SHORT RIGA
As an individual department within this year’s festival the team behind the wittily titled SHORT RIGA have devised a remarkable feat – altogether three competitions of new shorts from around the world, Baltic student films and a separate category for music videos. Showcased within three respective programmes SHORT RIGA will take over the newly established small theater KINO BIZE as well as organise workshops and host an award ceremony.
In the newly founded Soviet Union, where people still honestly believe in a bright future, Polina, a commander of the Red Army, and her friends, avant-garde artists (a composer, a director, a sculptor, an architect, and a theatre director), are sent to the north of Russia to convince, using cultural methods, the local tribes of the advantages of the new government.
GO TO FILM
Norie, a Japanese anthropology student, comes to Latvia to do a Masters research of the Suiti region. There she meets one of oldest Suiti singers Marija Steimane, also known as Ruch, who doesn’t speak a word of English, but she sings. Norie learns the Latvian language and songs.
GO TO FILM
In the middle of a grey sea there is the grey Isle of Seals. On the grey island grey hunters lead their grey lives. All here is simple and harsh. Seals and hunters cohabit in a brutal harmony. One day a photographer arrives on the island to document their environment.
GO TO FILM
What can Matilda do when it’s summer, but it’s raining, and she has to stay indoors? If it were winter, instead of the rain there would be lovely snow. Matilda’s dream of winter holidays can be brought to life by her little friends. Where do they live? In the freezer, of course! The film programme is made possible thanks to the support of EEA Grants un Ministry of Culture Republic of Latvia.
GO TO FILM
Have you ever swam in a suit? Or ridden a skateboard on fire? Have you played a game of chess while there’s golden confetti falling from the ceiling? Have you maybe tried drawing on the black board with a chalk in your mouth? No? “Rīgas Modes” offers you a glimpse of all these activities and more, providing the audience with a collection of deeply upsetting, inspiring, unreal and beautiful images which will either make you want to start a new Pinterest board, or drive you mad. Or possibly both.
GO TO FILM
