Director: Maksym Vasyanovich

Script: Maksym Vasyanovich

Camera: Sergiy Stretsenko, Vadim Iljkov, Andriy Ljitsetsiy

Ukraine, 2009, 55 min, D

Maksym Vasyanovich (Ukraine, 1983) studied film and theatre directing at the National Theatre University in Kiev. His latest film is an autobiographical story dedicated to his father. Ever since he was a little boy, Maksym’s father dreamed about carrier in classical music, he wanted to conduct a symphonic orchestra. Nonetheless, if one wants to be a successful musician he can forget about his private life. Father chose a different path and stayed with his family to bring up his son.

From September 1, this year’s program of Riga International Film Forum “Arsenāls” is available on www.arsenals.lv

This year “Arsenāls” will take place from September 17 till 26 in cinemas “Rīga” and “K Suns”. This year’s program will cover the whole world and include films that have won awards at the prestigious world film festivals (Berlin, Venice, Cannes) , and also films that have very important part in film history. “Arsenāls” will be focused on Japanese “new wave” that will be represented by three works by directing legend Yoshishige Yoshida, and the British new wave will be represented by award winner “The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner” (1962), a drama by Tony Richardson, in order to commemorate the death of Alan Sillitoe, the writer and author of the script. The historical “Cobra Verde” (1987) by Werner Herzog, with Klaus Kinski in the title-role, but behind the scene – artist Ulrich Bergfelder, who also will be the guest of “Arsenāls” and will share his memories about the making of this film. Among the special events there will be the newest film “Chantrapas” by Georgian-French film maker Otar Ioseliani – an ironic and sincere story about forbidden films and the life of film makers in Soviet time.

In the International Film Competition– film directors, whose names speak for themselves: Alex van Warmerdam and Eugene Green, Manoel de Oliveira, also Estonian Veiko Ounpuu, whose film “The Temptation of St. Tony” have been screened at the international Sundance and Rotterdam film festivals, earning very good reviews, and in which one of the roles is performed by French actor Denis Lavant, who was the star of the last years “Arsenāls” participant Leos Carax film “Mister Lonely”.

The Baltic Film Competition will have two Latvian documental film premieres: already scandalous film “Family Instinct” by Andris Gauja and “How are you doing, Rudolph Ming?” by Robets Rubīns, which will be the opening film of the Baltic Film Competition.

In the evening sessions – animation film “The Illusionist” by Sylvain Chomet, based on the script by legendary comedian Jaques Tati, “White Material” by Claire Denis with Isabelle Huppert in the title-role, and films with such actors as Jared Loto, Sarah Polley, Viggo Mortensen, Charlize Theron, Robert Duvall and Guy Pearce…

Until September 12 you can purchase economically beneficial screening passes for “Arsenāls” films. You can book tickets for five films (LVL 10) or ten films (LVL 19). You can purchase your film tickets at box offices of “Bilesu Serviss” or at web page www.bilesuserviss.lv. The price for one screening during the festival will be from LVL 2.50 to 3.50.

You can view the programm of “Arsenāls” 2010 here.

Script: Aivo Spitsonok

Camera: Ants Martin Vahur

Sound: Juri Sooaar

Estonia, 2009, 38 min, D

83-year old Herbert Sepp was schooled during first Republic of Estonia, he was taken to Siberia as a young boy and he returned, but there the common grounds with his contemporaries end. Herbert stands on his head, does handsprings and he is the best Estonian senior sportsman in pole-vault in his age group. Herbert’s achievements already include a silver medal from European Championships. But, Finland is preparing to host World Senior Championship games and his dream is to place his name next to a World Champion title and break the world record in pole-vault.

Film was shown in international film festivals in St. Petersburg, Washington and Mexico where it was awarded with a special recognition from jury.

Moonika Siimets (Estonia, 1980) studied in the film and video department of University of Tallinn. She is a director of short films and documentary television stories; World Champion is her debut in documentary film.

Director: Gytis Lukšas

Script: Gytis Lukšas (story by Romualdas Granauskas)

Camera: Viktoras Radzevičius

Music: Antonio Vivaldi

Cast: Giedrius Kiela, Oksana Borbat, Jevgenija Varenica

Lithuania, 2009, 140 min, F

Juzik is a kindhearted boy whose father had died while coming home from World War I. After a childhood on countryside he meets true friendship and love, works in kolhoz and dreams about his future. The life story of the young man is created on the background of the soviet esthetics, however, it seeks answers to eternal questions about intimacy, fate, fortune and failure.

Vortex was awarded as the Best Baltic film in Tallin Black Nights Baltic Film Festival; it was nominated for The American Academy Award Oscar in Best Foreign-Language Film category. The director of the movie Gytis Lukšas (Lithuania, 1946) once said that life in USSR was “difficult and black”, he chose to make his film black-and-white because this story didn’t need any colors. G. Lukšas graduated from State Institute of Cinematography in Moscow, he is one of the most acclaimed Lithuanian film directors.

Director: Dāvis Sīmanis

Script: Dāvis Sīmanis

Camera: Andrejs Rudzāts

Music: Ernests Ansons

Participants: Viesturs Kairišs, Ilmārs Blumbergs, Andris Nelsons u.c.

