09-10-2020

The Sign Painter Tops 2020 Latvian National Film Award Nominations

By
    Latvian Film Awards Latvian Film Awards photo: Agnese Zeltina

    RIGA: The historical drama The Sign Painter / Pilsēta pie upes (previous English title City on the River), directed by Viesturs Kairišs, produced by Ego Media and coproduced by 8Heads Productions (Czech Republic) and Artbox (Lithuania), leads the Latvian National Film Awards (Lielais Kristaps) with 15 nominations. It is followed by Dzintars Dreibergs’ The Blizzard of Souls / Dvēseļu putenis, produced by Kultfilma, which was the record breaking film of Latvian box office in 2019, with 11 nominations.

    A total of 65 films were submitted for the awards. The recipient of the lifetime achievement award will be the cinematographer Kalvis Zalcmanis.

    The event will run from 12 to 15 November 2020. It will consist of showcasing the nominated films, hosting special screenings, and it will conclude with the award ceremony on 15 November. The ceremony will be broadcast live on Latvian Television.

    The National Film Awards are organised by the Latvian Filmmakers’ Union, with the support of the National Film Centre of Latvia and Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia.

    FULL LIST OF NOMINATIONS

    Best Fiction Feature Film

    Blizzard of Souls / Dvēseļu putenis (Latvia)
    Directed by Dzintars Dreibergs
    Produced by Kultfilma
    Supported by the National Film Centre of Latvia

    What Silent Gerda Knows / Ko zina Klusā Gerda (Latvia)
    Directed by Jevgeņijs Paškēvičs
    Produced by Nida Filma
    Coproduced by Studija Lokomotīve
    Supported by the National Film Centre of Latvia

    The Sign Painter / Pilsēta pie upes (Latvia, Czech Republic, Lithuania)
    Directed by Viesturs Kairišs
    Produced by Ego Media
    Coproduced by 8Heads Productions (Czech Republic), Artbox (Lithuania)
    Supported by the National Film Centre of Latvia, Lithuanian Film Centre, Czech Film Fund

    Best Feature Documentary

    Every Day of the Century. Seasons / Katra diena simtgadē. Gadalaiki (Latvia)
    Directed by Dzintra Geka
    Produced by Studija SB

    Mothers and Others / Klātbūtne (Latvia)
    Directed by Viesturs Kairišs
    Produced by Ego Media
    Supported by the National Film Centre of Latvia

    Latvian Coyote / Valkātājs (Latvia)
    Directed by Ivars Zviedris
    Produced by Dokumentālists
    Supported by the National Film Centre of Latvia

    Best Short Documentary

    Afigenna (Latvia)
    Directed by Ivars Zviedris
    Produced by Dokumentālists

    Dear Don / Mans mīļais Don (Canada)
    Directed by Pauls Dombrovskis
    Produced by Raccoon Hands Productions

    Hike 44 / Pārgājiens '44
    Directed by Lauris Ābele, Mārcis Ābele
    Produced by Tritone Studio

    The First Bridge / Pirmais tilts
    Directed by Laila Pakalniņa
    Produced by Kompānija Hargla
    Supported by the National Film Centre of Latvia

    Best Animation:

    Swan Maiden / Gulbju jaunava
    Directed by Kārlis Vītols
    Produced by Air Productions
    Supported by the National Film Centre of Latvia

    My Favourite War / Mans mīļākais karš (Latvia, Norway)
    Directed by Ilze Burkovska-Jākobsena
    Produced by Ego Media (Latvia), Bivrost Film (Norway)
    Supported by the National Film Centre of Latvia, Norwgian Film Institute

    All My Friends are Dead / Visi mani draugi ir miruši
    Directed by Nils Skapāns, Anna Zača
    Produced by VFS Films

    Best Debut:

    Song Chamber Mystery “I, going to War…” / Dainu kamermistērija "Es, karā aiziedams...”
    Directed by Aleksandrs Okonovs
    Produced by Lauska

    The Shift / Maiņa
    Directed by Reinis Kalviņš
    Produced by Mistrus Media
    Coproduced by Picture House

    To be Beautiful / Skaistai būt
    Directed by Andra Drošs
    Produced by Epata Studio
    Coproduced by Latvian Television

    Best Script:
    Ilze Burkovska-Jakobsena for My Favourite War / Mans mīļākais karš
    Boriss Frumin, Dzintars Dreibergs for Blizzard of Souls / Dvēseļu putenis
    Viesturs Kairišs for The Sign Painter / Pilsēta pie upes

    Best Director:
    Dzintars Dreibergs for Blizzard of Souls / Dvēseļu putenis
    Viesturs Kairišs for The Sign Painter / Pilsēta pie upes
    Jevgeņijs Paškevičs for What Silent Gerda Knows / Ko zina Klusā Gerda

