Jurga Gluskinienė Head of Film and TV Studio jurga.gluskiniene@lmta.lt

Zip-Meeting

SHORT RIGA DISCUSSIONS Short Riga discussions are based on the hot issues of the short film genre. The format of the discussions reflects its purpose: to create a place and chance to discuss topics brought up in the hallways of film theatres during the film festival informally but concisely. It is also a chance for people to meet.

We hope to introduce the guests of the festival with local professionals, institutions and urban environment of Riga. We have planned three discussions in different formats and places that are chosen in line with the particular theme.

SCHEDULE Thursday, 25 Oct. Roundtable: Socially active film. Too much or not enough? 15.00 - 16.00 Kaņepe Culture Centre For registered participants

Friday, 26 Oct. Discussion: Silver screen after VR 14.30 - 16.00 Art Academy of Latvia For registered participants

Saturday, 27 Oct. Panel discussion: Premiere status of a short film 12.00 - 13.30 Cafe Film Noir Free admission

ROUNDTABLE Socially active film. Too much or not enough? The more we know, the more concerned we become on the problems and injustice in the world. A large part of the society is able to and shares their worries with others. And short film as a format, being one of the zeitgeist manifestations, shows a high number of socially active films in festival line-ups. What is happening to the films with no specific issue to address?

DISCUSSION Silver screen after VR Looking from the perspective of art history, every new media has an impact on its predecessor. Photography liberated painting and digital video pushed the film stock into a relative oblivion, now revived by analogue filmmakers/artists. By looking at history and actual practice of contemporary artists, we would like to speculate on the possible impact of VR on film as an art and entertainment form in future.

Šelda Puķīte Art critic and curator, Latvia

Leena Jääskeläinen Artist, Finland

Zane Zelmene Artdocfest Riga curator, New media artist, Latvia

SHORT RIGA: Discussions

PANEL DISCUSSION Premiere status of a short film The biggest and most important festivals demand to have world and international premieres not only for feature films but also for short films. Why is it so important to be the first to screen a short film, how does it affect the short film’s cycle of festivals, filmmakers’ career, producers’ credits and last but not least other festival programmes?

Enrico Vannucci Advisor and programme curator (Venice IFF, Torino Film Market), Italy

Torunn Nyen Short film and artist film curator (NISFF Grimstad, Movies On War, RIGA IFF), Norway

Asja Krsmanović Representative of the Sarajevo Film Festival, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Wouter Jansen Representative of Some Shorts – a film festival distribution agency, the Netherlands

Moderator: Anna Zača Short film and animation expert (RIGA IFF), Latvia

Per Fikse Director of Minimalen Short Film Festival, Norway

SHORT RIGA: Discussions

BALTIC FILM TALENT LAB The BALTIC FILM TALENT LAB is an educational and networking platform facilitating better engagement between the different disciplines within film-making. It includes sets of workshops, lectures, inspiring talks, discussions and networking events â&#x20AC;&#x201C;

all aimed at talented Baltic professionals, film students and film enthusiasts. The platform also brings together young short film makers from close and afar, giving them an opportunity to present their work to international industry experts.

LECTURES CRITICS MEETING BALTIC FILM TALENT LAB

Critics Unite, You Have Nothing to Lose but Your Bylines: Towards a Permanent Criticism at a Time of Permanent Crisis

Riga IFF Critics Meeting is a meet-up and discussion platform for practicing Latvian film critics, students, and enthusiasts. CRITICS MEETING is also accessible to practicing critics from other fields. In 2018, we will focus more on what it means to be critical. In 2018, in collaboration with the British Council in Latvia and NFC, Creative Europe Desk Latvia, MEDIA Office, the CRITICS MEETING has invited British film critic and reviewer Michael Pattison for three talks. One of his talks is targeted at professional film critics and those interested in the craft; another is suitable for educators, covering audiovisual literacy topics; and a third is intended for people who would like to find out more about film criticism but have no prior experience.

Criticism is dead, long live criticism! As arts and culture continue to suffer under global austerity and the neoliberalisation of labour, film critics are feeling the pinch: while the industry celebrates advances in diversity and the idea that more and more people have access to the cultural means of production, criticism itself seems to no longer be a valid or sustainable vocation. Was it ever? This talk asks: if everyone’s a critic, what does it actually mean to be critical?