Latvia, 2009, 52 min, D

In 2006 the Latvian National Opera (LNO) started the production of Richard Wagner’s monumental four-opera cycle The Ring of the Nibelungs. The production of a work of such historical and mythological scope is a complicated process. The documentary follows the production of the second part of the cycle, The Valkyrie, and its director. It is hard to find a compromise between the tragically comic customary procedure of the Latvian National Opera and director’s understanding of Wagner and The Ring of the Nibelungs. The film is a testimony of the fragile border between the classical and well-received opera and director’s vision of a story created in the dark-coloured German Expressionist tradition.

Dāvis Sīmanis (Latvia, 1980) graduated from the Faculty of History and Philosophy of Latvian University and since the age of 17 has been learning professions of director of photography and film editor in the studio Kaupo Filma. His first documentary Version LNO, dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the Latvian National Opera, was awarded with Lielais Kristaps prize.

Director: Janina Lapinskaite

Script: Janina Lapinskaite

Camera: Vytas Plytnikas, Algimantas Mikutenas

Music: Indre Stakvile

Lithuania, 2009, 57 min, D

A huge stone on the Station Square of some Siberian town reminds the days when trains stopped here for a long time to let out thousands of people. There was nothing more than a broad, empty field. Now, in the place where people have built houses and brought up their children, the train stops only for five minutes. This life in a provincial town N which seems so normal to the viewer conceals quite extraordinary dreams, memories, insights and losses.

Janina Lapinskaite (Lithuania, 1953) studied film directing in the Lithuanian Music and Theatre Academy. Since 1975 she has been working on television as documentary and feature film director. Her first full-length film Venecijus’ Life and the Death of Cezar was awarded at film festivals in Russia and Portugal, and was named the best film at the Baltic Film Competition of IFF Arsenāls in 2002.

Director: Veiko Ounpuu

Script: Veiko Ounpuu

Camera: Mart Taniel

Music: Ulo Krigul

Cast: Taavi Eelmaa, Ravshana Kurkova, Tiina Tauraite, Sten Ljunggren, Denis Lavant

Estonia/Sweden/ Finland, 2009, 110 min, F

A middle-aged man Tony has been quietly leading his successful life when unexpectedly he has to encounter with his own conscience. He has never thought what does it mean to be a good person as he has always been trying to live according to the cruel rules of Eastern European capitalism. Little by little Tony is losing his job, family and after all connection to reality. The title of the movie is a reference to the popular icon in history of civilization – the Temptation of Saint Anthony which had been used by such authors as writer Gustave Flaubert and painter Salvador Dali. It tells about the supernatural temptation of the pilgrim in Egyptian desert with demons and erotic visions. The martyr Athony and capitalist Tony – what do they have in common?

The Tempation of St. Tony is Ounopuus (Estonia, 1972) second full length feature which was awarded with European Talent Prize for its screenplay in IFF Cannes. It was shown in Official Selection of prestigious IFF Sundance. Whereas, in IFF Venice directors debut full-length movie Autumn Ball received Special Jury Prize Horizon.

Director: Marko Raat

Script: Marko Raat (fairytale by Hans Christian Andersen)

Camera: Marius Matzow Guldbrandsen

Music: Sten Sheripov

Cast: Helena Merzin, Artur Tedremagi, Egon Nuter, Toomas Suuman

Estonia / Norway, 2010, 100 min, F

A woman lures a teenage boy into coming with her to her fairytale ice villa. A boy is so captivated by this snow-covered world that little by little he forgets about the reality. The reason why the woman has chosen the exotic life in the cold ice palace is kept in secret…

The romantic tale for adults is based on Hans Christian Andersen’s Snow Queen, although it is not just a remake but an attempt to tell the parts of the story Andersen didn’t write about.

Director Marko Raat (Estonia, 1973) studied film directing in Tallinn University. He has made several short films, television productions, documentaries and participated in different art projects. Raat’s documentary For Aesthetic Reasons was shown in IFF Arsenāls 2000.

Director: Julija Gruodiene, Rimantas Gruodis

Script: Julija Gruodiene, Rimantas Gruodis

Camera: Viktoras Rudajevas

Music: Zita Vilutyte, Žemyna Trinkūnaite, Jorige Jurgutyte

Lithuania, 2009, 30 min, D

The River is documentary which tells us about a village in remote part of Lithuania; it can only be reached by crossing the river. However, people who are using boats as the main transportation every day don’t lose their sense of humor! It is an emotionally powerful story about the complicated road to the world on the other side.

The film has just won the Award for Best Documentary Film under 30 minutes in IFF Karlovy Vari and recognized as the Best Lithuanian Documentary 2009.

Rimantas Gruodis (Lithuania, 1946) and Jūlija Gruodiene (Lithuania, 1943) worked in Lithuanian Film Studio, at the moment they are independent film makers, members of Lithuanian Association of Cinematographers and co-authors of many documentaries.

Script: Antanas Skučas

Camera: Valentas Askinis

Music: Egidija Medekšaite, Vytautas Kernagis

Lithuania, 2009, 7 min, A

When one is a kid even the most unimportant details tend to catch attention and open the gates of fantasy. In this film, a girl in a wheel-chair gets attached to a ladybird, which becomes a symbol of hope to get on feet again and leave the isolated room of hers. However, sometimes even our favorite things are taken away…

Childhood Diary is a mesmerizing attempt to reveal the perception characteristic to children when any seemingly inessential element of the everyday life can get its own personality and meaning. Surprisingly enough, the film pictures it as somewhat related to the Lithuanian mythology. It was recognized as the Best Lithuanian Animation Film 2009. Antanas Skučas (Lithuania, 1983) is a young and promising director; his interest in Lithuanian mythology is reflected in his films.