FNE at Riga IFF 2014: Mother, I Love You Wins Top Latvian Award

12-12-2014

FNE at Riga IFF 2014: Mother, I Love You Wins Top Latvian Award

By Anna Franklin

Mother I Love you directed by Janis Nords

RIGA: Mother, I Love You directed by Jānis Nords scooped the best Latvian feature film as well as the award for best director, best actress and the audience award at the awards ceremony of the Riga International Film Festival which honoured the best of Latvian national films on 11 December. The festival was held from 2-12 December 2014.

The festival will also honour director Agnes Varda at a special ceremony for Lifetime Achievement to be held today 12 December. Riga is also hosting the 27th European Film Academy Awards at the Latvian National Opera on 13 December.

Overall, awards were given in 24 categories. For the first time there was an international jury at the greatly expanded event. This consisted of Latvian Film Producers Association representative Bruno Aščuks, representative of the cameramen’s guild Valdis Eglītis, FIPRESCI Latvia Agent Uzulniece, directors John Streičs, Andis Miziss, animation director Rose Stiebra and three foreign guests - film critic Elena Stishova from Russia, film journalist Jan Schulz-Ojala from Germany and the Norwegian film Institute's representative Jan Erik Holst.

List of Winners:

Best feature film
Mother, I Love You
Directed by Janis Nords

Best short feature film
A Little Longer
Directed by Stanislavs Tokalovs

Best full-length documentary film
Obliging Collaborators
Directed by Peteris Krilovs

Best Documentary Film 60 Minutes
Chronicles of the Last Temple
Directed by Davis Simanis

Best Animation
Rocks in My Pockets
Directed by Signe Baumane

Best debut feature
Modris
Sirected by Juris Kursietis

Best Minority Co-production
The Gambler
Directed by Ignas Jonynas
Studio Uljana Kim (Lithuania) Locomotive Productions (Latvia)

Best screenwriter
Signe Baumane for Rocks in My Pockets

Best feature film director
Janis Nords for Mother, I Love You

Best Actress
Vita Vārpiņa for Mother, I Love You

Best Actor
Janis Amanis for Dream Team - 1935