In the ancient Hanseatic city of Lübeck, which is located in Northern Germany, in the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein, the only film festival in Europe dedicated specifically to Northern European cinematography is taking place for the 66th time. This year it takes place from November 6th to November 10th, with plans to show 169 films in 212 public screenings, around 60% of the festival program will be available online throughout Germany.
A special and historical event for the Latvian film industry is the fact that the Lübeck festival will be opened with Gint Zilbalož’s film Stream. “We are excited about the opportunity to open the festival with the work of a young Latvian artist,” says Tomas Hailers, artistic director of the Lübeck festival. “With his fascinating and realistic imagery, the author has created his own form of artistic utopia.” For the movie Stream A total of four screenings are scheduled in Lübeck (November 6-10), tickets for two are already sold out.
Four screenings at the Lübeck festival (November 7-10) are also planned for the feature film by director Dāvjas Sīmanis Mary’s silence, which had its world premiere in February at the Berlin Film Festival and received the Ecumenical Jury Award, while in autumn Dāvis Sīmanis was awarded the Baltic Assembly Award in Art for the film.
The world’s most sought-after Latvian new series – directed by Stanislav Tokalov and Jura Kursieš – has been selected for the Lübeck Film Days program Soviet jeans – but Latvia is most widely represented in the section of children’s and youth films. The school comedy of directors Marta Seleckas and Andras Doršs will be shown there Bum!, which has just appeared in the repertoire of Latvian cinemas, as well as animated short films – a puppet film directed by Dace Rīdūze Feet in the air and the cycle of animated short films by director Krista Burāne produced in the studio VFS Films A cabinet of wonderswhich was created by artists Kristīne Jurjāne, Anete Melece, Edmunds Jansons, Anna Zača and Toms Burāns.
In parallel with the film screenings intended for the general public, a section of film industry events takes place in Lübeck Lübeck meetingsand a new initiative has been running there for the second year Future North – an opportunity for young talents from the Nordic and Baltic countries to come to the center of attention of the European film industry, to present their new projects, to gain experience and contacts in the industry. Among the six talents this year, Rūta Znotiņa, a young director from Latvia, who is in the studio, was chosen for the platform Trickster Pictures with the support of the National Cinema Center is working on a long-term observation – a documentary film Puika/Bound Together.
Several juries work in nine sections at the Lübeck Festival, which will award a total of 12 prizes (prize fund – 65,000 EUR), one of which is the Baltic Film Prize, the recipient of which is voted by representatives of film institutions in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. The voice of Latvia in this jury is Inga Blese, head of the film production department of the National Cinema Center and feature film expert. This year, Finnish actress Kati Outinena will receive the Honorary Award of the Lübeck Festival, also the best-known character in the films of the Finnish director Aki Kaurismeki, who is beloved in Latvia, but a special concert was held for the first time in which the music of Pēter Vaskas and Edvards Grieg was played.
The Lübeck Film Festival: A Cinematic Feast for Northern European Talent!
Ah, Lübeck! The crime-ridden backdrop for medieval drama, filled with cobblestones and questionable decisions when it comes to local cuisine. This quaint city, nestled in Northern Germany, is rolling out the red carpet for the 66th Lübeck Film Festival from November 6th to November 10th. Or as I like to call it, “The annual excuse for filmmakers to complain about their personal lives while getting free popcorn!”
So Much Cinema, So Little Time!
With a whopping 169 films scheduled across 212 screenings, this festival is like a buffet of cinematic delights, minus the food poisoning. And if you can’t make it all the way to Lübeck (perhaps still recovering from last year’s festival?), fear not! Approximately 60% of the program will be available online for everyone in Germany. Yes, that’s right: you too can bask in the glory of Northern European cinema from the comfort of your couch—preferably without your pants on. We all know that’s how businesses run these days!
Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome to the Juggernaut of Film!
