RIGA: Projects from the Ukraine, Latvia and Finland won awards at the 26th edition of Baltic Sea Forum for Documentaries (Baltic Sea Docs), which ran 5-11 September 2022.

The Riga International Film Festival (RIGA IFF) will bring together local and international audiences for the ninth time this year. RIGA IFF takes place between 13 and 23 October and is one of the most important film events in the Baltic Sea region. The broad programme of more than 100 local, European, and international films will screen both in person and online. The full festival programme, which is divided into 12 sections and 6 competitions, is now available on the festival website: rigaiff.lv.

RIGA: Ten films will vie in the Feature Film Competition of the 9th Riga International Film Festival, which will take place in person and online 13 – 23 October 2022. More than 100 titles will screen in 12 sections and six competition programmes.

TALLINN: More than 30 of Estonia's cultural institutions, including the Estonian Film Institute, the Estonian Film Industry Cluster, the Estonian Cinema Association, Forum Cinemas, Artis Cinemas and the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF), have appealed in an open letter to the government for an increase in salaries and operating grants.

PRAGUE: The period drama Il Boemo by Petr Václav has been selected by the Czech Film and Television Academy (CFTA) as Czech Republic’s candidate for the 95th Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences award in the Best International Feature Film category. The film is a Czech/Italian/Slovak coproduction.

BUCHAREST: Isn’t It a Beautiful World (UK) directed by Joseph Wilson was awarded Best Film in the International Competition of the 8th edition of the Bucharest International Dance Festival. The only dance film festival in Romania was held 8 – 11 September 2022.

In Prague, 12th Sept 2022 – The Czech Film and Television Academy (CFTA), which presents the Czech Lion Awards to Czech films, also chooses the candidate for the Oscar in the category Best International Feature Film every year. This year the academics decided by voting to send the film Il Boemo directed and written by Petr Václav to fight for the Czech Republic. The historical epic movie introduces the most famous Czech composer of the 18th century Josef Mysliveček and the leading actor representing the composer is Vojtěch Dyk. The movie will be premiered in the main competition of the San Sebastian film festival, which starts this Friday. It will be officially released in Czech cinemas on 20th October 2022.

VENICE: FNE has teamed up with FIPRESCI critics attending the Venice Film Festival to rate the films in the Main Competition, Orizzonti, Venice Days and Critics Week giving the films 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 stars. 5 is the best and 1 is the worst. The ratings give an overview of critics’ opinions from a large number of countries and provide insights to what critics in many different countries think about the programme.

LJUBLJANA: Orchestra / Orkester by Matevž Luzar has been selected as Slovenia’s candidate for the 95th Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences award in the Best International Feature Film category. The film is a Slovenian/Croatian coproduction.

BUDAPEST: Blockade by Ádám Tősér has been selected as Hungary’s candidate for the 95th Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences award in the Best International Feature Film category.