Freaky Fables

30 years ago (in 1992), a radio sound a like that of the West began in Latvia with founding of “RadioDances” when Uģis Polis together with Jānis Krauklis and other like-minded people launched the first private dance radio station. During the first half of the 90s, “RadioDances” and its successor “Super FM” rapidly Europeanized the cultural sphere in Latvia through radio waves and became the pioneer of the Western music revolution in the independent state of Latvia. The nineties, adolescence, limitless opportunities, hopes, and striving toward democratic Europe encompasses this documentary about the birth of independent radio in Latvia.

The story of the Latvian women's basketball team in the 2019 season – about the 12 team members and coach Mārtiņš Zībartu, the difficult and inspiring time spent together on the team, and the team relationships that significantly influence each athlete's future personal and athletic destiny. We followed the Latvian women's basketball team's progress in the European Championship, reflecting the tension and emotional situations in the fight for the opportunity to play in the Tokyo Olympics, which this time proved unsuccessful. We also sought answers to the question of the ability to strive for victory and endure defeat, which is so important in sports. The film shows contemporary Latvian women's basketball as a continuation of pre-war basketball and the legendary TTT team through tradition and family ties. A special feature of the film is the specially composed music by Rihards Zaļupe, which was inspired by the composer's observations of sporting events and emotional moments.

Two brothers go on a kayaking trip in a swamp and find something supernatural.

When the last of her friends has been buried, an elderly lady is on her way home from the graveyard. Her own memories play out in front of her eyes all over the city. At the local coffin store, she has to face a choice – a coffin or an old sledge. She says her goodbyes and takes off towards the nearby forest. It isn’t easy to make death charming and almost jovial, but director Rene Turtledove accomplishes it in this animation short about an elderly woman who has buried one too many friends and decides there are better ways to spend her money and her time than on the local coffin shop.

In the heart of the city, nestled between office towers, stands a grand building no one talks about anymore: the No No Place Hotel. Once an upscale destination for business travelers and honeymooners, the hotel was abruptly and permanently shut down after twelve minutes of surveillance footage was seen by authorities.

It’s 1919. The war is raging in Latvia and bodies pile high. A young rifleman’s (Thomas, 30) cold body is placed on a floor inside a mysterious sculptors' studio. Thomas wakes up with his head locked inside a cast and tries to find a way out from the dark room, but soon enough realizes that he is not the only one, who has woken up. The Ghost mother, a pagan goddess of death, tries to pull the young man into the afterlife. Meanwhile, the sculptor places Thomas’s death mask next to the others.

A personal portrait of director's hometown through his memories and subconsciously made postcards.

In his portrait of Valery Vikanov, director Reinis Ūbelis hands over the reins to the ballet dancer. Together, they begin work on a short feature film in which Valērijs himself plays the sole role. Their conversations document the past of Latvian ballet, the inner world and the view of the oldest artist, whose career peak has long since passed. And about Valery Vikanov himself - a Siberian-born ballet soloist with a career spanning more than 20 years on the Latvian opera stage.

Father to be, Pavel, with his pregnant girlfriend, Sabine, spend their days living like nomads and breaking in houses in search for food and resources. Their travels bring them to an old manor in the middle of a forest, which is run by the Dragoon siblings. When they can't find the way out of the grotesque forest, they end up back in the Dragoon's manor just in time for Sabine to go in labor.

A lonely woman, Zofia, lives in a radioactive zone. She tries to gather her courage to search for some company out there.