On Saturday the 27th of October, Riga International Film Festival (RIGA IFF) announced this year's winners, presenting the 2018 Best Film Award from the FEATURE FILM COMPETITION programme to Natalia Meshchaninova's Core of the World - a film that according to the international jury boasts complete vision, exceptional execution and nuanced storytelling. The Special Mention for “exceptional cinematography, whimsical storytelling and moving sound design” was given to the Norwegian director Jonas Matzow Gulbrandsen's feature, Valley of Shadows. The FEATURE FILM COMPETITION comprises films from the Baltic Sea region. The award is an eight-part sculpture that has been designed in cooperation with artist Ervins Broks which interprets the festival’s symbol as one of collaboration in filmmaking, and also an emblem of the city of Riga - a rooster. The award along with a 2000€ cash prize is made possible with the support of the festival's partner, BALTA. This year, the jury members were Rainer Sarnet, the winner of the 2017 RIGA IFF Best Film Award, Barbora Ligasova, the representative of the Czech film centre, Dorota Lech, Toronto International Film Festival programmer, Anna Motola, Head of the Love and Anarchy Helsinki International Film Festival as well as film producer Roberts Vinovskis. FIPRESCI Latvian Section Jury gave their award to director Jesper Ganslandt's feature film Jimmie, the story of 4-year-old Jimmie and “the chaos he is witness to, characterised by emotional close-up shots and non-linear narrative”. The RIGA IFF Youth Jury also announced their picks on Saturday, granting the Youth Matters award to Anna's War by Russian director Aleksey Fedorchenko. The members of the festival’s Youth Jury this year were Alberts Roze, Elza Marta Ruža, Pauls Rubens and Anete Dance. The festival venue partner's award - Splendid Palace People's Choice - went to 7 Billion Years Before the End of the World, the debut feature from Latvian director Jānis Ābele, while the Creamcredit Special Award - a monetary award for a film in the RIGA IFF HOME MADE programme, was granted to To Be Continued -  a documentary by Ivars Seleckis, with the aim of supporting the making of the film's sequel. The film was previously also selected as the Latvian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 91st Academy Awards. The main award of the international competition within the framework of the festival’s short film, experimental cinema and music video programme SHORT RIGA was awarded to Government House by Weiser Herwig. The international jury unanimously agreed: “The award deserved to be given to this socially motivated film that uses genre stylemes in a very peculiar and artistic way, always avoiding cliches. For being a socially motivated abstract horror film blending together performance art with a spooky sound design and a very accurate and extreme research on the mise en scène through an hypnotic light setting, the award goes to a picture that, in our opinion, is all what an experimental film should be, really experimental.” There were also three Special Mentions - The Linden tree (dir. Arkesh Ajay) in the Live Action, Egg (dir. Martina Scarpelli) in the Animation and All Inclusive (dir. Corina Schwingruber Ilic) in the Documentary category. The members of the SHORT RIGA International Jury were Per Fikse, the director of Minimalen Short Film Festival in Trondheim, Norway, Chintis Lundgren, animator and Chintis Lundgreni Animatsioonistuudio co-founder, Jānis Putniņš, director of the National Film School of the Latvian Academy of Culture, Ieva Viese-Vigula, Latvian writer and film critic as well as Enrico Vannucci, Short film advisor for the Venice and Quebec City Film Festivals. The SHORT RIGA Baltic Music Video Competition (BMV) award was given to Zane Zelmene's music video Space Hammer made for the band Kodek. According to the jury, “Zane Zelmene's visceral, romantic portrayal of Latvia's mystical Pokaini forest, shot in black-and-white with frenetic lightning effects fits the modular techno Kodek (real name Raivo Vainovskis) beautifully. The location is a superb choice - with much of Europe's native forest demolished it's a stark reminder of how vital and beautiful these places are and why we should keep them. It also serves to enhance the appeal of Kodek, and Zelmene stands out as a promising visual artist in her own right.” The two Special Mention prizes went to Ir baigi apjaust, ka esi šeit directed by Pēteris Tenisons for the Latvian musician Imants Daksis and All About Love, directed by Pijus Vėberis for the band Daddy Was A Milkman. The BMV Jury members were Jessica Manstetten, curator of the MuVi Prize competition programme and MuVi International programme at the International Short Film Festival Oberhausen, musician Juris Simanovičs, audiovisual media artist, VJ INA VARE, teacher of the Advertising Design programme at the Riga School of Design and Art, Inese Vēriņa-Lubiņa, editor of the music webzine Gigwise, Cai Trefor and Intsikurmu producer Kristine Kebbinau. The RIGA IFF Children's Jury gave the Kids Jury Award prize to Christian Lo's Los Bando. When asked to back her choice, 11-year-old jury member Krista says: “I want to thank the Norwegian film-making crew for making a film as nice as Los Bando, a film filled with music, that takes you on a journey throughout the whole of Norway. The film inspired me to have the courage to dream and to not be afraid to make those dreams come true. After watching Los Bando, I realized that it takes certain skills to develop a friendship and that you always have to be honest with your friends, because if not with them, then who else?” The festival has also acquired rights for the film's theatrical release in Latvia. This year’s Children's Jury members were Arvena Lote Kravčenko, Jēkabs Blanks, Nils Klaverī, Krista Kušķe, Linda Saviča, Žanete Blanka, Ieva Bille, Kate Štāla. The fifth edition of RIGA IFF is taking place from October 18 - 31. The festival consists of twelve film programmes, diverse industry events and a selection of thought provoking public discussions. The RIGA IFF is supported by the National Film Centre of Latvia, the European Commission’s programme Creative Europe – MEDIA, the National Film Centre of Latvia, and the Riga City Council.  

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RIGA IFF pirmā nedēļa tūdaļ noslēgusies, bet festivāls vēl turpinās! Šonedēļ Baltijas pirmizrādi RIGA IFF piedzīvoja režisora Vitālija Manska dokumentālā filma “Putina liecinieki”. Filma ir detalizēts Krievijas prezidenta un to cilvēku portretējums, kuri nodrošināja viņa varu, – izmantoti gan Mansku ģimenes privātā arhīva video, gan kino materiāli, kas uzņemti 20. un 21. gadsimta mijā, kad veidojās pašreizējā Krievijas varas elite. Ar mākslinieces un animācijas režisores Lizetes Upītes debijas filmu “Nakts Pastaigas” tika atklāta arī festivāla programma SHORT RIGA. Šis bija lielisks piemērs tam, ka arī 6 minūšu filma spēj pulcēt pilnu kinozāli. Arī festivāla žūrija ieradusies pilnā sastāvā un sākusi darbu pie festivāla starptautiskās pilnmetrāžas filmu konkursa programmas FEATURE FILM COMPETITION izvērtēšanas. Šajā programmā tiks izrādītas un izvērtētas 10 filmas no Baltijas jūras reģiona, tostarp arī Krievijas nacionālā kino festivāla Sočos "Kinotavr" galvenās balvas ieguvēja, aizkustinošā drāma “Pasaules sirds”, pašmāju režisora Jāņa Ābeles pilnmetrāžas filma “7 miljardi gadu pirms pasaules gala”, kas ceturtdien festivālā piedzīvoja arī savu pirmizrādi, kā arī Dānijā populāro jauniešu pieaugšanas filmu “Team Hurricane”. Programmas pēdējā filma “Skābes mežs” skatāma vēl sestdien. https://youtu.be/9D9Z37uqihA Lai arī festivāls norit jau vairāk kā nedēļu, gandrīz tikpat daudz notikumu vēl priekšā. Nupat savus pirmos seansus piedzīvo POPCORN VENUS, BERLINALE 2018 RIGA un BEAST programmas. Svētdien, 28. oktobrī tiks atklāta INGMAR BERGMAN 100 filmu programma, kas veltīta pasaulslavēnā režisora simtgadei. Rīgas Starptautiskais kino festivāls norisinās no 18. līdz 31. oktobrim kinoteātros Splendid Palace, KSuns, Kino Bize un Latvijas Nacionālajā bibliotēkā. Festivālā tiek izrādīti vairāk nekā 100 filmu seansi 12 programmās, ko papildina lekcijas, diskusijas un citi pasākumi.