Class Critique: How Film Can Enhance and Sharpen Critical Learning Cinema is a social medium: from its very conception to the present-day, the entertainment industrial complex has informed social attitudes and cultural values on a wide scale. This talk argues that, by adopting a critical attitude to the cinema, and by incorporating it into the classroom, we can help develop and sharpen young people’s critical thinking — not to promote individual ideas or ideologies, but to foster more reflexive critical relationships to the art that we consume in a supportive learning environment.

Forever Young: Criticism as a Permanent Practice What’s the difference between a film reviewer and a film critic? Who gets to decide this difference? What does being a critic actually mean? As more and more young people pursue film criticism as an interest and also a profession, these and many more questions are gaining importance. This talk will argue for criticism as a means of ‘staying young’, dispelling certain myths behind the practicalities of being a film critic along the way, and suggest some potential starting points for ‘making it’.

Michael Pattison Writer, programmer, teacher and filmmaker from Gateshead, UK Michaels’ criticism has been published by Sight & Sound, RogerEbert.com, Reverse Shot and MUBI Notebook, among others, and he is a member of the programming team at Alchemy Film & Moving Image Festival in Hawick, Scotland. He has tutored workshops for early-career critics at several film festivals, including Karlovy Vary, Warsaw, Dokufest (Prizren) and Black Nights (Tallinn). He is currently a PhD candidate in film practice at Newcastle University, where his research responds to landscape, structural film and walking as a mode of urban engagement.

Baltic Film Talent Lab

DISCUSSION What to do with film criticism?

Since the beginning of Riga IFF CRITICS MEETING we have talked mostly about ways how to improve film criticism, as well as the role of criticism in the contemporary society. This time, we want to focus on the next main question: what to do with (film) criticism? The reaction to a work of art, such as a film, becomes a historical document on its own, just like the criticism in its various forms, making one wonder: what can one do with criticism today, tomorrow, after a year and in some 20 years time?

Agnese Logina - moderator RIGA IFF Critics Meeting, Baltic Music video competition and Riga Film museum curator. Writes about film and curates public film programs.

Roberts Vinovskis Film producer, head of “Locomotive Productions’’ film studio that works with documentaries, feature and animation films.

SCHEDULE Thursday, 25 Oct. Critics Unite, You Have Nothing to Lose but Your Bylines: Towards a Permanent Criticism at a Time of Permanent Crisis. Lecture and meet-and-greet. Michael Pattison 16.30 – 18.30 Cafe Film Noir Free admission DISCUSSION: What to do with film criticism? Roberts Vinovskis, Ieva Viese-Vigula, Daniela Zacmane, Viktors Freibergs, Henriks Eliass Zēgners, moderator Agnese Logina 19.00 – 21.00 Cafe Film Noir Free admission (working language Latvian)

Friday, 26 Oct. Class Critique: How Film Can Enhance and Sharpen Critical Learning Lecture. Michael Pattison 18.00 – 20.00 Cafe Film Noir Free admission. Focus on teachers

Saturday, 27 Oct.

Ieva Viese-Vigula Animation scholar, especially focuses on the works of Latvian animation artists Roze Stiebra and Ansis Bērziņš. Regularly writes about cinema and literature.

Daniela Zacmane Cannot imagine her (and others) lives without cinema anymore. Every month writes for ‘’Rīgas laiks’’ about cinema in 1200 characters.

Viktors Freibergs The head of Latvian University Department of Communication Studies. Film scholar and translator, regularly gives public lectures on cinema.

Henriks Eliass Zēgners He has worked as a cultural journalist, and regularly still writes about music and literature. The author of some of the most discussed reviews in the recent times.

Baltic Film Talent Lab

Forever Young: Criticism as a Permanent Practice Lecture. Michael Pattison 14.30 – 16.00 Cafe Film Noir Free admission. Focus on young audience

Short Riga

TEST SCREENINGS This section is devoted to young talents eager to learn, practice, get inspired, and expand their creative horizons: each year, 8–10 young film-makers from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are invited to present their short films to a panel of international experts who offer in-depth analyses of their work. The screenings are open to all RIGA IFF Industry badge holders and other registered participants.

