This year’s RIGA IFF FORUM – the industry section of the Riga International Film Festival (RIGA IFF, 16–26 October) – once again shines a light on Baltic animation with a dedicated programme of events Baltic Animation Meet-Up. Organised in close partnership with the National Film Centre of Latvia and the Latvian Animation Association, the event will bring together local and international animation professionals in Riga on 23 and 24 October to share experience and success stories, showcase the diversity of leading Baltic animation production companies and their works-in-progress, and foster future collaborations. Baltic Animation Meet-Up will take place at cinema Splendid Palace and will be open to holders of RIGA IFF industry accreditations.

Over the past decade, Baltic animation has repeatedly captured the attention of the global film community and its representatives. This is evidenced by the short film Sierra (2022) by Estonian director Sander Joon and My Marriage Project (Mans laulību projekts, 2022) by Latvian director Signe Baumane being shortlisted for the Oscar nominations as well as the notable works of many other Baltic animation artists. The grand success of the Latvian animation Flow (Straume, 2024), which has resulted in more than 70 different awards, including an Academy Award for the Best Animated Feature, is also proof of the artistically rich, dynamic, and tradition-laden environment of the region.

In response to this growing recognition and in order to turn attention into lasting collaborations, RIGA IFF FORUM, together with the National Film Centre of Latvia and the Latvian Animation Association, reintroduces Baltic Animation Meet-Up in RIGA IFF FORUM programme as a meeting platform for animation professionals. The central event of the section – presentations of Baltic animation studios and their upcoming projects – will take place on 24 October and offer a broad look at the region’s creative potential, themes, and stylistic variety. Participating studios and their representatives will be announced in September.

In addition, attendees and participants of Baltic Animation Meet-Up will have the chance to explore three case studies from Latvian and Czech animation. Sharing both local and international distribution and marketing strategies of Flow, producers Matīss Kaža and Gregory Zalcman will explore how the success story of Flow can pave the way for the future of independent animation. Directors Lauris and Raitis Ābeles will offer an insight to the behind-the-scenes of their feature animation Dog of God (Dieva suns, 2025) – translating history and myth to the big screen, pushing boundaries both narratively and visually and deciding against use of artificial intelligence. Meanwhile producer Martin Vandas will provide understanding into the creation and distribution of the Czech animation co-production Tales from the Magic Garden (Pohádky po babičce, 2025) and share how to talk about topics such as mourning and death within the framework of a work intended for children.

Baltic Animation Meet-Up programme will be rounded off by expert lectures and a wide range of other RIGA IFF FORUM activities, including networking event, a feature film and series project market, in-depth evaluation session for short films, as well as other happenings tailored to industry professionals, making RIGA IFF and its industry section an ideal and meaningful meeting place for building connections and forging new collaborations. RIGA IFF FORUM events can be attended with an industry accreditation FORUM Pass or Festival & FORUM Pass. More details about RIGA IFF FORUM and its programme: forum.rigaiff.lv.

The biggest celebration of cinema in Latvia, RIGA IFF, will delight the senses of film lovers from 16 to 26 October, offering more than 100 bold and fresh visions of world and European cinema. In parallel, a programme of events for industry professionals, as well as a series of public events for the wider community will take place during the festival. With the motto SEE. SHIFT. BECOME., this year, the festival team’s focal point becomes the state of being experienced by film audiences, immersing themselves in the vast and exquisite pleasure of cinema. Festival updates are published on rigaiff.lv and RIGA IFF social media accounts.

RIGA IFF is made possible with the support of the State Culture Capital Foundation, the EU programme “Creative Europe – MEDIA”, Riga City Council, the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, the National Film Centre of Latvia and the Investment and Tourism Agency of Riga.