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Jau pirmajā nedēļas nogalē Splendid zāles piepildīja ģimeniska noskaņa, izrādot jaunākajiem kino mīļotājiem KIDS WEEKEND programmu - bērnu un jauniešu filmas. Savukārt arhitektūras nozares pārstāvji svētdien, Latvijas Nacionālajā bibliotēkā atklāja arhitektūras filmu programmu ARCHITECT'S CUT ar filmu “Pilsone Džeina: cīņa par pilsētu”. Šajās dienās norisinājies arī pirmais RIGA IFF hakatons - studenti 24 stundu garā maratonā strādāja pie izglītojoša VR produkta prototipa radīšanas. Apsveicam komandu NEWTON ar galvenās balvas “Grand Prix” iegūšanu! RIGA IFF ir tikai pusē un šī nedēļa sola vēl daudz pārsteigumu. No 24. līdz. 26. oktobrim būs iespēja apmeklēt festivāla īsfilmu konkursa programmu SHORT RIGA COMPETITION, izbaudot 35 iedvesmojošus un orģinālus stāstus no visas pasaules. https://youtu.be/M6WwPi38obU Ceturtdien, 25. oktobrī tiks atklāta programma POPCORN VENUS ar izcilās režisores Dorotijas Ārzneres darbu “Līgava Sarkanā”; tajā pašā dienā mūzikas mīļotāji tiks aicināti uz ikgadējo BALTIC MUSIC VIDEO konkursa skati ar dalībnieku un žūrijas piedalīšanos. Rīgas Starptautiskais kino festivāls norisinās no 18. līdz 31. oktobrim kinoteātros Splendid Palace, KSuns, Kino Bize un Latvijas Nacionālajā bibliotēkā. Festivālā tiek izrādīti vairāk nekā 100 filmu seansi 12 programmās, ko papildina lekcijas, diskusijas un citi pasākumi.

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18. oktobrī atklāts piektais Rīgas Starptautiskais kino festivāls (RIGA IFF) ar filmas “Tēvs Nakts” īpašo seansu un svinīgu pasākumu, kura laikā viesiem bija iespēja tikties ar filmas veidotājiem un galvenajiem aktieriem. Šogad RIGA IFF norisināsies no 18. līdz 31. oktobrim kinoteātros Splendid Palace, Kino Bize, K Suns, Latvijas Nacionālajā Bibliotekā, kā arī Cafe Film Noir. Festivālā tiks izrādītas vairāk nekā 180 filmas 12 tematiskajās programmās un konkursu skatēs, kas ietvers gan pilnmetrāžas spēlfilmas un dokumentālās filmas, gan īsfilmas, animāciju un eksperimentālo kino. Festivāla pirmā nedēļas nogale ir veltīta ģimenēm un bērniem. Programmas KIDS WEEKEND ietvaros, kinoteātrī Splendid Palace visas dienas garumā būs skatāmi jaunākie bērnu filmu seansi un darbosies rotaļu zona. 21. oktobra rītā būs skatāma animācijas īsfilmu izlase pašiem jaunākajiem – pirmsskolas vecuma skatītājiem. Sekojot pērn iedibinātajai tradīcijai, to veido festivāla vieskurators, un šogad tā ir dzejniece un bērnu grāmatu autore Inese Zandere. https://youtu.be/catuiz7WsTU RIGA IFF gaidāmas arī trīs jaunas filmu programmas – BERLINALE 2018 RIGA, kuras ietvaros būs skatāma Vācijas spilgtāko filmu izlase, arhitektūras filmu programma ARCHITECT'S CUT, kā arī kino leģendai Ingmaram Bergmanam veltītā – INGMAR BERGMAN 100. Splendid Palace visa festivāla garumā norisināsies arī slavenajam kino meistaram veltīta izstāde. Vairāk informācijas par festivālu programmu atrodama festivāla mājas lapā: rigaiff.lv

The interest of audiences, directors and film producers in films dedicated to architecture and architects has considerably grown in recent years. New architecture-themed festivals and film days are on the rise. The RIGA IFF also recognises the strong ties between cinema and architecture by introducing a new programme – ARCHITECT’S CUT. The five films of the programme will be screened in Ziedonis’ Hall of the National Library of Latvia from 21 to 26 October. The guest curator of the programme is Ieva Zībārte – the head of the Exhibition Centre of the National Library, an architect and an author of books and articles on architecture, design and popular culture. She says, ‘Architecture can’t always be described and captured through photography, therefore cinema serves as a tool to bring out the drama of architecture and architect ever more often. And also, an architect as such is interesting both as a hero and anti-hero. Just like a conversation of architecture professionals, the film programme also touches on the issues of contemporary architecture as well as the legacy of the 20th modernism.’ ‘Citizen Jane: Battle for the City’ by Matt Tyrnauer will open the ARCHITECT’S CUT on Sunday, 21 October at 7.00 p. m. It is a story of journalist and writer Jane Jacobs who wanted to preserve the good old New York City during 1960s and therefore confronted politically and financially influential city developers, serving as an inspiration for the upcoming generation of urban environment activists all over the world. On Monday, 22 October, ‘Big Time’ – a film on the creative and private life of the prominent contemporary Danish architect Bjarke Ingels will be screened. His company was entrusted with designing and building one of the skyscrapers on the site of Twin Towers, destroyed during the 9/11 attacks in NYC. The film’s director and the architect’s friend, Kaspar Astrup Schrøder, hopes that this story will inspire and motivate people to think what kind of life every one of us wants to live. On Tuesday, 23 October, there will be a double screening of ‘Bloki’ by Konrad Królikowski, an emotional story on the communist legacy – complexes of blocks of flats in Poland, and ‘The Disappearance of Robin Hood’ by Klearjos Eduardo Papanicolaou - a research on ideas and plans behind the underappreciated and now demolished Robin Hood Gardens – a social housing complex in London. The ARCHITECT’S CUT will close on Friday, 26 October with ‘Life and Death of an Architect’ by Miguel Eek about the destiny of the renowned Spanish architect José Ferragut. He fought against the corruption and uncontrolled development of the Mediterranean coast and got enemies by politics and developers. His murder investigation was closed for lack of evidence. The Riga International Film Festival will take place from October 18 – 31. Its screening venues will be cinemas ‘Splendid Palace’, ‘KSuns’ and ‘Kino Bize’, as well as the National Library of Latvia. The audience will be presented with more than 100 films in 12 programmes, diverse industry events, and a range of thought provoking public discussions. The RIGA IFF is supported by the National Film Centre of Latvia, the European Commission’s programme ‘Creative Europe – MEDIA’, the National Film Centre of Latvia, and the Riga City Council.

