30th Riga International Short Film Festival 2ANNAS: Alternative for the Bold

Riga International Short Film Festival 2ANNAS will take place in Riga and online from April 10 to 16, bringing together film professionals, authors and audiences from Latvia and abroad. In its anniversary year, the festival presents a specially curated program and a series of events that spotlight "Alternative" as one of cinema’s most vital creative impulses. Tickets are available via the “Biļešu serviss” box office.

2ANNAS Director, Viesturs Graždanovičs: “The theme of the 2ANNAS 30th anniversary festival, "Alternative", is rooted in the history of Latvia's alternative cinema movement and the desire to return to freedom, the courage to change perspectives, and to step outside the ordinary. The symbolic starting point of this movement can be considered the experimental film forum "Alternative," which took place for the first time in 1985, at a time when artistic self-expression was severely restricted. It was this movement that later became the basis for the founding of the Riga International Short Film Festival 2ANNAS in 1996. We are delighted that the festival has become an important meeting point for Baltic and international short film directors and producers.”

This year's anniversary program is designed as a multi-layered experience – combining a selection of retrospective films, a unique opening performance, an anniversary publication, and an exhibition dedicated to the history of Latvian short film.

The curators’ short film focus programs expand the idea of “Alternative” in both content and form, exploring the history of experimental cinema in Latvia, naïve cinema, alternative realities and dimensions, Ukrainian women’s perspectives on cinema, and new approaches to depicting eroticism in contemporary film. The 2ANNAS short film competitions will be judged in six categories: International, Baltic, Medium-Length, Children’s, Youth, and the new competition program – Pure Queer. Together, these categories emphasize diversity, different experiences, and the richness of cinematic language. Special events, talks, and discussions will complement the film program. We invite audiences to experience cinema as a space for reflection and dialogue, not merely as a passive viewing experience. 

During Industry Days, film industry professionals will be invited to take part in masterclasses, lectures, and discussions addressing current topics in the field. This year’s program will feature two creative workshops: the Emerging Critics workshop returns for its third year, while a Found Footage editing workshop will be introduced for the first time.

This year, audiences have the chance to purchase a Festival Pass, an all-access ticket to all festival film screenings. More information about Festival Pass tickets is available here.

Warm-Up Event
In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Latvian-born film director Herz Frank and the 30th anniversary of the Riga International Short Film Festival 2ANNAS, a special festival event will take place ahead of the festival on March 6 at 18:00 at K. Suns. The evening will feature a screening of the legendary filmmaker’s cinematic vignette program “Ten Minutes Older: The Cello”. Admission to the event is free. Audiences will have the opportunity to see “The Trumpet” during the first day of the festival.

The film project “Ten Minutes Older” was created in 2002, bringing together two films - The Cello and The Trumpet. Both films are dedicated to film director Herz Frank and cinematographer Juris Podnieks, who in 1978 created the legendary short film “Ten Minutes Older”. As part of the project, fifteen internationally renowned filmmakers were invited to create their own interpretation of the experience of time within a ten-minute cinematic format. Among them were Werner Herzog, Jim Jarmusch, Aki Kaurismäki, Spike Lee, and Wim Wenders.

The 30th Riga International Short Film Festival 2ANNAS is supported by the Latvian State Culture Capital Foundation, the Riga City Council, the Latvian National Film Centre, Failiem.lv, and BBrental / BBPostHouse.