    Best Cinematography in Feature Film:
    Gints Bērziņš for The Sign Painter / Pilsēta pie upes
    Valdis Celmiņš for Blizzard of Souls / Dvēseļu putenis
    George Chiper-Lillemark for The Shift / Maiņa
    Andrejs Rudzāts for What Silent Gerda Knows / Ko zina klusā Gerda

    Best Acting:
    Oto Brantevics for Blizzard of Souls / Dvēseļu putenis

    Agnese Cīrule for The Sign Painter / Pilsēta pie upes
    Andris Keišs, Jānis Skutelis, Egons Dombrovskis (as ensemble cast) for Cinema and Us / Kino un mēs
    Directed by Matīss Kaža
    Produced by Fenixfilm

    Edgars Ozoliņš for The Shift / Maiņa
    Dāvis Suharevskis for The Sign Painter / Pilsēta pie upes

    Best Supporting Acting:
    Gundars Āboliņš for The Sign Painter / Pilsēta pie upes
    Juozas Budraitis for The Sign Painter / Pilsēta pie upes
    Brigita Cmuntová for The Sign Painter / Pilsēta pie upes
    Gatis Gāga for What Silent Gerda Knows / Ko zina klusā Gerda
    Inese Pudža for What Silent Gerda Knows / Ko zina klusā Gerda

    Best Art Direction:
    Ieva Jurjāne for The Sign Painter / Pilsēta pie upes
    Jurģis Krāsons for What Silent Gerda Knows / Ko zina klusā Gerda
    Juris Žukovskis for Blizzard of Souls / Dvēseļu putenis

    Best Costumes:
    Liene Dobrāja for The Shift / Maiņa
    Keita for What Silent Gerda Knows / Ko zina klusā Gerda
    Rūta Kuplā, Agnė Rimkutė for The Sign Painter / Pilsēta pie upes
    Sandra Sila for Blizzard of Souls / Dvēseļu putenis

    Best Make-up:
    Dzintra Bijubena for Blizzard of Souls / Dvēseļu putenis
    Beata Rjabovska for The Sign Painter / Pilsēta pie upes
    Ilze Trumpe for What Silent Gerda Knows / Ko zina klusā Gerda

    Best Documentary Director:
    Liene Linde, Armands Začs for Mothers and Others / Klātbūtne

    Matīss Kaža for Wanderers / Klejotāji
    Produced by Fenixfilm

    Laila Pakalniņa for The First Bridge / Pirmais tilts
    Ivars Zviedris for Afigenna

    Best Cinematography in Documentary:
    Gints Bērziņš for The First Bridge / Pirmais tilts
    Aleksandrs Grebņevs for Wanderers / Klejotāji
    Viktors Grībermans, Aivars Lubānietis for Every Day of the Century. Seasons / Katra diena simtgadē. Gadalaiki
    Haralds Ozols, Ivars Zviedris for Latvian Coyote / Valkātājs

    Best Animation Director:
    Ilze Burkovska-Jakobsena for My Favourite War / Mans mīļākais karš
    Nils Skapāns, Anna Zača for All My Friends are Dead / Visi mani draugi ir miruši
    Kārlis Vītols for Swan Maiden / Gulbju jaunava

    Best Animation Artist:
    Kristīne Jurjāne, Toms Burāns for Māsiņas Puteklītes
    Directed by Krista Burāne
    Produced by VFS Films

    Svein Nyhus, Krišjānis Ābols, Laima Puntule for My Favourite War / Mans mīļākais karš
    Kārlis Vītols for Swan Maiden / Gulbju jaunava

    Best Original Music:
    Kārlis Auzāns for My Favourite War / Mans mīļākais karš
    Justė Janulytė, Juris Vaivods for The Sign Painter / Pilsēta pie upes
    Lolita Ritmanis for Blizzard of Souls / Dvēseļu putenis

    Best Sound:
    Ernests Ansons for My Favourite War / Mans mīļākais karš
    Ludvīks Bohadlo, Roberts Slezaks for The Sign Painter / Pilsēta pie upes
    Anrijs Krenbergs for What Silent Gerda Knows / Ko zina klusā Gerda
    Aleksandrs Vaicahovskis for Blizzard of Souls / Dvēseļu putenis

    Best Editing:
    Gatis Belogrudovs for Blizzard of Souls / Dvēseļu putenis
    Armands Začs for The Sign Painter / Pilsēta pie upes
    Madara Didrihsone, Andra Doršs, Arta Ģiga, Armands Zvirbulis for Every Day of the Century. Seasons / Katra diena simtgadē. Gadalaiki