Latest News

Wednesday, January 15

Swedish Cinema Rituals

Dr. Birgitta Svensson's 47-year field study reveals unexpected rituals among Swedish cinema-goers.

Latest

Friday, January 10

Jury Members Reveal: "We Evaluate Films by Beard Density"

Exclusive interviews with this year's jury reveal unexpected evaluation criteria.

1 day ago

Wednesday, January 8

Study: Acute Impact of WordPress Platform on Mental Health

University of Helsinki's 8-year longitudinal study reveals WordPress correlation with existential crisis.

2 days ago

Sunday, January 5

Seeking VLC Expert with Minimum 12 Years Experience

The festival team has reached the limits of our capacity regarding VLC Media Player administration.

3 days ago

Friday, January 3

Sensation: First Documentation of Subtitle Reading Rituals Discovered

Archaeological discovery in Tallinn cinema reveals 200-year-old subtitle reading tradition.

4 days ago

Films

Ever Since I Knew Myself

Maka GogaladzeGeorgia202485 min

The director explores her identity and gender, documenting her personal journey. An intimate and captivating film about self-acceptance and the courage to be authentic in a society that isn't always ready to understand.

15:45·Thursday, September 5Q&A: director

10:40·Sunday, September 8

Life Is Beautiful

Mohamed JabalyNorway, Palestine, Qatar202393 min

Amid the horrors of war, a filmmaker discovers humanity's ability to maintain hope and beauty even in the most difficult situations. A moving testament to the spirit of survival and the power of love.

16:00·Tuesday, September 3

13:00·Sunday, September 8

Intercepted

Oksana KarpovychCanada, France, Ukraine202493 min

Using intercepted phone calls, the film reveals the true face of war through the relationships between Russian soldiers and their families. A shocking and painful testimony to the human cost of conflict.

18:50·Tuesday, September 3Q&A: Mikael

18:00·Wednesday, September 4Q&A: producer

12:00·Thursday, September 5

17:30·Saturday, September 7

Balomania

Sissel Morell DargisDenmark, Spain202493 min

A portrait of fan culture in football, exploring passion and identity in the sports world. The film dives deeper than games, revealing human stories and emotions that form the football phenomenon.

Agent of Happiness

Arun BhattaraiBhutan, Hungary202494 min

In Bhutan, a country that measures Gross National Happiness, a government agent surveys citizens' happiness levels. A philosophical and humorous exploration of what it means to be happy in the modern world.

18:00·Thursday, September 5

20:30·Friday, September 6

15:00·Saturday, September 7Q&A: director

12:00·Saturday, September 7

Eternal You

Hans BlockGermany, United States202487 min

AI technology allows families to "chat" with deceased loved ones. A haunting and moving story about grief culture in the digital age and our unwillingness to let go.

21:00·Thursday, September 5

19:30·Saturday, September 7

Alreadymade

Barbara VisserNetherlands202382 min

A satire of the art world exploring questions of originality and authenticity in the contemporary art market. An ironic look at how artworks are created, valued, and sold.

16:30·Friday, September 6

17:30·Sunday, September 8

Hollywoodgate

Ibrahim Nash’atGermany, United States202391 min

An exclusive look at Afghanistan after the US military withdrawal, filmed from the Taliban perspective. A complex and provocative portrait of regime change and its consequences.

18:30·Friday, September 6

15:00·Sunday, September 8

Schedule

Tuesday, September 3

18:50

Intercepted

CAFRUA

2024

93min

Q&A: Mikael

Intercepted

Canada, France, Ukraine

director:
Oksana Karpovych: year:
2024: duration:
93: rating:
16+

16:00

Life Is Beautiful

NOPSQA

2023

93min

Life Is Beautiful

Norway, Palestine, Qatar

director:
Mohamed Jabaly: year:
2023: duration:
93: rating:
7+

Wednesday, September 4

18:00

Intercepted

CAFRUA

2024

93min

Q&A: producer

Intercepted

Canada, France, Ukraine

director:
Oksana Karpovych: year:
2024: duration:
93: rating:
16+

Thursday, September 5

15:45

Ever Since I Knew Myself

2024

85min

Q&A: director

Ever Since I Knew Myself

Georgia

director:
Maka Gogaladze: year:
2024: duration:
85: rating:
U

21:00

Eternal You

DEUS

2024

87min

Eternal You

Germany, United States

director:
Hans Block, Moritz Riesewieck: year:
2024: duration:
87: rating:
7+

AI technology allows families to "chat" with deceased loved ones. A haunting and moving story about grief culture in the digital age and our unwillingness to let go.

18:00

Agent of Happiness

BTHU

2024

94min

Agent of Happiness

Bhutan, Hungary

director:
Arun Bhattarai, Dorottya Zurbó: year:
2024: duration:
94: rating:
U

12:00

Intercepted

CAFRUA

2024

93min

Intercepted

Canada, France, Ukraine

director:
Oksana Karpovych: year:
2024: duration:
93: rating:
16+

Friday, September 6

16:30

Alreadymade

2023

82min

Alreadymade

Netherlands

director:
Barbara Visser: year:
2023: duration:
82: rating:
7+

A satire of the art world exploring questions of originality and authenticity in the contemporary art market. An ironic look at how artworks are created, valued, and sold.

