Dainis Īvāns

In 1873, brave men known as the New Latvians held the first-ever Latvian song festival under the watchful eye of oppressive censorship. This massive celebration, featuring 1,003 singers – both men and women – changed the course of the nation’s history. It stands as a unique example of non-violent resistance in the fight for freedom against imperialism, led by Latvia’s entrepreneurs, writers, publicists and ordinary villagers.

This film tells about the most striking and tragic phenomenon during the development of self-awareness of the Latvian nation – the Latvian Riflemen. The first Daugavgrīva regiment, the second Riga, third Kurland, fifth Semigallian, sixth Tukums, seventh Bauska and eighth Valmiera regiments of Latvian Riflemen – this was Latvia before its statehood. The film is a historically chronological study beginning with the formation of the Riflemen battalions and their first battles until the end of the Civil War in Russia, when a large part of the Riflemen returned home to the recently established state of Latvia. This is a story about common people challenged by the Big Epoch that determined their lives.

The documentary about Dainis Īvāns, leader of the National Awakening movement between late 1980s and early 1990s, a human symbol of the recent history of Latvia who embodies all hope, idealism, disappointment, choices, compromises, wins and losses. Eventually, he finds strength within himself to return to his roots, rather than let grindstones of history crush him, to be more than just an accidental figure in the big plan of destiny.

Fridrihs Vesmanis (1875–1941) – the first Chairman of the Saeima (Parliament) of the Republic of Latvia, Latvia’s envoy to Great Britain, and a Supreme Court senator – was arrested and deported by the Soviets in June 1941. It was forbidden to mention his name during the years of the Soviet occupation. Only after Latvia regained its independence, his descendants found his autobiography, which reads like a last letter to the future Latvia. This film is dedicated to the inception of the Latvian state and the centenary of its Constitution and Parliament.

A film about "Dziesmusvētki" - the Latvian national singing festival tradition.

The film, dedicated to the 25th Anniversary of the Popular Front of Latvia, shows the most important turning points in the history of the Latvian National Awakening and Singing Revolution, as well as the rebirth of Latvian national symbols and values. In The Path to Baltic Freedom the authors focus on lesser known pages of history – the influence of perestroika on the early national movements of the 1980s, the role and participation of the Secret Service and the Communist Party in the newly-forming mass movements and their wish to guide or at least control them. The history of the Popular Front is shown not only until their victory in the first free elections in the history of the USSR that resulted in the restoration of independence for the Baltic states; the film also includes the decline of the organization after it had reached the most crucial of its goals.

The spirit of Latvian soldiers, the most memorable moments in the history of the Latvian army, and an insight into the development of the National Armed Forces today. Using animation, unique archive footage and photographs, as well as stories told by contemporaries, an emotional message has been created about the Latvian fighting spirit, which has permeated conflicts led by foreign powers throughout Latvian history, helped to win the Latvian War of Independence and build a strong Latvian army during the interwar period, and gave the confidence to take to the barricades and restore the armed forces in the 1990s. The film was commissioned by the Ministry of Defense to ensure the preservation of military history.