Riga International Film Festival Announces Full Film and Event Programme The Riga International Film Festival (RIGA IFF) will take place between 18 and 31 October in film theatres Splendid Palace, Kino Bize, K Suns, the Latvian National Library as well as in Cafe Film Noir and Kaņepe Culture Centre. More than 180 films will be screened in 12 themed and competition programmes this year, including full length feature films and documentaries as well as short films, animation and experimental cinema. The festival will also hold events for the film industry professionals, public discussions and meetings with filmmakers. Winners of the feature length, short film and music video competitions will be awarded during the closing of the RIGA IFF. [buttons] The RIGA IFF will open on 18 October with the feature film The Mover (Tēvs Nakts) by Dāvis Sīmanis – a true story about the Latvian Žanis Lipke who saved more than fifty people during the Second World War. The first festival weekend will be dedicated to families and children. The KIDS WEEKEND will include screenings of latest films for children and playground activities in Splendid Palace, the oldest and most glamorous film theatre of Riga. The morning of 21 October will start with an animation programme for the youngest – preschool audience. Following the last year’s tradition, the programme is chosen by a guest curator – this year, it will be Inese Zandere, poet and children book author. Within the international FEATURE FILM COMPETITION, 10 films from the Baltic Sea region will be screened and judged, including the main prize winner of the Russian Film Festival Kinotavr in Sochi – the moving drama Core of the World (Serdce mira), a story of a veterinarian living in a remote region of Russia for whom it’s easier to get along with dogs than with people. Director Natalia Meshchaninova and leading actor Stepan Devonin will be the guests of the RIGA IFF. The competition programme also includes the premiere of the feature film debut of the Latvian director Jānis Ābele, 7 Billion Years Before the End of the World (7 miljardi gadu pirms pasaules gala), filmed in Latvia and France, as well as the coming-of-age movie Team Hurricane, popular in Denmark. The FESTIVAL SELECTION will feature recent films from prominent festivals, including the award-winning Sunset (Napszállta) by László Nemes that premiered in the Venice Film Festival recently, as well as the romantically alluring comedy Magical Nights (Notti magiche) by Paolo Virzi. The programme also includes the documentary Matangi/Maya/M.I.A. about the famous Sri Lankan musician and artist Matangi Arulpragasam, known in the pop music world as M.I.A. The film consists of video footage shot by the artist and her closest friends over the past 22 years, revealing her innermost reflections on art, politics and identity and her battles with the music industry and mainstream media. This year, the RIGA IFF will also showcase three new film programmes: BERLINALE 2018 RIGA – ja selection of the best recent films from Germany, including 3 Days in Quiberon (3 Tage in Quiberon), showing three days in the life of the world-famous actress Romy Schneider, the film was nominated for the main prize, Golden Bear, of the Berlin Film Festival this year; the architecture film programme ARCHITECT'S CUT as well as a tribute to the cinema legend Ingmar Bergman – INGMAR BERGMAN 100. Bergman-lovers will have a chance to see three masterpieces of the famous director: Summer with Monika (Sommaren med Monika), Cries and Whispers (Viskningar och rop) and Fanny and Alexander (Fanny och Alexander). The Swedish writer and film critic Stig Björkman, considered to be one of the most important scholars of Bergman’s creative legacy, will give a lecture in Riga. This year’s retrospective and research programme POPCORN VENUS will honour and celebrate women in cinema. The guest curator of the programme is Dita Rietuma, and it includes five films directed by women, including the cult film The Night Porter (Il portiere di notte) by the legendary Italian director Liliana Cavani, Happiness (Le bonheur) by the French director Agnès Varda - one of the early works of the famous director, and The Bride Wore Red (1937) by Dorothy Arzner, starring the Hollywood diva Joan Crawford, that will be shown in Latvia for the first time, moreover as a 35-mm print. ARTDOCFEST/RIGA, as always, will feature not only controversial documentaries but also several round table discussions with filmmakers, international media representatives and other guests. On 20 October, the documentary The Trial(Process) by the Ukrainian director Sergey Loznitsa will be screened. It is an intriguing and historically important story of a trial in Moscow in 1930 when a group of top rank economists and engineers were accused of plotting a coup d’état. The director will be present at the film festival. Just like during the previous festivals, special events for the film industry professionals will be held, for example, RIGA IFF FORUM – an international European children’s and youth film project pitching as well as a cycle of events on virtual reality storytelling, CRITICS MEETING – a cycle of lectures and discussions for professional and emerging film critics and comprehensive school educators, and EUROPEAN SCRIPT MEETING – a meeting platform for professionals that gathers representatives of European film projects in development and screenwriters. Short film authors will have an extensive SHORT RIGA event programme – project pitchings and discussions.

‘A Horrible Woman’ (En Frygtelig Kvinde) by Christian Tafdrup will open the film selection NORDIC HIGHLIGHTS of the Riga International Film Festival. Tickets to the screening on October 19 at 7 p. m. in ‘Splendid Palace’ are available already. [screening] NORDIC HIGHLIGHTS of the RIGA IFF reveals the development of the unique style of filmmaking, storytelling, visual arts and music of the Nordic countries. The provocative dramedy ‘A Horrible Woman’ will open the programme this year. It is the second full length feature film of actor/director Christian Tafdrup, co-written with his brother Mads Trafdrup. When bachelor Rasmus meets Marie, he is certain that she is the love of his life. But soon she destroys his life with her possessiveness and manipulations. The director explains that this widely discussed film shows a man’s point of view on what a woman can do in modern relationship, ‘It's a film about everyday terrorism that women commit to men. I made this film not because I hate women but only because I've spent the last 24 years of my life finding out how to survive in a relationship with them. When I think when I've been most unhappy in my life, it has been in a relationship with a woman. I hope this film will be recognizable for both sexes and that everyone can mirror their own experiences in the movie. ‘A Horrible Woman’ is a tragedy, but a fun one of the kind.’ https://youtu.be/ObH51wwXUiM Eager to prove the concept that a low-budget film can look big, the team put a number of creative restrictions on themselves, initially of a practical nature: they had to shoot the film in 16 days without rehearsals or lighting and with a crew of no more than six people. ‘A Horrible Woman’ was highly appreciated by the voting committees behind the two most prestigious Danish film prizes, the Danish film critics' Bodil Award and the Film Academy's Robert Award. NORDIC HIGHLIGHTS is created in collaboration with the embassies of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, as well as the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Office in Latvia and the Danish Cultural Institute in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania The Riga International Film Festival will take place from October 18 – 31. Its screening venues will be cinemas ‘Splendid Palace’, ‘KSuns’ and ‘Kino Bize’, as well as the National Library of Latvia and Kaņepes Culture Centre. The audience will be presented with more than 100 films in 12 programmes, diverse industry events, and a range of thought-provoking public discussions.

