Country Focus: Latvia
by Cineuropa
12/03/2010 - Articles, interviews, news, analysis on the Latvian audiovisual sector.
Country profile: Latvia
International Film Guide 2011: Latvia
A survey of the film culture and output in Latvia published by the International Film Guide.
Riga Film Fund launched to attract foreign productions
On March 5, the City Council of Riga, Latvia announced that the Riga Film Fund had been launched. The co-financing initiative is open to Latvian and foreign productions planning to shoot in Riga, and aims to encourage foreign investments in the capital, create new jobs, develop the Latvian film industry and promote Riga the world. Up to 15% of film-related expenditure in Riga can be recouped as a cash rebate once filming is completed. The Fund enables Latvia to be competitive among the...
Baltic states resilient to economic downturn (2)
While Baltic producers are exploiting their European connections to the fullest, public organisations in Estonia and Latvia are trying to keep their small film industries afloat. In Estonia, the main national film body, the Estonian Film Foundation (EFF), is adjusting to budget cuts (from €3.8m in 2009 to €3.3m in 2010) by supporting the same number of films per year (five) but with smaller grants. “There will inevitably be less production value per film but it was vital for us to keep the...
Baltic states resilient to economic downturn (1)
Badly hit by the global economic crisis, the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – also known as the ‘Baltic Tigers’ – are lying low until better economic times return. Dependent more than ever on foreign money to survive, local film producers remain optimistic as public organisations look for solutions to keep their film industry afloat. The regional film market Baltic Event, the seventh edition of which was held in Tallinn in early December, was the perfect place to find out...
Best Latvian films in libraries
In response to the shortage of screens in Latvia and difficulties for Latvian films to reach audiences, the National Film Centre of Latvia and the Culture Information Systems have teamed up to make Latvian films available online free of charge, in 874 public libraries. Since last month, around 4,000 computers in 874 Latvian public libraries have access to a first selection of 70 animated, feature and documentary films and the database is growing. The idea of the project is to give any...
Latvia - International Film Guide Survey
The past remains a rich area for Latvian cinema. Defenders of Riga, by Aigars Grauba and Andreis Ekis, is the first Latvian feature to be shot in High Definition. It takes place during a cruial moment in Latvian history when, in 1918, a small army liberated Riga from German and Russian forces. A success at home, it is only the second Latvian film in sixteen years to be submitted for consideration in the Best Foreign Language Film category at the Academy Awards. Read the survey published by...
Public monies cut 33% in 2009
Latvian cinema is a direct victim of the current economic crisis. Following state budget cuts, funds for cinema administered by the National Film Centre of Latvia (NFCL) have decreased 33%, from €4.6m in 2008 to €3.1m in 2009. This is a severe blow for the local film industry, which over the last four years had enjoyed a steady growth in state support, from around €2m for 2006 and 2007 to a record €4.6m last year. Further film funding comes from the Culture Capital Foundation, which provided...