EXPERTS Anna Purkrábková Representative of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Czech Republic

Asja Krsmanović Representative of the Sarajevo Film Festival, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Dāvis Sīmanis Filmmaker, professor, and theorist, Latvia

Mari-Liis Rebane Animation expert, Estonia

Wouter Jansen Representative of Some Shorts – a film festival distribution agency, the Netherlands

SCHEDULE Thursday, 25 Oct. Baltic short film presentations for experts 11.00 – 14.00 Kino Bize For registered participants & Industry badge holders

Friday, 26 Oct. Baltic short film presentations for experts 11.00 – 14.00 Kino Bize For registered participants & Industry badge holders

GENTLY INTO THE NIGHT / NAKTS PITFĀLS

MEYERHOLD’S FLIGHT / MEIERHOLDA LIDOJUMS

TEOFRASTUS

Director: Ermīns Baltais Genre: Fiction Country: Latvia Length: 20 min Producer: Aija Bērziņa, Tasse Film, aija@ tasse.lv Premiere: 2019 Stage of production: Last touch-ups before the final cut, no final sound and no colour grading

Director/author: Matīss Kaža Genre: Fiction Country: Latvia Estimated run time: 18 min Producer: Una Celma, Deep Sea Studios, fenixfilm@inbox.lv Premiere: 2019 Stage of production: Final copy completed

Director/author: Sergei Kibus (director/ author), Pärtel Tall (art. director/coauthor) Genre: Animation Country: Estonia Estimated run time: 15 min Producer: Andres Mänd, Nukufilm OÜ, andres.mand@nukufilm.ee Premiere: 2018 Stage of production: The film is nearly finished, no colour correction and no final audio mix

Feith and Dallas, a married couple, are struck with news of their son’s sudden death. They are going to the morgue to identify his remains. On the same road 17 years ago, they found out that they would become parents. They stop at a lonely gas station and meet themselves from 17 years ago, with no choice but to confront their past and future.

A cinematic dream/collage exploring the life, times and choices of Russian avant-garde theatre director, actor and producer Vsevolod Meyerhold.

A tale of freedom and compassion, set in the 1980s. Teofrastus the cat lives a homeless life at a train station. One day, he is offered a home. However, his happy life in the countryside is short-lived – Teofrastus is taken to the big city and gets lost in the streets.

Ermīns Baltais

Matīss Kaža

Sergei Kibus

Scriptwriter and director Ermīns Baltais has graduated from The Baltic Film and Media School. He has been working as the first and second ID for commercials and films and as DOP for many short films. The film ‘Gently into the Night’ is his first directing experience.

Latvian writer and producer based in Los Angeles. Graduated from the New York University Tisch School of the Arts. Known for his documentary ‘One Ticket Please’ (2017).

Sergei Kibus graduated from the Baltic Film, Arts, Media and Communication School 10 years ago.

Baltic Film Talent Lab

DUNA

THE LAST MAN/ PĒDĒJAIS CILVĒKS

ONE LIFE/ VIENAS GYVENIMAS

Director/author: Una Cekule Genre: Fiction Country: Latvia Estimated run time: 15 min Producer: Gunda Bergmane, gundabergmane@gmail.com Premiere: 2018 Stage of production: Planned to be in a final stage of editing by October 2018

Director: Antons Barons Genre: Fiction Country: Latvia Estimated run time: 20 min Producer: LCA National Film School, barons.antons@gmail.com Premiere: 2019 Stage of production: Rough cut

Director: Marija Stonytė Genre: Documentary Country: Latvia Estimated run time: 20 min Producer: Andrėja Čebatavičiūtė, Moonmakers, ce.andreja@gmail.com Premiere: 2018 Stage of production: Starting visual postproduction, finalizing film sound design and soundtrack with a composer planned by the middle of October 2018

Young woman Duna remembers her previous lives from different centuries. Each life is connected to one person, who kills Duna each time. Duna finds herself in a situation where she can escape this vicious cycle by sacrificing what is dearest to her.

The Monk, The Nihilist, The Fool and The Girl. One of them will remain to be the last man in the world.

The unusual life of a commercially produced butterfly. On a private farm, a butterfly is born only to be sold as a prop for a classical concert. His journey to the music hall reflects a struggle to survive in modern-day civilization.

Una Cekule

Antons Barons

Marija Stonytė

Una Cekule is a Bachelor student specialising in Audiovisual Arts – film directing at the Latvian Academy of Culture. She Created several fiction and documentary short films, such as documentary ‘Deeper’ and fiction short film ‘Duna’. Participated in ‘Rīgas kino’ and other project master classes.