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Gatavojoties ikgadējai RIGA IFF bērnu filmu programmai KIDS WEEKEND, Rīgas Starptautiskais kino festivāls, sadarbojoties ar Rīgas Kino muzeju un Laikmetīgās mākslas centru kim? uzsāk darbnīcu ciklu RIGA IFF Kids School bērniem vecumā no 4 līdz 10 gadiem. Trīs darbnīcu ciklā ik sestdienu pirms festivāla - 29. septembrī, 6. un 13. oktobrī plkst. 12.00 bērniem būs iespēja sekot līdzi tam, kāds ir filmas ceļš no uzņemšanas laukuma līdz nonākšanai uz kinoekrāna.

Biļetes:

1. darbnīca - filmas veidošana (izpārdots)

2. darbnīca - filmas montāža (izpārdots)

3. darbnīca - filmas izrādīšana (izpārdots)

RIGA IFF KIDS SCHOOL apvienotā biļete (izpārdots)

Dzīvojot laikā, kad saskarsme ar kino un audiovizuāliem vēstījumiem ir biežāka un plašāka kā jebkad iepriekš, zināšanas par kino kļūst arvien vērtīgākas. Darbnīcu cikls apzināti iecerēts pirms RIGA IFF bērnu filmu programmas KIDS WEEKEND norises 20. un 21. oktobrī - jo skatīties kino ir daudz saistošāk, zinot, cik aizraujošs un darbietilpīgs ir gan tā tapšanas, gan izrādīšanas process. Pirmā darbnīca notiks 29. septembrī LKA Nacionālajā filmu skolā (Elijas ielā 17), kur būs iespējams paviesoties filmu uzņemšanas paviljonā un izlūkot, kur mācās jaunie filmu veidotāji. Darbnīcas dalībnieki uzņemšanas paviljonā varēs piedalīties filmas epizodes uzņemšanā un kadra veidošanā, izpētot to, kā kadra noskaņu spēj izmainīt gaisma. Darbnīcu vadīs kino operators Dainis Juraga. Savukārt 6. oktobrī Rīgas Kino muzejā (Peitavas ielā 10) dalībniekiem būs iespēja uzzināt par filmas pēcapstrādes procesiem, īpaši nozīmīgāko no tiem - filmas montāžu. Kā tiek virknēti kadri, lai veidotos filmas vēstījums, stāstīs kinozinātnieks Jānis Putniņš. Šīs darbnīcas ietvaros apmeklētājiem būs iespēja iemēģināt roku digitalizācijas laikmetā arvien retāk sastopamās analogās 16 milimetru kinolentes montāžā. Cikla noslēdzošā darbnīca 13. oktobrī notiks kinoteātrī Splendid Palace, kas ir pilsētas visvecākais kinoteātris, kas atklāts 1923. gadā. Laikmetīgās mākslas centra izglītības programmas vadītāja Linda Vigdorčika, sadarbībā ar Rīgas Kino muzeju, vadīs ekskursiju pa kinoteātri, ļaujot ielūkoties tā aizkulisēs, kas ikdienā apmeklētājiem ir slēgtas. Ekskursijā būs iespējams uzzināt par ēkas vēsturi, kā arī uzzināt par procesiem, kas notiek, pirms filmu ieraugām uz lielā ekrāna. Biļetes cena uz katru darbnīcu - 6 eiro. Apvienotā biļete uz visām trim darbnīcām: 15 eiro. Darbnīcu ilgums: 1h30 (no pl. 12.00 - 13.30) Rīgas Starptautiskais kino festivāls norisināsies no 18. līdz 31. oktobrim kinoteātros Splendid Palace, KSuns, Kino Bize, kā arī Latvijas Nacionālajā bibliotēkā un Kaņepes Kultūras centrā. Festivāla ietvaros notiks vairāk nekā 120 filmu seansi 12 programmās, ko papildinās lekcijas, diskusijas un citi pasākumi. RIGA IFF top ar Valsts Kultūrkapitāla fonda, ES programmas Radošā Eiropa - MEDIA, Nacionālā Kino centra un Rīgas domes atbalstu.

Biļetes:

On October 22 at 19.00, the Riga International Film Festival (RIGA IFF) will present the Steve Loveridge‘s film ‘MATANGI / MAYA / M.I.A.’, within the programme FESTIVAL SELECTION – a showcase of films awarded with prestigious prizes and praised by the experts and audiences. [screening] Matangi Arulpragasm is Maya to her friends and provocative international popstar M.I.A. to most of the world. She fled the Sri Lankan civil war with her family before the age of ten and relocated to the UK, leaving behind a father with alleged ties to the ‘Tamil Tigers’, a controversial rebel group. Her preoccupation with the immigrant experience isn’t the celebrity narcissism; it is her deeply rooted desire to speak against oppression and to lift up justice. The film is drawn from a cache of personal tapes shot by the artist and her closest friends over the last 22 years. It reveals her innermost reflections on art, politics, identity and her battles with the music industry and mainstream media. https://youtu.be/fi3iYwLm2PY

The Riga International Film Festival (RIGA IFF) announces its SHORT RIGA: Festival Darlings selection of five short films with distinctive artistic styles and selected by at least fifty international film festivals during the last two years. These masterpieces, exploring the everyday experience in all its perplexity, are a must-see! [screening] https://youtu.be/AxoPPck_AA8 Is the world just a place where our bodies live? What is it like to have a body and how is it related to what we feel? In the film A Dialogue with Cyberspace a digital entity starts to admire our capacity to perceive. The director Brian den Hartog shows admirable taste for editing and the aesthetics of the film. This film is the director’s graduation work at RITCS – Royal Institute of Theatre, Cinema and Sound. He researches the conception of self in a more and more technological society. In Leonor Teles’ Batrachian's Ballad we see the human’s nature exposed in its tendency to deride other human beings. Specifically, she looks at the Portuguese tradition of placing ceramic frogs in the doorways to ward off gypsies. Anything but a passive observer, Teles consciously decides to participate and take up position. Being a Romani of Portugal herself, in this work she decides to establish an active role for herself and to integrate it in the narrative of the film. In Copa-Loca, an abandoned Greek summer resort, a young woman lives in a paradise that has fallen apart. This seemed like the ‘promised land’ of adulthood: the Greece of never-ending summer and burning under a hedonistic sun. The boredom and existential anxiety are not problems exclusive to fallen paradise — it looms the metropolis too. In Niki Lindroth von Bahr’s dark musical The Burden the employees of various commercial venues fend of the blues by performing cheerful musical turns. Curiously, here the apocalypse is a tempting liberator. Director views her works as modern fables, exploring human relations through the filter of animality. The mistakes and failures they lead to are inevitable part of the everyday. So much so that these mistakes could have been the inspiration for Nikita Diakur’s relentless pursuit towards depiction of reality via meticulously constructed machinery of error, balancing on the verge of destruction. The extraordinary 3D animation film Ugly combines puppeteering and dynamic computer simulation to produce results that are unexpected, realistic, broken and personal.

