This week, from Sept. 3 – 8, the 23rd Baltic Sea Documentary Film Forum (Baltic Sea Docs), organized by the National Film Centre is taking place in Latvia. The Forum will give audiences on the ground in Riga, Cēsis, Valmiera, Rēzekne, Jēkabpils and Liepāja, as well as through the Straume LMT app, a chance to view an internationally-renowned film programme. At the same time, some 100 documentary film professionals from more than 20 countries will meet in Riga to work on developing film projects and to create new opportunities for collaboration.
The Forum Film Programme in Riga, Latvia’s Regions and on the Straume LMT App
The Forum will offer a high-quality documentary film programme in Riga film theatre K.Suns and in five regional cities in Latvia. A selection of three films will be screened in Cēsis (Vidzeme concert hall Cēsis), Jēkabpils (Jēkabpils hall Kino mītne), Liepāja (film theatre Balle), Rēzekne (Latgale embassy Gors) and Valmiera (film theatre Gaisma).
Film descriptions: http://nkc.gov.lv/bsd/baltijas-juras-dokumentalo-filmu-foruma-filmu-programma/
The films will be screened in their original language with translation in Latvian and English. Admission will be free for school children, students, pensioners and film professionals upon showing documentation and picking up free film passes in theatre box offices ahead of time. Ticket sales for screenings in Riga at: www.bezrindas.lv
BSD Riga screenings: http://nkc.gov.lv/bsd/baltijas-juras-dokumentalo-filmu-foruma-seansu-plans-riga/
BSD regional screenings: http://nkc.gov.lv/bsd/baltijas-juras-dokumentalo-filmu-foruma-seansu-plans-regionos/
In co-operation with the Straume LMT app, Baltic Sea Documentary Film Forum viewers throughout Latvia will be able to watch two of the most popular films from previous years.
Baltic Sea Docs films on the Straume LMT app: http://straume.lmt.lv/lv/video-saraksts/dok-forums
Special Forum Events
Tuesday, September 3, 18:30 – Forum opening at film theatre K. Suns. Prior to the film The Greenaway Alphabet (2017, Netherlands, dir. Saskia Boddeke) film theoretician Dita Rietuma together with film theoretician Viktors Freibergs will help familiarize viewers with the world of legendary film director Peter Greenaway.
Wednesday, September 4, 18:00 – film theatre K. Suns. Screening of Finnish director Reetta Huhtanen’s film Gods Of Molenbeek (2019, Finland, Belgium, Germany) – a touching portrait of two boys growing up in a multi-cultural environment in Brussels that challenges the biases of adults on limits imposed by political and religious systems. After the screening, Riga International Film Festival programme curator, film critic Kristīne Simsone will hold a talk with director R. Huhtanen.
Thursday, September 5, 18:00 – film theatre K.Suns. Screening of North Macedonian film Honeyland (2019, dir. Ljubomir Stefanov and Tamara Kotevska). The pictorially-opulent story of a virgin mountain landscape and ascetic beekeeper Hatidze has gained international audience and film professional recognition, receiving a string of awards in prestigious festivals. After the screening, viewers will have the chance to delve into the film’s valuable message – journalist Elīna Kolāte will talk to outstanding Latvian cinematographer Gints Bērziņs, well-known organic beekeeping specialist Andrejs Briedis, and biology professor, insect scientist Voldemārs Spuņģis.
Thursday, September 5, 21:00 – film theatre K.Suns. Hungarian director Bernadeta Tuza-Ritter’s virtuoso documentary exploration of modern-day slavery in Europe – A Woman Captured (89 min, 2017, Hungary, Germany). After the screening – meet in person with the film’s director.
Forum Industry Events
Within the framework of the 23rd Baltic Sea Documentary Film Forum, 25 developing film project participants (producers and directors) from more than 20 countries – some 100 documentary film professionals in all – will meet in Riga this year. Joining them will be 19 international TV programme creators and film distributors, among whom will be experts from well-known organizations such as Al Jazeera, BBC, Current Time TV, IDFA Bertha Fund, MDR, CAT&Docs and others, representing not only a wide spectrum of European countries, but also the USA, Canada, Japan and Qatar. Also, for the first time in Forum history, in cooperation with the Danish Cultural Institute in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, BB Post House and film editing expert Phil Jandaly (Sweden), three awards will be presented.
This year’s Forum will also feature four emerging films from Latvia: director Kaspars Goba’s Price of Meat (Ruska Art Foundation), Ivars Zviedris’ Prison Unlocked (Ego Media), Riga Palace from director Armands Začs (SKUBA Films), as well as Italy-Argentina co-production Tango of Life from directors Erika Lifredo and Krista Burāne (VFS Films, B&B Film, Nativa Conenidos).
See here for a full list of participating projects: http://balticseadocs.lv/industry/selected-projects-2019/
Wednesday, September 4 – a seminar on film distribution at Monika Centrum Hotel (Elizabetes ielā 21) – all those interested are welcome, free admission (in English). Danish producer Ove Rishøj Jensen will discuss strategies for reaching new viewers, film marketing campaign tendencies and defining target audiences. Aleksandar Govedarica, head of well-known Canadian distribution company Syndicado, in a discussion with producer/director Gints Grūbe, will reveal the most topical distribution challenges and possible solutions.
The Forum is organized by the National Film Centre. Financial support for events by EU audio-visual sector programme Creative Europe/MEDIA, Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia and the Riga City Council.
More information:
http://balticseadocs.lv/ www.nkc.gov.lv/bsd