After graduation from Riga School of Design and Art, Antons worked as a theatre projectionist. After finding his real passion for moving images, he started his film studies in audiovisual arts production, later on moving to film directing in 2016.

Marija was born in 1991, Vilnius, Lithuania. BA and MA in Film Directing – from the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre and Escola Superior Artistica do Porto, Portugal. Created short fiction and documentary films that won awards, including ‘Best Student Film’ at the Lithuanian Film Academy Awards in 2017 and 2010 and The Young Artist Award 2017 from the Lithuanian Ministry of Culture. Selected participant of IDFAcademy 2016.

Baltic Film Talent Lab

WINDOWS / LANGAI

ON TIME / LAIKU

SENSES / MANU MAŅU MĀŅI

Director: Akvilė Žilionytė Genre: Fiction, Documentary Country: Lithuania Estimated run time: 20 min Producer: Akvilė Žilionytė, akvilezilionyte@gmail.com Premiere: 2018 Stage of production: Sound postproduction In 7 years, I have lived in 5 countries and 16 houses. Now I have 3 days to pack my things. It‘s my sixteenth home from which I’ll be moving out. As I pack, through my window I see 215 other windows. I’m filming what I won’t forget about them.

Director/author: Jorė Janavičiūtė Genre: Fiction Country: Lithuania Estimated run time: 18 min Producer: Ona Kontryna Dikavičiūtė, The Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, ona.dikaviciute@gmail.com Premiere: 2018 Stage of production: Completed

Director/author: Eliza Jordane Genre: Creative documentary Countries: Estonia, Latvia Estimated run time: 25 min Producer: Eliza Jordane, Baltic Film and Media School, jordane.eliza@gmail.com Premiere: 2018 Stage of production: Finished

Akvilė Žilionytė

Jorė Janavičiūtė

Eliza Jordane

Akvilė Žilionytė was born in 1987, in Lithuania. She holds a degree in Lithuanian Language and Literature and has published two books. Collaborates with various artists, engaged in audiovisual projects. In 2018, she graduated with a Master‘s degree in film directing from the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. Her first short documentary, ‘The daytime is not for me’, premiered at the Hamburg International Short Film Festival 2017 and was screened in Vienna, Tirana, Vilnius, Riga, Berlin etc.

Jore was born in 1991. Holds a Film Directing MA from the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre (2018), Journalism BA from the Vilnius University (2014) and a Film Production Diploma (course) from the European Film College in Denmark (2015). Currently developing new film projects, starting to direct her first commercials and working as a Casting Director in Film, TV and commercial productions.

Eliza Jordane is a recent film school graduate, educated in Estonia, Denmark, Finland and Ireland. Currently living in her homeland, Latvia, and looking for the next big topic to explore in a documentary.

Julė is 27. She is always late everywhere. She is about to become a judge, but the fact that she is always late gets in the way. She starts attending driving lessons that should help to solve her problem, were she meets her driving instructor Artūras.

Baltic Film Talent Lab

Three independent stories collide in a film, exploring different perspectives of what senses are, and what happens if one of them is lost.

THERAPY (WORKING TITLE)

Director/author: Armands Začs Genre: Documentary Country: Latvia Estimated run time: 26 min, international cut 15 min Producer: Antra Gaile. Mistrus Media, antra.gaile@mistrusmedia.lv Project of ‘Latvian code. Latvia 100’ Public Television support. Premiere: 2018/2019 Stage of production: No colour correction, no sound design I have this feeling that I have never had my own thoughts and feelings – they have always been the thoughts, ideas and feelings of others; I have merely existed among those.

SHORT RIGA: WHAT’S UP? What’s up is an informal event for SHORT RIGA guests and Baltic artists and producers who are working in the short moving image format. With no protocol and only one rule – 5 minutes for presentation and 5 minutes for questions – the participants are invited to share what they have been up to lately. The event is open to all RIGA IFF badge holders and other registered participants.

Armands Začs Latvian director Armands Začs graduated from the Latvian Culture Academy with a Bachelor’s degree in film directing. He has focused on film editing, working on numerous feature films, documentaries and short films. Recently directed his debut documentary ‘If trees could talk’. Currently working on his first featurelength documentary – ‘36 months’.

SCHEDULE Thursday, 25 Oct.

Friday, 26 Oct.