The opening film of the Riga International Film Festival (RIGA IFF) this year will be The Mover (Tēvs Nakts) by Dāvis Sīmanis – a true story about the Latvian Žanis Lipke who saved more than fifty people during the Second World War. The RIGA IFF will open on 18 October at 7 p. m. in the Large Hall of Splendid Palace. Tickets to the special opening screening are available on the festival website rigaiff.lv. [screening] The new feature film The Mover is based on historic events, memories and testimonies and tells about the legendary Rigan Žanis Lipke. During the Second World War he worked in Luftwaffe, the German military aviation, warehouses by day and supplemented his family’s income by smuggling at night. When Nazis started to persecute and kill the Riga Jews, Žanis decided to save the doomed people. Literally under the noses of German soldiers, he took dozens of people to safety. With the help of his relatives he made a makeshift shelter for them in his own home – a cellar under the shed. In the time of overall brutality, the actions of Žanis Lipke seemed like a miracle even to the ones he saved. What was the secret behind Lipke's courage – was he simply a risk taker and spiteful daredevil? Or did he have a gift for human compassion even under extreme conditions? With the special screening on the RIGA IFF opening the filmmakers wish to pay tribute to Augusts Sukuts, the founder of the Film Forum Arsenāls, who died last year. He was one of the initiators to commemorate Žanis Lipke’s effort. Žanis and his wife Johanna were awarded with the honorific of Israel, Righteous Among the Nations, that says, ‘Anyone who saves a life is as if he saved an entire world.’ There is a memorial to Žanis Lipke in Ķīpsala, not far from their house, at 8 Mazais Balasta dambis. Director Dāvis Sīmanis for the first time turns to the events of the Second World War that nobody in Latvia has ever tackled in a feature film. ‘There must be people also nowadays, remaining relatively unnoticed, who would suddenly act in a strange and selfless manner in a situation of crisis. I think that only thanks to the actions of such freaks that often seem inexplicable from the point of view of survival, the society and the state can continue in a somewhat reasonable way,’ says the director. Films by Dāvis Sīmanis have been screened in several prestigious international film festivals. He is a film school lecturer in Latvia and Finland. Žanis and Johanna Lipke are played by Artūrs Skrastiņš and Ilze Blauberga, their son Zigfrīds is Matīss Kipļuks. The film is produced by Mistrus Media (producers Gints Grūbe, Antra Gaile and Inese Boka-Grūbe) that received the Latvian National Film Award Lielais Kristaps in 2016 for the feature film The Chronicles of Melanie (Melānijas hronika). The Mover is financed from the programme Latvian Films for Latvia’s Centenary of the Latvian National Film Centre and the EU programme Creative Europe – MEDIA. It will be released in Latvia on 25 October. Tickets to the special screening of The Mover are already available on the festival website http://www.rigaiff. The Riga International Film Festival will take place from October 18 – 31. Its screening venues will be cinemas Splendid Palace, KSuns and Kino Bize, as well as the National Library of Latvia. The audience will be presented with more than 100 films in 12 programmes, diverse industry events, and a range of thought provoking public discussions. The RIGA IFF is supported by the National Film Centre of Latvia, the European Commission’s programme Creative Europe – MEDIA, the National Film Centre of Latvia, and the Riga City Council.

Media representatives are invited to apply for accreditation at the Riga International Film Festival (RIGA IFF), allowing them to attend the festival's film screenings and industry events. All applications can be made here until September 28, 2018. Every accreditation application will be assessed individually and the decision will will be made known to all the applicants by no later than October 5. In case of questions, please contact Elina Kanela by emailing press@rigaiff.lv or calling +371 26565652. RIGA IFF will run from October 18-31 at cinemas Splendid Palace, KSuns, Kino Bize as well as the National Library of Latvia and Kanepes Culture Centre. The festival will feature over 120 film screenings, 12 film programmes as well as lectures, discussions and other special events.

Sorry, this entry is only available in Latvian.

Kim? Laikmetīgās mākslas centrs un jauniešu kultūras platforma youngkim? sadarbībā ar Rīgas Starptautisko kino festivālu ielūdz uz trīs sarunu ciklu. Kino saruna vol. 1 — Kā skatīties kino? Kino saruna vol. 2 — Kā klausīties kino? Kino saruna vol. 3 — Kā izstāstīt kino? Rīgas Starptautisko kino festivālu gaidot, no 20. septembra līdz 9. oktobrim interesentiem kopā ar Latvijas kino vides profesionāļiem būs iespēja izzināt atšķirīgas kino skatīšanās pieredzes; kā skatīties un saredzēt; klausīties un sadzirdēt kino; un visbeidzot - kā par to pastāstīt arī citiem. Sarunu ciklu veidos trīs tēmas, ļaujot ielūkoties fundamentālu kino procesu aizkulisēs, tādējādi, iespējams, mainot to kā uztveram kinodarbus. Katra no tēmām tiks aplūkota 2 sarunās - ik ceturtdienu un otrdienu. Sarunu pirmā daļa notiks ceturtdienās, savukārt otrā tikšanās reize ar lektoriem notiks otrdienās; interesentiem, atsaucoties uz iepriekš apmeklēto sarunu, kopā ar lektoriem, būs iespēja piedalīties praktiskās nodarbībās. Vietu skaits ierobežots, tāpēc aicinām iepriekš pieteikties, rakstot uz: linda.elina.austruma@gmail.com Kā skatīties kino? 20/09 + 25/09 plkst. 16.00 Viena no filmas būtiskākajām komponentēm ir kadrs. Tas ne tikai veido filmas noskaņu, bet arīdzan spēlē nozīmīgu lomu tajā kā uztveram kinodarba vēstījumu. Taču kā notiek kadra veidošana, tā, lai tajā ne vien koncentrēti ietvertu visu nepieciešamo informāciju, bet arīdzan ievērotu autora māksliniecisko redzējumu? Izrādās, kadra kompozīcija bieži vien ir pielīdzināma vesela mikrouniversa radīšanai. Par kadra veidošanas aizkulisēm un radošajiem un praktiskajiem procesiem stāstīs pieredzējusī māksliniece Kristīne Jurjāne – Dāvja Sīmaņa filmu Pelnu sanatorija un Tēvs Nakts māksliniece. Kristīne strādājusi arī kā tērpu māksliniece un scenogrāfe pie vairākiem Alvja Hermaņa iestudējumiem kā Rīgā, tā Vīnē un Milānas La Scala operā. Kā klausīties kino? 27/09 + 02/10 plkst. 16.00 Sākot no 20. gadsimta 30. gadiem skaņa kino kļūst par tikpat svarīgu filmu komponenti kā attēls. Taču kino skaņas veidošana ir laikietilpīgs un niansēts process, kurā pastāv savi noteikumi un meistarstiķi. Ne velti viens no populārākajiem skaņas ieraksta stāstiem kinovēsturē ir par Alfrēda Hičkoka filmu “Psiho”, kuras leģendārās dušas ainas ierakstā izmantota skaņa no dūriena melonē. Par kino skaņas veidošanas procesu, tā aizkulisēm un priekšnoteikumiem stāstīs skaņu režisors - Anrijs Krenbergs. Anrijs Krenbergs ir viens no pieredzējušākajiem Latvijas kino profestionāļiem, strādājis kā skaņu režisors vairāk kā pie 150 filmām, ilggadēji sadarbojies ar autorkino klasiķi Lailu Pakalniņu. Kā izstāstīt kino? 04/10 + 09/10 plkst. 16.00 Spēja kritiski izvērtēt redzēto un par to noformulēt argumentētu viedokli nav tikai analītisku recenziju vai akadēmisku pārspriedumu nepieciešamība, bet gan veids kā kinodarbu niansētāk atklāt sev pašam. Kādi aspekti jāņem vērā, izvērtējot redzēto filmu un daloties par to viedoklī? Kā stāstīt par cita laikmeta un kultūrkonteksta kino? Par šīm tēmām stāstīs Rīgas Kino muzeja kuratore un RIGA IFF radošās komandas pārstāve, kino doktorante Agnese Logina. Pasākumi organizēti ar Kim? Laikmetīgās mākslas centra izglītības programmas galvenā patrona Māra Martinsona atbalstu.

