10/02/2025 - The historical drama by Dāvis Sīmanis has snagged five gongs, including Best Feature Film, while Gints Zilbalodis’ title dominated in the animation categories, also boasting five wins

The 2025 edition of Latvia’s National Film Awards, Lielais Kristaps, has taken place at the Dailes Theatre in Riga, celebrating the best of Latvian cinema and honouring outstanding talents in film and television.

The night was dominated by Maria’s Silence [+see also:
film review
interview: Dāvis Sīmanis
film profile], the gripping historical drama by Dāvis Sīmanis, which triumphed with five major awards, including Best Feature Film and Best Director. The film, co-produced by Latvia and Lithuania, explores deep emotional landscapes, focusing on personal sacrifice and resilience amidst war. Sīmanis’ direction earned him widespread acclaim, while Olga Šepicka-Slapjuma and Ģirts Ķesteris received the Best Leading Actress Award and the Best Actor in a Supporting Role Award, respectively. The film’s slew of prizes was rounded off by the Best Costumes Award, handed to Kristīne Jurjāne, Rūta Kuplā and Aija Strazdiņa.

In the world of animation, Gints Zilbalodis’ Flow [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Gints Zilbalodis
interview: Red Carpet @ European Film …
film profile] continued its trailblazing success, winning five awards, including Best Animated Film and Best Director of an Animated Film. The Oscar- and LUX Audience Award-nominated film, co-produced with Belgium and France, captivated audiences with its stunning visuals and heartfelt narrative. Zilbalodis, alongside Matīss Kaža, also won the Best Screenwriter Award. Zilbalodis shared the Best Original Score Award with Rihards Zaļupe, while the Best Sound Award went to Gurwal Coyk-Gallas. The ceremony also saw Flow receive the Audience Award, reflecting its widespread popularity among the cinemagoing public. Additionally, the film was crowned with the Innovation in Cinema Award, celebrated as a testament to the power of technology and creativity in reshaping the animation world.

Best Leading Actor was awarded to Andris Keišs for his role in Touched by Eternity, directed by Mārcis Lācis. The film also won the Best Make-up Artist Award for Santa Sandule. Best Actress in a Supporting Role went to Ilze Ķuzule-Skrastiņa for her turn in the Asistente TV miniseries, directed by Alise Zariņa and Liene Linde. Jurģis Kmins won the Best Cinematography Award for his work on Tomas Vengris’s collection of intertwined stories, Five and a Half Love Stories in an Apartment in Vilnius, Lithuania [+see also:
film review
interview: Tomas Vengris
film profile].

The docu-series Podnieks par Podnieku. A Witness to History, directed by Antra Cilinska and Anna Viduleja, won Best Documentary and Best Editing for Sandra Alksne. Ivars Zviedris was awarded Best Documentary Director for Faithful unto Death. Best Cinematography in a Documentary Film went to Valdis Celmiņš and Mārcis Slavinskis for To Be Continued. Teenhood. [+see also:
film review
film profile], directed by Ivars Seleckis and Armands Zacs.

Last but not least, Pēteris Krilovs, a highly respected director, screenwriter, producer and mentor, was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award, acknowledging his outstanding contribution to Latvian cinema and his commitment to nurturing new talent.

Here is the full list of winners at the 2025 Lielais Kristaps Awards:

Best Feature Film
Maria’s Silence [+see also:
film review
interview: Dāvis Sīmanis
film profile] – Dāvis Sīmanis (Latvia/Lithuania)

Best Short Film
Tukšuma aicinājums – Jānis Ābele

Best Documentary
Podnieks par Podnieku. A Witness to History – Antra Cilinska, Anna Viduleja

Best Short Documentary Film
Through a Childs Gaze – Gerda Jirgena

Best Animated Film
Flow [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Gints Zilbalodis
interview: Red Carpet @ European Film …
film profile] – Gints Zilbalodis (Latvia/France/Belgium)

Best TV Series
Mutiny – Andrejs Ēķis

Best Debut Film
My 80th Spring – Agnese Laizāne (Documentary)

Best Scriptwriter
Gints Zilbalodis, Matīss Kaža – Flow

Best Director
Dāvis Sīmanis – Maria’s Silence

Best Cinematography
Jurģis Kmins – Five and a Half Love Stories in an Apartment in Vilnius, Lithuania [+see also:
film review
interview: Tomas Vengris
film profile] (Lithuania/Ireland/Latvia)

Best Leading Actress
Olga Šepicka-Slapjuma – Maria’s Silence

Best Leading Actor
Andris Keišs – Touched by Eternity

Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Ilze Ķuzule-Skrastiņa – Asistente

Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Ģirts Ķesteris – Maria’s Silence

Best Production Design
Laura Dišlere – The Exalted [+see also:
film review
interview: Juris Kursietis
film profile] (Latvia/Estonia/Greece)

Best Costumes
Kristīne Jurjāne, Rūta Kuplā, Aija Strazdiņa – Maria’s Silence

Best Make-up Artist
Santa Sandule - Touched by Eternity

Best Documentary Director
Ivars Zviedris – Faithful unto Death

Best Cinematography in a Documentary Film
Valdis Celmiņš, Mārcis Slavinskis – To Be Continued. Teenhood. [+see also:
film review
film profile]

Best Director of an Animated Film
Gints Zilbalodis – Flow

Best Production Design in an Animated Film
Zane Oborenko – Kafka. In Love (short film)

Best Original Score
Gints Zilbalodis, Rihards Zaļupe – Flow

Best Sound
Gurwal Coyk-Gallas – Flow

Best Editing
Sandra Alksne – Podnieks par Podnieku. A Witness to History

Best Student Film
Luna – Amanda Grīnberga

Lifetime Achievement Award
Pēteris Krilovs