AGP Executive Report

Weekend Picks: Riga International Film Festival continues across the city through October 25, while illusionist Edžus performs in Ventspils on October 17 and Liepāja on October 18. Rock band Dzelzs Vilks marks its 35th anniversary with a Valmiera show tonight. Latvian Cinema: Dzintars Dreibergs’ Soviet-era Riga drama Escape Net will open the FilmFestival Cottbus on November 3, among a programme of 147 films from 43 countries. Riga Heritage: The city council has approved a €22 million renovation plan for the Central Market, while Rīga Cathedral is set to restore its historic chime. Liepāja 2027: Tickets are on sale for the opening concert as the city prepares for its year as European Capital of Culture.

Latvian Stories on Screen: The 1980s-set comedy Soviet Jeans, about an underground denim business in a Riga psychiatric hospital, is drawing attention to Latvia’s television exports. FilmFestival Cottbus will open with Latvian director Dzintars Dreibergs’ ESCAPE NET, a Soviet-era Riga drama about a basketball player caught under KGB suspicion. Riga Heritage: The city council has approved plans to invest more than €22 million in renovating Riga Central Market’s historic pavilions and infrastructure, with management extended to 2067. Music and Culture: Liepāja has put tickets on sale for the opening concert of its 2027 Capital of Culture programme, while Rīga Cathedral is set to restore its historic chime.

Latvian Arts: A new stamp and envelope honouring sculptor Teodors Zaļkalns go on sale today, marking 150 years since his birth. Riga Central Market: The city council approved plans for more than €22 million in renovation and preservation work, including upgrades to the historic pavilions and surrounding area. Public Media: LSM head Baiba Zūzena warned that fast-tracked legal amendments could disrupt plans to unite Latvian Radio and Latvian Television while retaining their familiar brands. Film: Tallinn’s Baltic Film Competition will screen 12 titles, including three world premieres, with Latvian talent featured in an internationally collaborative lineup. Liepāja 2027: Tickets are on sale for the opening concert as the city prepares for its year as European Capital of Culture.

Riga’s Central Market: The city council approved plans for more than €22 million in investment to restore the market’s historic pavilions and upgrade its grounds and infrastructure. New Latvian Citizens: Saeima granted citizenship to Ukrainian canoeist Danylo Michuda, who hopes to represent Latvia, and Indian scientist Divya Kannan Vishwanath, whose work focuses on AI and pharmaceutical research. Culture and Health: A Riga conference today brings together international experts to explore how arts and healthcare can work together, with LSM streaming the discussions. Baltic Cinema: Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival’s Baltic competition will feature 12 films, including international co-productions highlighting the region’s growing role in filmmaking. Latvian Music: LTV received 125 submissions for Supernova 2027, the contest to choose Latvia’s Eurovision entry; the final is set for February 6. Art on a Stamp: A new stamp honoring Latvian sculptor Teodors Zaļkalns goes on sale October 16, marking 150 years since his birth.

Baltic Cinema: Tallinn Black Nights has unveiled 12 films for its Baltic Competition, including three world premieres. The lineup spans political drama, comedy, noir, punk rock and science fiction, with international collaboration a strong theme. Latvian Art: A new stamp and envelope honouring sculptor Teodors Zaļkalns will go on sale on October 16, marking 150 years since his birth. Music: LTV received 125 entries for Supernova 2027; the winner will represent Latvia at Eurovision, with the final set for February 6. Liepāja 2027: Tickets are on sale for the opening concert as the city prepares for its year as European Capital of Culture. Latvian Literature: Latvia is also in the spotlight at the Frankfurt Book Fair, with a Latvian book exhibition opening at the European Parliament.

Art & Heritage: A new stamp and envelope honouring Latvian sculptor Teodors Zaļkalns will go on sale on 16 October, marking 150 years since his birth. Music: LTV received 125 songs for Supernova 2027; the winner will represent Latvia at Eurovision, with the national final set for 6 February. Latvian Film: Two projects are among 15 selected for Tallinn’s Baltic Event co-production market: Dace Pūce’s thriller Hide and Seek and Toms Harjo’s family drama In the Truth. Books: Latvian children’s and historical literature drew interest at the Frankfurt Book Fair, where Dace Krēsliņa and Sven Kuzmin represented the country. Liepāja 2027: Tickets are on sale for the European Capital of Culture opening concert, featuring the world premiere of a new work by Ēriks Ešenvalds on 23 January. Community Arts: An exhibition at Riga’s Spice shopping centre features donated paintings to raise funds for families of people missing in Nepal; the auction is set for 1 November.

Baltic Film: Six of 15 projects chosen for Tallinn’s Baltic Event Co-Production Market come from the region. Latvia is represented by In the Truth, a coming-of-age story about a teenage Jehovah’s Witness, and Dace Pūce’s family thriller Hide and Seek. Eurovision: LTV received 125 songs for Supernova 2027, with the winning act set to represent Latvia in Bulgaria. The final is planned for February 6 at Xiaomi Arena. Liepāja 2027: Tickets are on sale for the European Capital of Culture opening concert on January 23. The programme includes the premiere of a new work by composer Ēriks Ešenvalds. Books: Latvian children’s and historical literature drew interest at the Frankfurt Book Fair, including Dace Krēsliņa’s Postaža parkā and Sven Kuzmin’s Brīvībene. History: A study of a 1,200-year-old Latvian grave found six people buried together; injuries to three men suggest they may have died in a Viking-era raid.

