Other events in Baltic States

The 19th Riga International Film Forum "Arsenals" starts this Friday, September 12 and in the course of ten days, presents a comprehensive films programme, as well as several workshops and miscellaneous events.

This year, alongside the traditional Arsenals International Film Competition, the festival comprises also the Baltic Film Competition and several films programmes – Hong Kong Film Programme 2047", French Film Programme "Modern Arcadia", "Fathers and Sons", "I LOVE, YOU LOVE": Slovak films of the 1980's, contemporary silent films programme "The Focus MUTE" and Retrospective of Yevgeny Yufit.

The festival's principal prize – USD 10,000 (LVL 4,460), will go to the winner of the International Film Competition, which will be chosen by drawing lots. Each director will also receive the "Magic Crystalz" award.

The Baltic Films Competition will be judged by an international jury and prizes will be awarded in several categories – best feature film, best documentary, best animated movie and best Baltic film.

Festival's president Elvita Ruka informed that the organizers have decided also to award a special prize this year – the "Creative energy award" for the team of producers of festival's closing film – Sergey Ovcharov's "The Orchard".

"Arsenals'" programme director Sonora Broka notified that around 80 foreign representatives – film producers and representatives of film organizations and festivals from abroad will be present at the festival.

For the first time, "Arsenals'" films will be demonstrated not only in Riga, but also in Liepaja (south-western Latvia).

The forum is opened on September 12, by the film "Salomé" (1923, U.S.), which is one of the first "arthouse" films, shot in the U.S., featuring Russian origin silent-cinema star Alla Nazimova as protagonist. On the festival's opening night, also open-air screenings of "The Bridal Party in Hardangerwill" take place at Vermanes Park.

"The Bridal Party in Hardangerwill" is among the most significant Norwegian films, marking the national romanticism period. Spectators, who will arrive to the open-air screening of "The Bridal Party in Hardangerwill" dressed and brides or grooms, will receive complimentary tickets to "Arsenals'" films.

On the second day of the festival, cinema "K. Suns" presents a campaign "Get Your Ticket in Kind" – in spite of the constantly rising prices Arsenals organizes a free of charge screening. The tickets will be available not for money, but through barter, for example, by bringing potatoes, carrots or other home-grown goods. After watching the film, the audience will be able to participate in a discussion about it and also to try the meal, prepared by the famous chef Mârtiòð Rîtiòð from the goods, brought to the cinema to "pay" for the tickets.

"Arsenâas" will take place September 12 – September 21, presenting around 100 films. Film screenings – at both halls of cinema "Riga", cinema "K.Suns", "Forum Cinemas" and Liepaja's cinema "Balle".