{"id":44934,"date":"2026-03-24T01:34:28","type":"post","title":"From the very essence of cinema to the storytelling of tomorrow \u2013 submissions open for the RIGA IFF competitions","categories":[3],"categories_full":[{"term_id":3,"name":"Zi\u0146as","slug":"news","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":3,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":271,"filter":"raw","term_order":"0","i18n_config":{"name":{"ts":{"lv":"Zi\u0146as"}}},"cat_ID":3,"category_count":271,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Zi\u0146as","category_nicename":"news","category_parent":0}],"categories_slugs":"news","tags":[],"featured_image":"https:\/\/rigaiff.lv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/RIGA-IFF-2026-OPEN-CALL-\u2013-Hero-16x9-Clean-Web-LQ-scaled.jpg","featured_image_id":44932,"eng_img":null,"lv_img":false,"vertical":false,"horizontal":"https:\/\/rigaiff.lv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/RIGA-IFF-2026-OPEN-CALL-\u2013-Hero-16x9-Clean-Web-LQ-scaled.jpg","filmchief_id":null,"photos":null,"fch_imported_date":null,"fch_imported_time":null,"buy_or_apply":null,"url":null,"content":"<p><\/p>\n<p>Riga International Film Festival (RIGA IFF, 15\u201325 October), one of the most prominent film events in the Baltics taking place in the capital of Latvia, has opened submissions for its 13th edition\u2019s competitions. The festival is accepting entries of feature-length films from the Baltic Sea region, Nordic countries, and Ukraine until 30 June; these films will compete for the festival\u2019s main award. Meanwhile, the deadline for submitting daring and bold short films from around the world is 31 May. To see the competition regulations and submit entries, visit\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/rigaiff.lv\/en\/competitions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/rigaiff.lv\/en\/competitions\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1774007483365000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3RPSNzdlPejSTFwOZwbGYC\">enter.rigaiff.lv<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfreeway.com\/rigaiff\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/filmfreeway.com\/rigaiff&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1774007483365000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3WpdaDKsSCca7DlYcB9-as\">filmfreeway.com\/rigaiff<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>RIGA IFF, the boutique film industry meeting point of the Baltics, is set in the compact, culturally vibrant capital of Latvia \u2013 rich in UNESCO-listed heritage and contemporary city life. Its competitions, featuring two carefully assembled international juries, form both the epicentre of the public programme and a cornerstone of the industry forum held alongside.<\/p>\n<p><b>Stories exploring the very texture of cinema<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Led by French curator L\u00e9o Soesanto, the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/rigaiff.lv\/en\/programme-2026\/short-film-competition\/short-film-international-competition\/?info=enter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">RIGA IFF Short Film International Competition<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 like its national counterpart \u2013 is a true celebration of short-form cinema. Year after year, it seeks out distinctive stories from across the globe, marked by bold auteur voices and a drive to explore the very essence of cinema. Showcasing the dynamic nature of the local short film scene and its distinctive forms of expression,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/rigaiff.lv\/en\/programme-2026\/short-film-competition\/short-film-national-competition\/?info=enter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">RIGA IFF Short Film National Competition<\/a>\u00a0will feature a dedicated selection of Latvian-made works. RIGA IFF is also one of 31 film festivals whose jury nominates a single candidate for the European Film Academy award European Short Film \u2013 Prix Vimeo 2028.<\/p>\n<p><b>Present-day reflections on tomorrow\u2019s cinema<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, the festival\u2019s main event \u2013 the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/rigaiff.lv\/en\/programme-2026\/feature-film-competition\/?info=enter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">RIGA IFF Feature Film Competition<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 curated by artistic director Sonora Broka, invites filmmakers to share their reflections on the cinema of tomorrow. The competition is open to films from the Baltic Sea region, Nordic countries, or Ukraine. Covering distinctly different schools and traditions of cinema, these works reflect the global mood while offering a unique perspective on the evolving landscape of cinema in the region.<\/p>\n<p><b>Free submission until 1 April<\/b><\/p>\n<p>There are no genre or format restrictions for the competitions \u2013 RIGA IFF welcomes documentaries, live-action, animation, and hybrid works. In both the selection and jury processes, internationally recognized professionals will pay special attention to films that demonstrate a distinct artistic vision and, through the use of diverse creative tools, deliver a one-of-a-kind audiovisual experience.<\/p>\n<p>For just one week \u2013 until 1 April \u2013 all competition applications can be submitted free of charge. The competition regulations can be found and applications submitted at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/rigaiff.lv\/en\/competitions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/rigaiff.lv\/en\/competitions\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1774007483365000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3RPSNzdlPejSTFwOZwbGYC\">enter.rigaiff.lv<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfreeway.com\/rigaiff\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/filmfreeway.com\/rigaiff&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1774007483365000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3WpdaDKsSCca7DlYcB9-as\">filmfreeway.com\/rigaiff<\/a>. Competition selection results will be announced by 10 September, with the winners celebrated at a special awards ceremony on the festival\u2019s second Saturday, 25 October.<\/p>\n<p>From 15 to 25 October RIGA IFF will, for the 13th time, bring together audiences and film industry professionals for the largest celebration of cinema in Latvia. Festival updates can be found on\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/rigaiff.lv\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=http:\/\/rigaiff.lv&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1774007483365000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3n77gfmlidmu2A_pBvia_J\">rigaiff.lv<\/a>, RIGA IFF social media channels, and through the festival newsletter. The festival is organized with support from the State Culture Capital Foundation, the Creative Europe MEDIA Programme, the Riga City Council and the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>","bs_screenings":null,"bs_imported_date_0":null,"bs_imported_time_0":null,"bs_imported_date_1":null,"bs_imported_time_1":null,"bs_imported_date_2":null,"bs_imported_time_2":null,"sorttime":"","sortdate":"","bs_id0":null,"bs_id1":null,"bs_id2":null,"custom_additional_content_small":null,"link":"https:\/\/rigaiff.lv\/en\/news\/no-kino-fakturas-pamatiem-lidz-ritdienas-ekrana-stastiem-uzsakta-darbu-pienemsana-riga-iff-konkursos\/","original_title":null,"director":null,"country":null,"year":null,"festival_year":null,"runtime":null,"languages":null,"sub_languages":null,"description":null,"images":false,"in_cinemas":null,"on_demand":null,"not_available":null,"rights_expiry_date":null,"online_only":null,"poster":null,"price":null,"eyelet_embed":null,"available_until":null,"geographical_availability":null,"synopsis_preview":null,"trailer_url":null,"custom_supporter_title":null,"supporter":null,"available":null,"geographical_availability_custom_short":null,"geographical_availability_custom_long":null,"subtitle_language_online":null,"cinesend_id":null,"online_price":null,"online_bs_id":null}