This autumn, ARTDOCFEST/RIGA, the documentary film programme will be much more impressive as it includes the entire international film competition programme of the most significant festival of documentary films in Russia – Artdocfest.21 pictures will be presented to the audience, each of them a
premiere: some – Latvian, others – Baltic or European, and several – world premiere.

Russia will host the 12th edition of Artdocfest already, but it will be possible to show there only a part of the competition program. As for censorship, bureaucratic and other reasons, some of the films cannot be presented in the neighbouring country, the screenings of the competition programme and the work of the jury will be held within the framework of the ARTDOCFEST/RIGA program of the RIGA IFF. The opportunity to demonstrate this film
selection in Latvia allows to maintain the high professional level of the international competition.

Commentary by Vitaly Mansky, the president of the festival Artdocfest and the curator of the ARTDOCFEST/RIGA programme of RIGA IFF: “We have always set and will set our goal to make documentary films that are true to reality and marked by the originality of the author’s artistic language and approach accessible to a wide audience. However, the conditions developed by the cultural policy of Russia do not tolerate such endeavours. By substituting culture with propaganda, the state loses its connection first with the elites and as a consequence – with people. Culture is designed to shape and prepare society for evolution. Otherwise, only a revolution can be attained. Artdocfest shows films that comprehend the topical and interweaves its own story into the chronicles of our time… We are not going underground and do not leave for emigration yet, but we are forced to use the experience of both the first and the second.”

RIGA IFF will take place from 18th to 31st of October this year. The festival is organized with the support of the State Culture Capital Foundation, the European Commission’s programme ‘Creative Europe – MEDIA’, the National Film Centre of Latvia, and the Riga City Council. General media partner of ARDOCFEST/RIGA – television and digital news network ‘Current Time’.

The screening venues will be cinemas Splendid Palace, Kino Bize, K Suns, and the National Library of Latvia. You are welcome to read more about the film programmes here. Detailed information about films, events, screening schedule and tickets will be available starting from the 20th of September.