All screenings are free.
The event's opening screening on August 22 at 18:00 will bring the award-winning Estonian-Latvian-Lithuanian documentary "Bridges of Time" to the screen. The film tells the story of the Baltic New Wave's lesser-known cinematic poets. The documentary competed in more than 30 festivals worldwide, and as recently as June won the main prize at the Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF). A Q&A session with directors Kristīne Briede (Latvia) and Audrius Stonys (Lithuania) will follow the screening.
The Baltic Film Days then continue the same day with Lithuanian film "Summer Survivors," which tells the story of Indre, a young research psychologist who reluctantly agrees to transport two patients from one psychiatric unit to another. Marija Kavtaradze's debut film won the Baltic Film Competition at the 2018 Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF).
On Friday, August 23 two Estonian films will be in focus – with both directors having Q&A after the screenings. First screening will present the winner of the Estonian Film Competition at Tallinn and the first feature-length documentary “Ahto. Chasing A Dream” by Jaanis Valk, about a forgotten seafarer who was a star in his day. Ahto is the name of the Estonian pagan god of the ocean. It is also the name of one of the country's most intriguing public personalities of the 20th century, Ahto Valter, who sailed around the world between 1938 and 1940 with an eight-person crew on a 70-tonne schooner – which was also named Ahto.
The second screening on August 23 will present the Estonian Oscar submission, a first feature by Liina Trishkina-Vanhatalo titled “Take It Or Leave It” – a touching film about the difficulties and awakening of fatherly love as a reflection on the feminine condition.
For more details see the 2019 Baltic Film Days schedule in Riga at the cinema Splendid Palace.
Thursday, Aug. 22
6:00 p.m.: "Bridges of Time" Screening will have English translation via headphones.
8:30 p.m.: "Summer Survivors" Screening will have English subtitles.
Friday, Aug. 23
6:00 p.m.: "Ahto. Chasing A Dream" Screening will have English subtitles.
8:00 p.m. "Take It Or Leave It" Screening will have English subtitles.
Baltic Film Days in Latvia are organized by The National Film Center Of Latvia, with support by The Riga City Council, Ministry Of Culture Of The Republic Of Latvia, Lithuanian Film Center and Estonian Film Institute.