The Riga International Film Festival (RIGA IFF) in cooperation with Goethe-Institut Riga introduces a film programme BERLINALE 2018 RIGA that demonstrates the power of expression and diversity of German cinema and includes films screened during this year’s Berlin Film Festival. The programme will be opened with the Golden Bear Nominee Transit, a full-length feature by Christian Petzold. [screening] Transit is the final part of Christian Petzold’s trilogy Love in Times of Oppressive Systems. Similar to the highly acclaimed preceding parts Barbara (2012) and Phoenix (2014), it has also gained a considerable recognition of audiences and film critics alike. But Franz Rogowski’s distinguished acting will also shine in another BERLINALE 2018 RIGA film, In the Aisles (In den Gängen, 2018). The story of the film winds through the French transit town Marseille as an eternal road to a place where the loops of time bring in despair and hopelessness that erode the people’s destinies. A refugee gets hold of the legacy of a writer who has committed suicide – a manuscript, some letters from his wife and the Mexican Embassy’s assurance of a visa. It seems just reasonable to assume the deceased person’s identity… https://youtu.be/GJin6kPHs2Q The film is based on Anna Seghers’ eponymous autobiographic novel written during WWII. And it is likened to ‘a Kafkaesque Casablanca’. Skilfully merged past and present wipes out the border between that what was and what is. Problems that the protagonists face in 1942 resonate with the situation nowadays. The director says, ‘In the book, the transit space is a geographical space between Europe and the United States. People are in the port city, and thus the space between the land where we are and the sea we want to travel over. So, this is the horizontal transit space. But I think that there is also a vertical kind of transit space, and that is time, and the stories that develop over time. And so, we not just find ourselves between the United States and Europe, or between land and water, but we also find ourselves trapped in yesterday’s time and today. (…) To go forward we first need to remember. Today, we quite frequently act as if we’ve actually made progress as compared to the past - we are free, we can wear whatever we want to, and we are consumers who have a choice. But actually, it’s still all just consumerism and hedonism… Many ghosts of the past start to return.’ Tickets to the screening of Transit are already available on the festival website rigaiff.lv. The Riga International Film Festival will take place from October 18 – 31. Its screening venues will be cinemas Splendid Palace, KSuns and Kino Bize, as well as the National Library of Latvia. The audience will be presented with more than 100 films in 12 programmes, diverse industry events, and a range of thought provoking public discussions. The RIGA IFF is supported by the National Film Centre of Latvia, the European Commission’s programme Creative Europe – MEDIA, the National Film Centre of Latvia, and the Riga City Council.

Every year the Riga International Film Festival is growing stronger – from the film programme to the events and the number of guests. With this growth also the opportunities for volunteers to engage expand. Voluntary work at cultural events is a chance to gain experience within the particular field, to grow in communication and working with other people as well as to be a part of the growth of a society. But the film festival is special — it is also a chance to see many, many great films! This year we welcome those interested to volunteer in various departments of the festival team:

• working with the international industry professionals and festival guests
• organizing screenings
• the making of events
• logistics
• decoration
• audiovisual media (photo and video)
• and other areas

Anyone over the age of 16 can become a volunteer at RIGA IFF — be it young or old — but should be ready to work at least 30 hours. To become a part of the festival team, fill out the volunteer form bellow.

Sorry, this entry is only available in Latvian.

Tuvojoties Rīgas Starptautiskajam kino festivālam, kas šogad norisināsies no 18. līdz 31. oktobrim, RIGA IFF aicina 7 - 13 gadus vecus interesentus pieteikties bērnu dalībai žūrijā. Žūrijas dalībniekiem būs iespēja noskatīties visus festivāla bērnu filmu programmā KIDS WEEKEND iekļautos darbus, izraudzīties labāko un to apbalvot. Bērnu žūrijas darbošanās festivālā ir ilggadēja tradīcija, ļaujot jaunajai paaudzei iesaistīties filmu vērtēšanā un apspriedē Lai pieteiktos dalībai žūrijā, pretendentiem jānofilmējas līdz 2 minūtēm garā video vai jāuzraksta recenzija, kurā jāizklāsta viedoklis par sev tuvu filmu vai kādu no latviešu kinodarbiem, kas noskatāms portālā filmas.lv. Video vai rakstiskais pieteikums līdz 25. septembrim jānosūta KIDS WEEKEND kuratorei Kristīnei Simsonei uz e-pasta adresi kristine@rigaiff.lv. Video vēlams izmantot kādu no video augušupielādes pakalpojumiem (YouTube, Instagram, Vimeo vai Facebook), e-pastā iekļaujot saiti uz video, savukārt recenzijas iekļaujamas arī pašā vēstulē, vai pievienojamas kā pielikumi. Žūrijas dalībnieki tiks izraudzīti konkursa kārtā. Pretendentiem un žūrijas dalībniekiem būs iespēja piedalīties arī RIGA IFF ietvaros norisošajās bērnu filmu projektu prezentācijās un, klātienē tiekoties ar filmu veidotājiem, izteikt savu viedokli un vērtējumu par viņu topošajiem kinodarbiem. RIGA IFF bērnu žūrijas dalībniekiem būs iespēja:

• iegūt festivāla akreditācijas karti;
• kopā ar vienu no vecākiem skatīties KIDS WEEKEND filmas no īpaši žūrijai rezervētām vietām;
• piedalīties festivāla noslēguma ceremonijā
• saņemt festivāla suvenīrus.

