The submission of films for the “Lielais Kristaps” award is now closed
The National Film Award “Lielais Kristpaps” is organised by the Latvian Filmmakers’ Union (LKS) in cooperation with the National Film Centre and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia. “Lielais Kristaps” 2023 will take place on 1-4 February, offering a programme of films and special events, culminating in the award ceremony on 4 February, which will be broadcast live on Latvian television. The ceremony will award prizes in film categories including Best Feature, Best Short Feature, Best Documentary Feature, Best Documentary Short, Best Animated Feature, Best Multi-Series, Best First Feature and Best Student Film, as well as in 17 professional categories and the Audience Award. As every year, the LKS will present a Lifetime Achievement Award. “Lielais Kristaps” is the most important event in the Latvian film industry, giving film audiences and industry professionals the opportunity to see and professionally evaluate the latest Latvian films, as well as to celebrate the traditions of Latvian cinema. The “Lielā Kristaps” award was established in 1977 and this year the awards will be presented for the 35th time.
With the closing of the submission process for the National Film Award “Lielais Kristaps”, experienced film industry experts will begin their work to determine this year’s nominees for the award in 25 film and profession categories. A total of 88 films were submitted for the award.
The “Lielais Kristaps” award is open to 16 feature-length fiction films, 14 short fiction films, 9 multi-series films, 8 animation films, two of which are feature-length films, 17 feature-length documentaries, 8 short documentaries and 16 student films, including those from the Art Academy of Latvia, the National Film School of the Latvian Academy of Culture, Baltic Film, Media and Arts School and RISEBA students.
Several of the submitted films will be screened later next year, including at the “Lielais Kristaps”. The nominees will be publicly announced by 10th January, 2024.
Due to the large number of applications, the experts will work in two selection panels – one for fiction and animation films, the other for documentaries. The feature and animation juries will be composed of ten experts, including director Andis Mizišs, film critic Kristīne Simsone, screenwriter Aiva Birbele, director Dace Pūce, cinematographer Jānis Eglītis, sound director Jevgenijs Kobzevs, artist Juris Žukovskis, film critic Elīna Reitere, animation producer Sniedze Kāle and Agnese Zapāne from the National Film Centre. The documentary commission will be composed of six experts, including director Ieva Ozoliņa, director Dzintra Geka, director Uģis Olte, cinematographer Dainis Juraga, film critic Anita Uzulniece and Kristīne Matīsa from the National Film Centre, information specialist in the film industry. The experts were nominated by the professional guilds and institutions of the film industry – the Cinematographers’ Union, the Association of Film Producers, the Screenwriters’ Guild, the Directors’ Guild, the Sound Directors’ Guild, the Filmmakers’ Guild, FIPRESCI – the Latvian branch of the International Association of Film Critics, the Animation Association and the National Film Centre.
The National Film Award “Lielais Kristaps” is organised by the Latvian Filmmakers’ Union in cooperation with the National Film Centre and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia.
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