Works in progress – short film presentations 10.00 – 11.00 Kino Bize For registered participants & Industry badge holders

Baltic Film Talent Lab

HOME MADE FILMS FROM THE BALTICS

A story of Latvia in eight powerful films. RIGA IFF presents its own Latvian film selection capturing the mood of the country’s centenary: Baltic Tribes – The Last Pagans of Europe (Baltu ciltis), Homo Novus, Mērija’s Journey (Mērijas ceļojums), Kurts Fridrihsons and Bridges of Time (Laika tilti). These films consecutively lead the audience towards the present-day Latvia shown in To Be Continued (Turpinājums) by Ivars Seleckis and the antipodal Inga Can Hear (Inga dzird) by Kaspars Goba. The programme will open with the freshly restored copy of The Boy (Puika, 1977) as a tribute to its director Aivars Freimanis who died at the beginning of the year and who is one of the protagonists of the documentary Bridges of Time.

The films selected for HOME MADE fit in the contemporary film scene quite organically. They strive to speak to audiences across country and language borders, at the same time being aware and proud of their origins. The premiere of Bridges of Time at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, the Honorary President’s Prize For Truthfulness and Artistry at the festival Message to a Man (St. Petersburg, Russia) to Ivar Seleckis for To Be Continued and the selection of Mērija’s Journey for the competition of the New York Baltic Film Festival (USA) confirms this.

SCHEDULE 19 Oct. 20:30

Splendid Palace Small hall (OPENING) Aivars Freimanis

THE BOY

PUIKA LV, 1977, 92’, lv;

Lauris Ābele, Raitis Ābele

Anna Viduleja

BALTIC TRIBES

HOMO NOVUS

LV, 2018, 100’,

LV, 2018, 90’,

BALTU CILTIS

HOMO NOVUS

lv/ru

en/ru

20 Oct. 16:00 Kino Bize Kristīne Želve

MĒRIJA’S JOURNEY MĒRIJAS CEĻOJUMS LV, 2018, 82’, lv; ne

20 Oct. 18:00

Kino Bize Lauris Ābele, Raitis Ābele

BALTIC TRIBES BALTU CILTIS LV, 2018, 100’, lv;

20 Oct. 20:30

Kino Bize Q&A with filmmakers Kristīne Briede, Audrius Stonys

BRIDGES OF TIME

LAIKA TILTI LV/LT/EE, 2018, 78’, lv/lt/et/he/ru;

21 Oct. 16:00 Kino Bize Ivars Seleckis

TO BE CONTINUED TURPINĀJUMS LV, 2018, 95’, lv/ru;

21 Oct. 18:00 Kino Bize Anna Viduleja

13th century. Danish spy Lars enters the tribal lands of the Balts, where he takes part in religious rites and cruel forays, gets high during the summer solstice, becomes the slave of Cours and fights the crusaders. How much do we know about the blood running in our veins? Who really were our ancestors – the last pagans of Europe? The docudrama ‘The Baltic Tribes’ by Ābele brothers overthrows the myths of the Balts as just peaceful farmers, leading the spectator on a unique trip into the past. Historical reconstructions and live action scenes, computer animation and a voice-over narrative by experts in the field provide an insight into the lives of the ancient people of the Baltic region.

HOMO NOVUS LV, 2018, 122’, lv;

en/ru

21 Oct. 20:30 Kino Bize Dzintra Geka

KURTS FRIDRIHSONS LV, 2018, 86’, lv;

23 Oct. 18:00

Splendid Palace Small hall Q&A with filmmakers Kaspars Goba

Screenplay: Toms Ķencis Cinematography: Mārcis Ābele, Jānis Indriks Cast: Kaspars Aniņš, Kristaps Bedrītis, Jānis Panteļejevs, Kristaps Lukaševičs Producers: Kristele Pudane, Dace Siatkovska, Thom Palmen / TRITONE STUDIO

The year is 1938. The poor artist Juris Upenājs arrives in Riga from the countryside, while at the same time the refined Eižens Žibeika returns from his painting session in Paris in the hope of receiving a considerable inheritance from his uncle. While Upenājs, in his loyalty to art and helped by the motley Riga bohemian community, is reaching ever greater heights, the talented dilettante Žibeika falls ever deeper. Žibeika’s father has bequeathed all his property to an artists’ competition in which the grand prize is a study tour to Paris… This is a romantic comedy of errors and intrigues, based on the novel of Anslavs Eglītis – a Latvian writer, publicist, film critic, journalist and painter, who became famous in Latvia, later living the American dream and working as a part of Hollywood press group.

