Latvia’s National Film Award “Lielais Kristaps” Announces 2026 Ceremony

The National Film Award “Lielais Kristaps,” Latvia’s most prestigious film honor, is preparing for its 2026 ceremony on February 23rd. The event will feature film premieres, special screenings, and the highly anticipated awards presentation [Lielais Kristaps Official Website].

A Legacy of Latvian Cinema

Established in 1977, “Lielais Kristaps” has evolved into Latvia’s equivalent of the Academy Awards, recognizing excellence in the nation’s film industry for the 28th time [LSM English]. The awards celebrate the artistic and professional achievements of Latvian filmmakers.

Expanded Categories and Increased Competition

The 2026 awards will feature several updates to its category structure. The “Best Film” category now encompasses feature films, documentaries, and animated films, highlighting the diversity of Latvian cinematic output. The “Best Short Film” category has been added, and the “Best Minority Co-production” category has returned, acknowledging the growing international collaborations within the Latvian film industry.

This year, a total of 85 films were submitted across various categories, including 6 feature films, 5 multi-series films, 11 minority co-production films, 14 short feature films, 11 full-length documentary films, 8 short-length documentary films, and 3 animated films, including 1 full-length film, as well as 27 student films [Lielais Kristaps Official Website].

Rigorous Evaluation Process

The submitted films undergo a two-tiered evaluation process. Expert commissions, comprised of experienced film professionals – directors, screenwriters, cinematographers, critics, and researchers – assess feature films and animation separately from documentary cinema. This ensures a high-quality and independent evaluation of all submissions [Lielais Kristaps Official Website].

Lifetime Achievement Award

Film stuntman Jānis Uldis Veispals will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his significant contribution to the development of Latvian cinema, cultural formation, and the strengthening of the stuntman profession as an integral part of film art [Lielais Kristaps Official Website].

Past Winners

In 2016, Renārs Vimba’s Es esmu šeit (Mellow Mud) and Vitaly Mansky’s Under the Sun were the main award winners [LSM English]. Ulrich Matthes received the Best Actor award for his role in Exiled, and Elīna Vaska was named Best Actress for her performance in Mellow Mud. Jānis Streičs received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016 [Wikipedia].