LAIžAM! Latvian film festival 9 - 10 September 2011

The University of Northampton plays host to a unique academic and cultural event this September as we present LAIzAM! a unique celebration of Latvian film, politics and culture.

Twenty years ago Latvia along with all the other Baltic states emerged from the shadow of the crumbling Soviet Union to reassert its place as a sovereign nation with a distinctive culture and language. Now it is both a member of the EU and NATO with a vibrant democracy and a proud cultural life.

In that time the Latvian community in the UK has also grown and currently there are at least 7,000 Latvians living in Northamptonshire alone. This migration has spawned Latvian clubs and shops in the county as well as a Latvian language newspaper, the Anglo Baltic News.

At LAIzAM! we will be looking back to 1991 at the events and people who helped create the new Latvia, particularly at the work of legendary documentary filmmaker Juris Podnieks. There will be a special showing of his film 'Homeland' that tells the story of that time.

But we will also be looking forward to the next 20 years and at life in modern Latvia as well as at the Latvian diaspora in the UK and elsewhere in Europe. We have commissioned a special 'community' film produced by British Latvians Agris and Sarma Krumins and shot at various locations around Northamptonshire.

We also have filmmakers and academics coming from Latvia to talk about the contemporary Latvian film industry and we will be showcasing films provided to us by the National Film Centre in Riga. In addition the Latvian ambassador will be in attendance and we will be presenting a special display of the celebrated photographic exhibition 'A Day in the Life of Latvia'.

An application form is available elsewhere on this site. We need those wishing to come to register now so that we can make arrangements for venues and catering. The event will take place on 9 -10 September at The University of Northampton, Avenue Campus.