From 10 to 18 September, the legendary International Film Festival Arsenal will be held in Riga. The festival, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, is traditionally supported by Rietumu Bank. Since its establishment in the second half of the 1980s by its irreplaceable inspirer and promoter Augusts Sukuts the Festival has been a catalyst in the cultural revolution in the Baltic States. The latest cinematic products from Europe – including intellectual, art house, provocative films, pictures by talented young Baltic directors – have been a breath of fresh air for cinema buffs and have considerably increased the number of cinema lovers.
During all subsequent years Arsenal has remained true to its style and keeps surprising audiences, simultaneously retaining the high quality of its festival programme and invariably gathering full theatres.
As the guests, including Minister of Culture of Latvia Sarmite Elerte and ex Prime-Minister of Latvia and current Head of the Supervisory Board of International Film Centre Maris Gailis, of the Arsenal press-conference said, the Festival really is an event in Latvian cultural life that is worth special attention.
From the left:
The main coordinator of the Arsenal program Agnese Surkova
Head of PR and Marketing Department of Rietumu Sergey Grodnikov
CEO of Arsenal Sharlote Liduma
Head of the Council of the International Cinema Centre Maris Gailis
Minister of Culture of Latvia Sarmite Elerte
Posters of Arsenal are always very novel
“This is a festival that is beyond politics. One that demonstrates the best tendencies in world cinematography, whether it be in films from Europe, Russia or Asia. The festival gathers all true films fans, regardless of their views, language or nationality. In this respect, year after year, the Festival proves that culture can sometimes do more to unite a community than banners or declarations from national leaders,” says Rietumu Bank Council member Alexander Gafin.
This year Arsenal will focus on the cinema of South-East Asia, including films shot in the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia. In recent years, films from this region have held strong positions at prestigious international film festivals, enchanting spectators with their exotic character, depth and Eastern melancholy.
There is also a special programme of films made in Russia and other CIS countries. Among them are “On Saturday” by Alexander Mindadze, “Gromozeka” by Vladimir Kott, “Bibinur” by Yuri Feting and the first Latvian showing of Yuri Kara’s film, “The Master and Margarita”, which has been arranged to coincide with the 120th anniversary of the birth of Mikhail Bulgakov. Alexander Mindadze, Yuri Kara and Yuri Feting will be present at the festival and meet with movie-goers.
Other festival attractions will include a special programme by the New European Cinema, films about music and musicians, documentaries in 3D format by such masters as Werner Herzog and Wim Wenders, as well the sheer pleasure from simply watching classic films by some of the greats: Woody Allen, Gus Van Sant and Terrence Mallick.
This year Arsenal will hold two competitions: one for the Baltic States and a second international competition. As usually, the winners will receive original prizes. One of the jury members will be well-known Russian cinema historian, Sergey Lavrentyev, who will also supervise the selection of films for the Kinotavr film festival in Sochi.
Within the framework of the festival meetings with film directors, workshops, master classes and lectures about the art of cinema will be organized.
Starting in early September, the Arsenals festival programme will be available online at
www.arsenals.lv.
Eleonora Gailisha Mass Media and Public Relations
Phone: +371-67020506
Fax: +371-67020563
E-mail:
egailisha@rietumu.lv