RIGA IFF bērnu žūrijas dalībnieku pienākumos ietilps:

• KIDS WEEKEND filmu seansu apmeklējums 20. un 21. oktobrī;
• dalība RIGA IFF bērnu žūrijas apspriedēs ;
• kopā ar pārējiem žūrijas pārstāvjiem izvēlēties labāko filmu un tās veidotājiem pasniegt balvu;
• pārstāvēt festivālu un žūriju komunikācijā ar medijiem.

The FEATURE FILM COMPETITION programme of the Riga International Film Festival (RIGA IFF) will present the world premiere of 7 Billion Years Before the End of the World by Latvian director Jānis Ābele. The screening will take place on October 25 at the cinema Splendid Palace and the tickets are on pre-sale already.

The children’s film programme of the Riga International Film Festival (RIGA IFF) – KIDS WEEKEND – will present the highly successful first full-length feature of Estonian director Moonika Siimets – The Little Comrade. It will be screened on October 20 at the cinema Splendid Palace and the tickets are on pre-sale already. Additionally, every holder of a ticket receives a 10% discount at the publishing house's Liels un Mazs store. [screening] https://youtu.be/L9gjmnFBnjY The film is made within the framework of the programme dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia and its screenplay is based on two autobiographical novels written by Leelo Tungal – Velvet and Sawdust and Comrade Kid and Grown-Ups that is published in Latvian as well by the publishing house Liels un Mazs. The Estonia’s beloved author will be the guest of RIGA IFF – she will attend the Latvian premiere of the film and meet with the audience. This story tells about 1950s in the Soviet Estonia when the Stalinist terror machine worked at full steam. The 6-year-old Leelo’s mother is arrested in front of her eyes. “If you’re a good kid, I’ll be back soon,” are her mother’s last words as she is taken away at gunpoint. So Leelo tries to do her best, yet the promise doesn't come true… The confusion only grows, as “good” and “bad” no longer seem to hold any meaning in these troubled times. The unusual take on the harsh period of occupation gathered 100 000 spectators within a month since its release in Estonia. Gundars Godiņš, the translator of the book Comrade Kid and Grown-Ups, says: “The history in the eyes of a kid is true, without any lies and ideological fabrications.” The KIDS WEEKEND will run for two days – on October 20 and 21. This programme will comprise feature-length adventure films from Norway, Serbia and Estonia, an animated detective story from Sweden, and the Animated Short Film Selection made by guest curator Inese Zandere. Before and after the chosen screening, everyone will be welcome to spend fun time at the play zone arranged in collaboration with the interior salon Hemma.

On October 20 at 21.30, the Riga International Film Festival (RIGA IFF) will present the Spike Lee‘s film ‘BlacKkKlansman’, winner of the Cannes Grand Prix, within the programme FESTIVAL SELECTION – a showcase of films awarded with prestigious prizes and praised by the experts and audiences. [screening] https://youtu.be/3LgCZsnK7D4 Spike Lee remains every bit the political provocateur who uses his films to diagnose the national mood while pressing for change. He asks not to horribly mistake it for a comedy: "People still have a hard time understanding the difference between humor and comedy. I don't do comedy. No one is slipping on a banana peel [in my movies]. And you can have humorous moments dealing with very serious subject matter. Just because you have humor that will make people laugh does not mean that it's a comedy." Film is based on the 2014 memoir ‘Black Klansman’ by Ron Stallworth — a true story that takes place in the early 1970s, a time of great social upheaval. The Colorado Springs Police Department employs the first African-American detective and his arrival is greeted with scepticism and open hostility. Nevertheless, he is determined to gain recognition in the eyes of the local community. The brave man, along with his Jewish colleague, sets out on a dangerous mission: infiltrate and expose the Ku Klux Klan. The original Stallworth, depicted in the film, says: “To be honest with you, we were getting a lot of laughs out of it, the fact that these so called smart people were being fooled by one of the very individuals that they criticized and condemned as being intellectually inferior to them.” What illustrates the level of humor involved in the operation the best is the episode involving receiving his certificate of membership. At one point, Stallworth phoned David Duke, who was head of the KKK at the time, at his headquarters in New Orleans to ask about the status of his membership application. Duke looked through his paperwork, apologized for the delay in getting it processed, and promised to see to it personally that Stallworth's application was processed and sent back to him. Within a short time, Stallworth's Klan certificate of membership, signed by David Duke, arrived. He framed it and hung it on the wall of his office, where it stayed for years. The Honorary Oscar winner Spike Lee has been calling since 1988 already to wake up and admit that racism is interweaved in the DNA of the USA. To talk about it openly would increase the chances of turning the country into a better place. The film's theatrical release in the United States coincided with the one year anniversary of white supremacist Charlottesville rally — a violent meeting that included white nationalist Klansmen among others and resulted in 30 people being injured.

The children’s film programme of the Riga International Film Festival (RIGA IFF) – KIDS WEEKEND – will present an Animated Short Film Selection for the youngest audience on October 21 at the cinema Splendid Palace. [screening] Following the tradition established last year, a guest curator is invited to make this selection. The author and publisher of children’s books Inese Zandere has undertaken the demanding and exciting task this time. She addresses the festival’s audience with the words: “The cultural contexts revealed in a short film made for a child, forms one’s personality, prepares the soil for the influences that will come later and the challenges that a person will have to encounter and overcome.” The Animated Short Film Selection welcomes the youngest children for, perhaps, their first visit to the cinema. To keep the pre-schoolers’ attention, the screening will last about an hour. There will be recently made animated short films from Lithuania, Russia, and France – including works produced by the internationally acclaimed film school La Poudrière and studio Les Films du Nord. The witty stories, original visual language and playful sincerity of these animated films will hopefully fill the Large hall of the gorgeous historical cinema Splendid Palace with children’s laughter and joyful chatting once again. https://youtu.be/Xx3LBlalOVI Inviting guest curators to create cultural content for kids ensures special qualities. The honesty and exceptional imagination of Inese Zandere, her ability to entertain and emotionally enrich with her books is a unique and valuable contribution to the Latvian children’s literature. The style of Inese Zandere reflects in her film choice as well. They are “zanderisque”, as the author admitted during the selection process. The KIDS WEEKEND will run for two days – on October 20 and 21. This programme will comprise feature-length adventure films from Norway, Serbia and Estonia, an animated detective story from Sweden, and the Animated Short Film Selection made by guest curator Inese Zandere. Before and after the chosen screening, everyone will be welcome to spend fun time at the play zone arranged in collaboration with the interior salon Hemma. The short films will have English subtitles and simultaneous translation to Latvian in comfortable wireless headphones.