This year, the Latvian cinema is getting a bit of a glow-up. They’ve even snagged prime placement for the festival’s opening film: Gint Zilbalož’s Stream. Now, isn’t that ironic? The film industry often feels like a vast ocean where only a few survive. But here we are, staring at the work of a “young Latvian artist”—who, let’s be honest, probably studied hard while we were busy perfecting the art of TikTok dances instead of watching foreign films. According to Tomas Hailers, the artistic director, this film offers “fascinating and realistic imagery.” Which, let’s face it, sounds much better than my last holiday photos!
A FIRST-RATE BALTIC FULFILLMENT BRITISH TEA TIME!
And that’s not all! We’ve also got Dāvjas Sīmanis’ Mary’s Silence, which is causing quite the stir after taking home awards left and right, including the renowned Ecumenical Jury Award at the Berlin Film Festival. If that doesn’t scream “You should definitely watch this” louder than my Aunt Edna at Christmas dinner, I don’t know what does.
Want Laughs? Look to the Youngsters!
Straight from Latvia, a school comedy called Bum! is ready to rock the kids’ section. Because if there’s one thing we all love, it’s some good ol’ schadenfreude wrapped in humor targeted at children—a splendid recipe for long-term therapy! But wait—there’s more! Animated shorts like Dace Rīdūze’s Feet in the Air are ready to take you into puppet territory. If puppets are involved, you know it’s going to be a wild ride! A fair warning to puppet haters: your loss is the children’s gain, folks. And you call us adults the mature ones?
An Opportunity for Young Talents: Know the Future!
The Lübeck Meetings event serves as a burgeoning platform for young filmmakers from the Nordic and Baltic regions. They get to pitch their ideas and rub elbows with industry pros while drinking overpriced coffee. Rūta Znotiņa, a promising young director from Latvia, will showcase her documentary, Puika/Bound Together. Just imagine the networking opportunities! The only thing she’ll need to be cautious of is inventing a quirky anecdote—because let’s face it, every good director should have a story about that one awkward encounter with a celebrity.
The Prize of Glory!
As part of the Lübeck Festival, various juries will evaluate films across nine sections, ultimately awarding twelve prizes totaling a prize fund of 65,000 EUR. Who doesn’t like the idea of gloating about an award while stuffing their face with film festival snacks? What’s even better? The festival will confer the Baltic Film Prize to the best film, chosen by a jury that includes ‘a voice from Latvia’—and yes, that sounds like a suspiciously good karaoke night waiting to happen. And if that wasn’t enough, Finnish actress Kati Outinena is set to receive the Honorary Award. If nothing else, go for the speeches that will definitely involve both tears and laughter!
Conclusion: Streaming Chaos Awaits!
Folks, whether you’re a film buff, a casual viewer, or someone just looking for an excuse not to spend the week cleaning the house, the Lübeck Film Festival promises a cinematic ride that’s bound to entertain. With plenty of shorts, award-winning features, and a chance to mingle with the best of them—what more could you ask for? So, grab your tickets (while you still can) and tune in for what’s sure to be an unforgettable week in the beautiful, yet perpetually windy Lübeck. Because who says art and cinema can’t be as fun as a clown at a children’s party? Well, everyone once they end up needing therapy, but you get the idea!
Feel free to adapt any portions to better fit your desired style. Enjoy presenting the Lübeck Film Festival!
In the historic Hanseatic city of Lübeck, nestled in the picturesque region of Schleswig-Holstein in Northern Germany, the Lübeck Nordic Film Days is celebrating its 66th edition. Running from November 6th to November 10th, this prestigious festival will showcase a remarkable lineup of 169 films through 212 public screenings. Notably, around 60% of the festival’s programming will be accessible online, reaching audiences across Germany.
A significant highlight for the Latvian film industry is the festival’s opening feature, the film Stream by the talented young director Gint Zilbalož. “We are excited about the opportunity to open the festival with the work of a young Latvian artist,” shares Tomas Hailers, the artistic director of the Lübeck festival. “With his captivating and authentic imagery, the author has crafted a unique form of artistic utopia.” For Stream, which will be showcased four times between November 6th and 10th, two screenings have already sold out, underscoring the film’s popularity.
