Other events in Baltic States

Two Latvian films were awarded at the 63rd Berlin International Film Festival this year – Janis Nords' feature film "Mother, I Love You" (Mammu, es tevi milu!) and Evalds Lacis' animated film "Hedgehogs and the City" (Ezi un lielpilseta), Latvian film industry's public relations manager Astra Spalvena told LETA.

Both films competed in the "Generation Kplus" section of the festival – Nords' film was awarded the International Jury's Grand Prix for the Best Feature Film, endowed with EUR 7500 prize, whereas Lacis' animated film earned Special Mention from both the International Jury and Children's Jury.

"Mother, I Love You" is the second feature film directed by Nords. His first film, "Amateur" (Amatieris) was awarded as Debut of the Year at the "Lielais Kristaps" national film festival in 2008.

"Mother, I Love You", produced by studio Tanka, is a dynamic thriller about the thirteen-year-old Raimonds and his mother. The film stars Kristofers Konovalovs as Raimonds and Vita Varpina as his mother. Both actors attended the film's premiere in Berlin.

"Hedgehogs and the City" was created at the Animacijas Brigade studio. It is a story about forest animals' survival techniques in the city and hedgehogs' plans to get their forest back.

The "Generation" section of the Berlin International Film Festival comprises short and feature-length films aimed at children and teenagers. Films in the "Generation" section compete in two sub-categories: "Generation Kplus" (aimed at those aged four and above) and "Generation 14plus" (aimed at those aged fourteen and above). Awards in the section are determined by three separate juries – the Children's Jury, the Youth Jury and an international jury of experts.

The Berlin International Film Festival is one of the world's leading film festivals. Up to 400 films are shown during the festival, and around twenty compete for the "Golden Bear" and "Silver Bear" awards.