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Rīgas Starptautiskais kino festivāls (RIGA IFF) un Latvijas Nacionālā bibliotēka aicina uz diskusiju par to, vai mūsdienu sabiedrībā katram ir tiesības paust savu kritisko vērtējumu. Tēma ir radusies, reaģējot uz publiskajā vidē pēdējo mēnešu laikā novērotajām sarunām, kas agresīvi pievēršas kritikas autora personībai. Diskusija notiks 30. augustā pulksten 17.00 Latvijas Nacionālās bibliotēkas korē 11. Stāvā, Mūkusalas ielā 3. Diskusijas Facebook pasākums atrodams ŠEIT. Sarunā piedalīsies pieredzējuši kultūras un mākslas kritiķi un redaktori: Santa Mičule-Hirša (mākslas kritiķe), Helmuts Caune (arterritory.com redaktors), Kristīne Matīsa (kino žurnāliste, “Kino Rakstu” galvenā redaktore), Ingus Bērziņš (DELFI galvenais redaktors), Jegors Jerohomovičs (KDi redaktors, “Dienas” kultūras žurnālists), un to vadīs kultūras žurnālists Toms Treibergs. Viens no diskusijas centrālajiem jautājumiem būs – vai viedoklis nošķirams no recenzijas? Iespējams, ka tam nav nozīmes, jo, kā rakstīja Semjuels Bekets: “Kāda starpība, kas runā?” Galvenais, lai kāds to sadzird un ieklausās. Tomēr ne visa kritika tiek uzņemta ar atsaucību, jo dažkārt šķiet – lai nu kam, bet šim cilvēkam nav tiesību runāt par konkrēto tēmu. Kas tu tāds esi, lai atļautos spriest par to vai citu darbu, kultūras fenomenu? Kurš piešķīris šīs tiesības? Vai vispār pastāv viedokļi, kas ir leģitīmāki par citiem? Vai rakstīt recenzijas drīkst vien noteikts profesionāļu loks? Vai sevi jāierobežo vēlmē izteikties kritiski par notiekošajiem procesiem, ja nav izglītību apliecinoša dokumenta attiecīgajā jomā? Šie un līdzīgi jautājumi tiks uzdoti diskusijas gaitā. RIGA IFF jau trešo gadu rīko pasākumu ciklu CRITICS MEETING, kas veltīts kino kritikai Latvijā. Šogad CRITICS MEETING pasākumu ietvaros tiek organizētas sarunas arī ārpus kinofestivāla norises laika, ar mērķi veicināt regulāras diskusijas par kritikas nozīmi un vietu Latvijā. Pirmā CRITICS MEETING diskusija šogad notika maijā un tajā tika aplūkota redaktoru loma kultūras medijos. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNyNF6NOTvA

On October 21 at 19.00, the Riga International Film Festival (RIGA IFF) will present the Hirokazu Kore-eda‘s film ‘Shoplifters’, winner of the Cannes Palme d'Or, within the programme FESTIVAL SELECTION – a showcase of films awarded with prestigious prizes and praised by the experts and audiences. Get your tickets HERE. Hirokazu Kore-eda's — the winner of the Cannes Palme d'Or — works provide a chance to briefly escape from one’s life and to discover what really matters in it. His world is full of meaningful everyday moments that connect people to one another and will be remembered forever. The film tells about a poor family that shelters a little girl they come across one night in the freezing cold of Tokyo. They seem to live happily together until an unforeseen incident reveals hidden secrets and it turns out – the close bonds that unite them are perceived just as crimes in the eyes of society. Hirokazu Kore-eda – one of the Japan’s most talented and highly acclaimed filmmakers – has been awarded with more than 40 prizes at the most significant international film festivals. This year, he won the Palme d'Or for the ‘Shoplifters’, but this is not his first big success at the Cannes International film festival – his film ‘Like Father, Like Son’ received the Jury Prize in 2013. Although the filmmaker is often compared to another great master of Japanese cinema – Yasujiro Ozu, known for intimate family dramas, he thinks that his creative work is more like Mikio Naruse and Ken Loach. https://youtu.be/izavugPJsaE The director comments on this production: “The story explores what makes a family, whether we can form a family beyond blood relations. In Japan, crimes like pension frauds and parents making their children shoplift are criticized severely. Of course, these criminals should be criticized but I am wondering why people get so angry over such minor infractions even though there are many lawbreakers out there committing far more serious crimes without condemnation.” The RIGA IFF will take place from October 18 – 31. Its screening venues will be cinemas Splendid Palace, KSuns and Kino Bize, as well as the National Library of Latvia. The audience will be presented with more than 100 films in 12 programmes, diverse industry events, and a range of thought provoking public discussions.

A short film marathon will take place on 29th September in Liepāja concert hall Great Amber. The event is organised together with RIGA IFF's short film programme curator Anna Zača and European Film Academy. 15 short films will be screened in 3 separate screenings — making it an all-day event! We see short film as a very exciting genre especially for its experimental nature — it achieves great accuracy in portraying the zeigeist, the current artistic tendencies, and sharp dissections of relationships. The best of what Europe has produced in year 2017! Find out more HERE!

Free open-air cinema evenings from 2nd till 5th August in the centre of Valmiera! Every evening as the dusk sets in at 10pm a selection of short and feature films made by RIGA IFF will be screened. These works include eclectic animation shorts and marvelous adventure features. All films with subtitles in Latvian. Find out more HERE!

The Vitaly Mansky's documentary 'Putin's Witnesses' has won the Documentary Films Competition at the 53rd edition of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and will have its Baltic premiere at the Riga International Film Festival on October 23. Tickets are already available.

Get noticed and confronted by professionals, receive a valuable feedback and perceive your film from a different perspective!  "SHORT RIGA: Test Screenings" look for the Baltic short film projects that are recently finished or undergo their final stages of production.

The next edition of the Riga International Film festival's Forum, an annual pitching forum and co-production platform for children's film creators, will be taking place from October 18-19. The compact two day event will feature a pitching session for children's film projects in development stage (with estimated release no later than 2022).

8th of June is the film submission deadline for the three competition programmes of the Riga International Film Festival. The filmmakers have less than seven days to get their entries in for the RIGA IFF Feature Film Competition, SHORT RIGA International Competition and SHORT RIGA Baltic Music Video Competition.

This autumn, ARTDOCFEST/RIGA, the documentary film programme will be much more impressive as it includes the entire international film competition programme of the most significant festival of documentary films in Russia – Artdocfest.

RIGA IFF 2018 presents 3 new film programmes: BERLINALE 2018 RIGA – highlights of the Berlin International Film Festival, ARCHITECT’S CUT – architecture film programme, and INGMAR BERGMAN 100 – a tribute to Swedish film legend Ingmar Bergman.

Tickets are now on sale for the RIGA IFF 2018 taking place from October 18 to 31. This year’s film selection promises to be diverse and exciting – over 150 feature films, documentaries, animations and short films from Latvia and around the world. Get your tickets here!

The most recent addition to the RIGA IFF SELECTION programme is a film nominated for the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival – ‘3 Days in Quiberon’.

The NORDIC HIGHLIGHTS programme of the RIGA IFF is proud to present ‘Winter Brothers’ –  the feature debut film of the talented Icelandic visual artist and director Hlynur Palmason.   

BERLINALE 2018 RIGA, the brand new programme of the RIGA IFF, is showcasing the highlights of the Berlin International Film Festival. One of the most peculiar films in this selection is ‘Shut up and Play the Piano!’ – an insightful and ambitious documentary about the Grammy-winning composer, virtuoso pianist and entertainer Chilly Gonzales.