Liepāja 2027: Tickets are on sale for the Capital of Culture opening concert on January 23, featuring the world premiere of a new work by Latvian composer Ēriks Ešenvalds. Latvian Books Abroad: Latvian children’s and historical literature drew interest at the Frankfurt Book Fair, where Sven Kuzmin presented a German translation of Brīvībene. Polish Education: A conference at the Saeima marks 35 years since the revival of Polish education in Latvia and celebrates the legacy of Ita Kozakeviča. Autumn Gathering: Around 200 people shared a six-metre apple pie at a family-friendly celebration in Riga’s Nordale Pagalms. Rīga Cathedral: Three new bells will join the cathedral’s historic chimes, restoring a tradition disrupted by losses during the First World War. Latvian Film: Reinis Kalviņš’ crime drama The Bog, set in a small Latvian town, premiered at the Warsaw International Film Festival.

Polish Education: A conference at the Saeima today marks 35 years since the revival of Polish education in Latvia, celebrating educator and activist Ita Kozakeviča and discussing the future of Polish schools. Rīga Heritage: Three new bells are set to restore the historic chime of Rīga Cathedral, more than 110 years after most of its original bells were lost during the First World War. Liepāja 2027: The city has offered a lively, wind-whipped preview of its European Capital of Culture year, with performances at the Great Amber concert hall hinting at an eclectic programme. Latvian Cinema: Reinis Kalviņš’s crime drama The Bog, set in a small Latvian town, premiered at the Warsaw International Film Festival, where a decades-old disappearance resurfaces after a body is found in a peat bog. Community Life: Around 200 guests gathered in Riga to share a six-metre apple pie and enjoy autumn activities. Archaeology: Genetic research into a 1,200-year-old grave near the Gulf of Riga found family ties among six people; sharp-force injuries suggest they may have died in a raid or battle.

Autumn Gathering: Around 200 people celebrated at Riga’s Nordale Pagalms on Sunday, sharing a six-metre apple pie and family activities. Living Heritage: Riga Cathedral has consecrated three new bells, restoring its historic chime more than 110 years after most of its bells were lost during the First World War. Education & Identity: A Saeima conference on Tuesday will mark 35 years since the revival of Polish education in Latvia and honour educator Ita Kozakeviča. Liepāja 2027: The city offered a lively, windswept preview of its European Capital of Culture year, with performances hinting at next year’s programme. Latvian Film: Reinis Kalviņš’ crime drama The Bog, set in a small Latvian town, premiered at the Warsaw International Film Festival. Local Discovery: A rare lichen species has been found on an old wooden building at the Kalna Kaibēni memorial museum.

Latvian Cinema: Reinis Kalviņš’ crime drama The Bog premiered at the Warsaw International Film Festival. Set in a small Latvian town, it follows a mystery that resurfaces when a body is found in a bog. Film Talent: Latvian short Seeing John Malkovich, by director Ildze Felsberga and producer Zane Gulbe, won three awards at the Baltic Pitching Forum in Vilnius. Nature & Heritage: A lichen species recorded at only a few Baltic sites was found on an old wooden building at the Kalna Kaibēni memorial museum.

Latvian Nature: A rare lichen species has been found on an old wooden building at the Kalna Kaibēni memorial museum. Only a few sites are known across the Baltics. Film: Latvian short film Seeing John Malkovich won three awards at the Baltic Pitching Forum in Vilnius, sharing top honours with a Lithuanian animation project. Sport: Latvia’s Emils Vasermanis placed fifth in the men’s 10m air pistol final at the ISSF World Cup.

Latvian Nature & Heritage: A lichen rarely recorded in the Baltics has been found on an old wooden building at the Kalna Kaibēni memorial museum, linking a scientific discovery with a landmark of Latvian literary history. Baltic Film: Latvian short Seeing John Malkovich took three awards at the Baltic Pitching Forum in Vilnius, sharing top honours with a Lithuanian animation project. Latvian Culture Abroad: A Latvian book exhibition opened at the European Parliament, bringing the country’s literary work to an international audience.

Film & Culture: Latvia’s Seeing John Malkovich was among the biggest winners at the 14th Baltic Pitching Forum in Vilnius, taking three awards alongside Lithuania’s Walks. I Love, Therefore I Am. Latvian filmmakers also feature in the Tallinn Black Nights festival lineup. Nature & Heritage: A lichen species rarely recorded in the Baltics has been found on an old wooden building at the Kalna Kaibēni memorial museum. Education: Latvia’s population aged 5–14 is projected to shrink by 23% between 2024 and 2033, one of the steepest declines in an OECD forecast—raising questions about the future shape of the country’s schools.

Baltic Film: Latvia’s short film Seeing John Malkovich won three awards at the 14th Baltic Pitching Forum, sharing top honours with a Lithuanian project. Nature & Heritage: A rare lichen species has been found on an old wooden building at the Kalna Kaibēni memorial museum; only a few Baltic locations are known. Arts Across Europe: A Latvian book exhibition has opened at the European Parliament, while Tallinn’s upcoming film festival is set to showcase Latvian talent. Education: Latvia’s school-age population is projected to shrink by 23% by 2033, one of the steepest declines in an OECD comparison. Latvian Design: Latvijas Banka’s new collector coin celebrates the chestnut tree, long featured in Latvian art and literature.

Nature & Heritage: A rare lichen species has been found on an old wooden building at the Kalna Kaibēni memorial museum, which honours Latvian writers Reinis and Matīss Kaudzīši. Only a few sites are known in the Baltic states. Film & Festivals: The Baltic Pitching Forum has named its winners after 12 projects were presented in Vilnius, while Amsterdam’s IDFA Forum selected 47 documentary projects from around the world. Latvian Design: Latvijas Banka’s new silver collector coin, “Chestnut,” draws on the tree’s place in Latvian art, literature and folklore. Screen Culture: Latvian filmmaker wins a €400,000 Grand Prix at Kazakhstan’s AI film festival; meanwhile, Latvia’s film industry is reacting to a U-turn on a proposed streaming tax.