Screenplay: Anna Viduleja Cinematography: Jānis Eglītis Cast: Igors Šelegovskis, Kristīne Krūze, Kaspars Znotiņš, Andris Keišs Producers: Ivo Ceplevičs, Jānis Kalējs / FILM ANGELS PRODUCTIONS

INGA CAN HEAR INGA DZIRD LV/EE, 2018, 60’, lv;

Home Made

Kaspars Goba

Ivars Seleckis

Kristīne Želve

INGA CAN HEAR TO BE INGA DZIRD CONTINUED LV/EE, 2018, 60’,

TURPINĀJUMS LV, 2018, 95’,

‘Inga Can Hear’ is a story about 15-year old Inga, a girl caught between two worlds. Being the only hearing member of a deaf family residing in the remote Latvian countryside, Inga has been the family’s interpreter in the hearing world since the age of seven. Her role in the family has forced her to grow up very quickly and her personality fluctuates between a responsible young woman and a moody teenager. Inga is about to graduate from middle school and has to take a decision on what to do next. Inga’s head is full of questions. To pursue a career as an actress? To become a firefighter? What will happen to the family, for whom she has sometimes been the only link to the outside world?

Screenplay: Kaspars Goba Cinematography: Kaspars Goba, Lelde Goba, Māris Maskalāns Producer: Ieva Goba / RUCKA / EXITFILM

MĒRIJA’S JOURNEY LV, 2018, 82’,

lv/ru

Kārlis’ family is firmly rooted in the Latvian countryside. Gleb’s grandparents came to Latvia only during the Soviet period. Zane’s family are first-generation urban-dwellers. Anastasija’s family moved from the city to the countryside. Anete’s mum lives and works in England. The film explores how these choices made by adults are reflected in a child’s thinking.

In 1944, Mērija Grīnberga was a volunteer from the Latvian Museum of History who accompanied the museum values that the Nazi Army was taking out of Latvia. And she fulfilled her duty by bringing them back to Riga after the war. However, instead of gratitude she faced repressions and suspicion from the Soviet authorities all her life.

The film ‘To Be Continued’ follows five children from different parts of Latvia who started school in 2015. Its director Ivars Seleckis is the oldest still actively working documentary filmmaker in Latvia. His works are noted for their sophisticated analysis of social processes and connect the modern day with the legendary past of the Latvian documentary tradition.

The documentary ‘Mērija’s Journey’, written and directed by Kristīne Želve, is based on diaries by Mērija Grīnberga Senior. She reveals the history of Latvia through the destiny of her family. The attempts to destroy Latvia were executed through the destruction of historic memory and national heritage of the Latvian people. Only thanks to people like Mērija, the vital core of the Latvian culture has been preserved.

Screenplay: Dace Dzenovska Cinematography: Valdis Celmiņš Producers: Antra Gaile, Gints Grūbe, Inese Boka-Grūbe / MISTRUS MEDIA

Home Made

Screenplay: Kristīne Želve Cinematography: Andrejs Rudzāts Cast: Daiga Kažociņa, Marina Janaus Producer: Elvita Ruka / VIVAT!

Kristīne Briede, Audrjus Stonys

BRIDGES OF TIME

KURTS FRIDRIHSONS

THE BOY

LV, 2018, 86’, lv/et/lt/he/ru

PUIKA

USSR, 1977, 92’,

lv/ru

At the beginning of the 1960s, when the French pioneers of cinéma vérité set out to achieve a new realism, the Baltics witnessed the birth of a generation of documentarists who favored a more romantic view of the world around them. Kristīne Briede’s and Audrius Stonys’ meditative documentary essay pushes past the limits of the common historiographic investigation to create a portrait of less-clearly remembered filmmakers. Briede is Latvian filmmaker and producer of cultural and social projects, who has received a numerous recognitions for her projects in art and cinema. Stonys is a globally acclaimed Lithuanian documentary filmmaker and has received the Lithuanian National Prize of Culture and Arts. Screenplay: Kristīne Briede, Audrjus Stonis, Ramune Rakauskaite, Arūns Matelis, Riho Vestriks Cinematography: Audrjus Kemežis, Valdis Celmiņš, Jānis Šēnbergs, Joseps Matjus, Laisvūns Karvelis Producers: Uldis Cekulis, Aļģimante Mateliene, Arūns Matelis / VFS FILMS / STUDIO NOMINUM, VESILIND

