Lielais Kristaps National Film Award Set to Honor Latvian Cinema

Riga, Latvia – The Latvian film industry is gearing up for the National Cinema Award “Lielais Kristaps,” with the announcement of nominees and the upcoming award ceremony scheduled for March 1, 2026, at the Riga Congress House. An international jury comprised of film professionals from Finland, Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania will determine the laureates.

International Jury to Evaluate Nominees

Six jurors will evaluate the nominated works: Ilka Malita (Finland), Zane Valeniece (Latvia), Marge Līske (Estonia), Juris Poškus (Latvia), Guna Zariņa (Latvia), and Marija Razgute (Lithuania). The jury represents diverse expertise in film production, directing, distribution, media management, and international cooperation.

Jury Member Highlights

• Ilka Malita: A Finnish film and media professional with over 35 years of experience as a producer, distributor, and media manager. He has produced 28 feature films and numerous documentaries, and was recognized as Producer of the Year in Finland in 2006.
• Marge Līske: Heads the industry platform “Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event” of the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, promoting international collaboration in the Baltic and Nordic regions. She previously served as the executive director of the Estonian Film Institute.
• Juris Poškus: A Latvian director, screenwriter, and editor whose films have garnered recognition at international festivals, including awards for “But the hour comes” in 2003 and “Monotony” in 2007. His latest film is “The Sun Shines 24 Hours” (2023).
• Marija Razgute: A Lithuanian film producer and founder of “M-Films,” with films premiering and winning awards at festivals like Sundance, Karlovy Vary, and Toronto. Her latest work, “How to Divorce During the War,” premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival and won the World Cinema Dramatic Direction Award.
• Zane Valeniece: Head of the film purchasing department of Latvian Public Media, responsible for selecting films for LTV channels and the replay.lsm.lv platform.
• Guna Zariņa: A versatile Latvian actress with numerous awards, including two “Lielais Kristaps” awards for her roles in “Normālī lāvādī” (2015) and “Emīlija. Queen of the Latvian Press.”

Award Ceremony and Audience Award

The award ceremony, directed by Jānis Ābele, will be held on March 1 at 21:00 at the Riga Congress House. The ceremony will present both jury awards and special awards, including the Audience Award. Voting for the Audience Award is open on the LSM website until February 26 at 11:59 p.m., with one vote allowed per day.

Organizers and Sponsors

The National Cinema Award “Lielais Kristaps” is organized by the association “Latvijas Kinematografistu savienė” in cooperation with the National Cinema Center and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia. Sponsors include the Riga City Council, “LMT Group,” and “Hanna Pro,” in cooperation with the Riga House of Congress, the Latvian National Archives, “Cinevera,” “Valmiermuiža,” “Wellton Hotels,” “Mārtiņa Beķereja,” “Alkoutlet,” and “Illy.”