Additionally, the festival will screen Dāvjas Sīmanis’s thought-provoking feature film Mary’s Silence on four occasions from November 7th to 10th. This critically acclaimed film had its world premiere in February at the esteemed Berlin Film Festival, where it garnered the prestigious Ecumenical Jury Award. In a further testament to its excellence, Sīmanis was recently honored with the Baltic Assembly Award in Art for his exceptional work on this film.
Moreover, the acclaimed Latvian new series Soviet Jeans, directed by Stanislav Tokalov and Jura Kursieš, has been selected for the Lübeck Film Days program. Latvia’s representation is notably strong in the children’s and youth film categories, featuring the school comedy Bum! directed by Marta Seleckas and Andras Doršs, which has just hit Latvian cinemas. The lineup also includes animated short films, such as Dace Rīdūze’s puppet film Feet in the Air and Krista Burāne’s animated short film cycle A Cabinet of Wonders, produced by the creative studio VFS Films and featuring artists like Kristīne Jurjāne, Anete Melece, Edmunds Jansons, Anna Zača, and Toms Burāns.
In conjunction with these public screenings, the festival hosts a film industry section known as the Lübeck Meetings. This year, the initiative Future North returns for its second edition, providing a platform for emerging talents from the Nordic and Baltic regions to showcase their projects and forge invaluable industry connections. Among this year’s six selected talents is Rūta Znotiņa, a promising young director from Latvia. Supported by the National Cinema Center and working with the studio Trickster Pictures, Znotiņa is currently developing a long-term observational documentary film titled Puika/Bound Together.
During the Lübeck Festival, several juries will operate across nine sections, collectively granting 12 awards from a prize fund of €65,000, which includes the esteemed Baltic Film Prize. This award is determined by a jury comprised of representatives from film institutions in Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. Representing Latvia on this jury is Inga Blese, the head of the film production department at the National Cinema Center and a recognized feature film expert. Furthermore, this year, Finnish actress Kati Outinena will be bestowed with the Honorary Award of the Lübeck Festival, recognized for her roles in beloved films by the Finnish filmmaker Aki Kaurismäki, who enjoys immense popularity in Latvia. In a special tribute to the festival’s cultural richness, a concert was organized for the first time, highlighting the enchanting music of Pēter Vaskas and Edvards Grieg.
Mated short Taking Flight, showcasing the diversity and creativity of contemporary Latvian cinema.
As part of the festival’s initiatives, the Lübeck Meetings will provide a platform for young filmmakers from the Nordic and Baltic regions. Here, aspiring directors can pitch their projects to industry professionals. One of the featured works will be Rūta Znotiņa’s documentary Puika/Bound Together, aimed at highlighting the talents and narratives emerging from this vibrant scene. The Meetings promise invaluable networking opportunities, allowing young filmmakers to make crucial connections in the film industry.
Alongside the rich selection of films, the Lübeck festival will also be handing out awards through various juries across nine sections, totaling twelve prizes and a prize fund of 65,000 EUR. This includes the coveted Baltic Film Prize, which will be selected by a jury that includes representatives from Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, thereby recognizing and celebrating the best cinematic talents from the region.
In a nod to the festival’s tradition of honoring influential figures in cinema, Finnish actress Kati Outinena will receive the Honorary Award this year. Known for her iconic roles in Aki Kaurismäki’s films, Outinena’s presence adds an extra layer of prestige to the festival.
Whether you are a die-hard cinephile eager to discover new talent or simply someone looking for a cultural outing in the charming setting of Lübeck, this year’s festival promises an engaging and enriching experience. Come and explore the mesmerizing world of Nordic and Baltic cinema, where stories come alive on the big screen! Grab your tickets and prepare for an unforgettable journey into the heart of film, creativity, and artistic expression.