Aivars Freimanis

KURTS FRIDRIHSONS

LAIKA TILTI

LV/LT/EE, 2018, 78’,

Dzintra Geka

The significance of Kurts Fridrihsons reaches beyond the importance of his art, because during the Soviet period there were not many personalities refusing to comply with the regime while at the same time being outstanding artists. The charm and lightness that Fridrihsons preserved from pre-war civilized Europe and the free, lost Latvia was a harsh contrast to the realities of Soviet life. He was a model and inspiration for many people whose spiritual world refused to accept the existing system. This personal Latvian writer’s Gundega Repše’s story – a documentary film directed by Dzintra Geka – tells about a Latvian artist, spiritual teacher, outsider and nonconformist Kurts Fridrihsons. Screenplay: Gundega Repše Cinematography: Viktors Gribermans Producer: Dzintra Geka / SIBĪRIJAS BĒRNI

Late 1800s in Latvia. Little servant boy Jancis lives on a farmstead with his mother, grandfather and grandmother. His world does not reach much further than the horizon and his life progresses according to the seasonal changes – from winter through spring, summer and autumn to the day when servants have to leave their master for a new one. The film is based on the short story collection Baltā grāmata (The White Book) by Jānis Jaunsudrabiņš. It was the first film to receive the prize of the Latvian Filmmakers’ Union, Lielais Kristaps, as the best film of the year. Director Aivars Freimanis who died this year (8.02.1936. – 24.01.2018.) was a classic of the Latvian poetic cinema, author of several important works in the Latvian film history. In 2012, he received the lifetime achievement award of the national film festival Lielais Kristaps and his feature Ābols upē (Apple in the River, 1974) is included in the Latvian Culture Canon. Screenplay: Aivars Freimanis, Jānis Jaunsudrabiņš (novel), Imants Ziedonis Cinematography: Dāvis Sīmanis Cast: Indars Lācis, Zigrīda Lorence, Pēteris Martinsons, Māra Rence, Ilze Vazdika Producer: RĪGAS KINOSTUDIJA Restored by: LOCOMOTIVE PRODUCTIONS

Home Made

RIGA IFF TEAM BOARD Aija Bērziņa Founder Member of the Board Liene Treimane Festival Director Member of the Board liene@rigaiff.lv

EVENTS Amanda Boka Head of Industry Programme Curator, EUROPEAN SCRIPT MEETING amanda@rigaiff.lv Kristīne Simsone Curator, RIGA IFF FORUM kristine@rigaiff.lv Paula Bērziņa Coordinator, RIGA IFF FORUM Agnese Logina Curator, CRITICS MEETING agnese@rigaiff.lv

COMMUNICATION Edijs Vucēns Head of Communication Department edijs@rigaiff.lv Kaspars Kursišs Head of Video Department rigaiff.lv & Social Media Content Developer kaspars@rigaiff.lv Elīna Kanela Media Coordinator

Liene Linde Curator, ZIP-MEETING liene@citakinozeme.lv Anna Zača Curator, SHORT RIGA Industry Events anna@rigaiff.lv

Pēteris Brīniņš Production Manager & Technical Supervisor pb@pxb.lv Daiga Livčāne Head of Volunteer Department daiga.livcane@gmail.com Monta Tīģere Volunteer Coordinator

Aldona Jakšta Events Coordinator events@rigaiff.lv

press@rigaiff.lv Krists Kondrāts Website Developer Eduards Laķis RIGA IFF Video

Artūrs Liepiņš RIGA IFF Audio

Asnāte Vasiļjeva Editor of Catalogue and Industry Guide Head of Translations Department asnate@rigaiff.lv Ilze Ella Negribe Editor’s Assistant

Andrejs Strokins Photographer

AUDIENCE & GUEST SERVICES Jana Pakalna Head of Guest Services jana@rigaiff.lv Sandra Sarkane Coordinator of Guest Services guests@rigaiff.lv

Kaspars Kondratjuks Audience Services Supervisor

Māra Zukure Admissions Centre Assistant

Jānis Lipšāns Admissions, Ticket Sales & Info Centre Manager admissions@rigaiff.lv

LEGAL Elīna Grūbe Legal Advisor, Financial Manager elina@rigaiff.lv

SUPPORTERS

NOTES

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