18:30

Hollywoodgate

DEUS

2023

91min

Hollywoodgate

Germany, United States

director:
Ibrahim Nash’at: year:
2023: duration:
91: rating:
12+

An exclusive look at Afghanistan after the US military withdrawal, filmed from the Taliban perspective. A complex and provocative portrait of regime change and its consequences.

20:30

Agent of Happiness

BTHU

2024

94min

Agent of Happiness

Bhutan, Hungary

director:
Arun Bhattarai, Dorottya Zurbó: year:
2024: duration:
94: rating:
U

Saturday, September 7

15:00

Agent of Happiness

BTHU

2024

94min

Q&A: director

Agent of Happiness

Bhutan, Hungary

director:
Arun Bhattarai, Dorottya Zurbó: year:
2024: duration:
94: rating:
U

17:30

Intercepted

CAFRUA

2024

93min

Intercepted

Canada, France, Ukraine

director:
Oksana Karpovych: year:
2024: duration:
93: rating:
16+

19:30

Eternal You

DEUS

2024

87min

Eternal You

Germany, United States

director:
Hans Block, Moritz Riesewieck: year:
2024: duration:
87: rating:
7+

AI technology allows families to "chat" with deceased loved ones. A haunting and moving story about grief culture in the digital age and our unwillingness to let go.

12:00

Agent of Happiness

BTHU

2024

94min

Agent of Happiness

Bhutan, Hungary

director:
Arun Bhattarai, Dorottya Zurbó: year:
2024: duration:
94: rating:
U

Sunday, September 8

13:00

Life Is Beautiful

NOPSQA

2023

93min

Life Is Beautiful

Norway, Palestine, Qatar

director:
Mohamed Jabaly: year:
2023: duration:
93: rating:
7+

15:00

Hollywoodgate

DEUS

2023

91min

Hollywoodgate

Germany, United States

director:
Ibrahim Nash’at: year:
2023: duration:
91: rating:
12+

An exclusive look at Afghanistan after the US military withdrawal, filmed from the Taliban perspective. A complex and provocative portrait of regime change and its consequences.

17:30

Alreadymade

2023

82min

Alreadymade

Netherlands

director:
Barbara Visser: year:
2023: duration:
82: rating:
7+

A satire of the art world exploring questions of originality and authenticity in the contemporary art market. An ironic look at how artworks are created, valued, and sold.

10:40

Ever Since I Knew Myself

2024

85min

Ever Since I Knew Myself

Georgia

director:
Maka Gogaladze: year:
2024: duration:
85: rating:
U

Industry Programme

A Guide to Grief

Ivars Zviedris

Documentary filmmaker captures his grief after his youngest daughter's suicide. After her funeral, he begins observing his mourning process, using both modern and spiritual tools to understand his loss. Gradually, documenting grief becomes a form of cinematic therapy.

Brake for Gold

Adelina Borets

A Ukrainian breakdancer chases Olympic glory, risking his family. The film explores the emotional cost of dreams amidst war. Lussy Sky, with his family, flees to Poland, seeking safety. Torn between ambition and family, he risks losing his loved ones.

Bride of the Invisible

Audrius Stonys

In a world veiled by existential darkness, Sister Sofija sets out to find true, invisible holiness — unbound by institutions, quietly dwelling in the hearts and stories of ordinary village people.

Creaturama – Epic of the Animals

Juha Suonpää

What if animals became filmmakers? Creaturama is a mesmerising journey through hidden forest realms that shifts visual agency from humans to animals. Captured by automatic trail cameras left in the forest for several years, the film reveals a magical world just beyond our sight.

Cuba. Deprivation

Staņislavs Tokalovs

The film follows Raul, a 58-year-old Cuban in Latvia, who returns home after 20 years to see his dying mother, and his stepson Stanislav, the filmmaker, who joins him to explore how his father's absence and life with Raul shaped his identity.

DNA of the Nation

Ivan Sautkin

Mykhailo Baidakov considers himself a direct descendant of the famous Ukrainian poet and national prophet Taras Shevchenko and is ready to prove it with the help of DNA testing. However, will the relatives of the iconic person, who have built a real religious cult around his name, like it?

Elīna Garanča: The Symphony of Life

Signe Birkova

As the rules are shifting within the global realm of opera, Elīna Garanča finds herself at the summit of her stage life, making plans for ending yet simultaneously continuing her career. Her talent, self-discipline and personality make stopping impossible as she makes an unfulfilled dream come true.

Face It Without Fear

Svitlana Lishchynska

A Ukrainian who once served as a Soviet occupier in Afghanistan witnesses Russia's invasion of his homeland. Breaking decades of silence, he shares the mindset of an occupier with Marina, a filmmaker seeking to understand what turned her own veteran father into a monster.

Garden of Anna

Kristīne Briede

Uncovering the legacy of European missions through the extraordinary life of Latvian missionary Anna Irbe — a "gardener of souls" whose journey, set against the grdrop of colonial and postcolonial India, illuminates the cultural and historical dynamics of her time and today.

Kind of Adults

Peter Akar

A raw, immersive coming-of-age documentary co-created with charismatic Gen Z teens over five turbulent years. Blending self-shot and observational footage, it captures identity crises, depression, and fleeting joy—as they search for meaning in a world changing faster than anyone can keep up.

Partners & Supporters

Baltic Sea Docs is made possible through the generous support of our partners and sponsors. We work closely with cultural institutions, film organizations, and media partners across Europe to strengthen the documentary film community in the Baltic region.

Our main supporters include the National Film Centre of Latvia, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia, and the Creative Europe Media programme.