February 2026. Digest #4

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Publications 📚

Oppermann, Paula A.. Thunder Cross: Fascist Antisemitism in Twentieth-century Latvia. University of Wisconsin Press, 2026.
link
Podcast on the book

Annotation

Founded in 1932, Thunder Cross (Pērkonkrusts) was the largest and most prominent right-wing political party in Latvia in the early twentieth century. Its motto—“Latvia for Latvians!”—echoed the ultranationalist rhetoric of similar movements throughout Europe at the time. Unlike the Nazis in Germany or the Fascists in Italy, however, Thunder Cross never succeeded in seizing power. Nevertheless, Holocaust historian Paula A. Oppermann argues, its movement left an indelible mark on the country. The antisemitism at the core of Thunder Cross’s ideology remained a driving force for Latvian fascists throughout the twentieth century, persisting despite shifting historical and political contexts.

Thunder Cross is the most comprehensive study of Latvia’s fascist movement in English to date, and the only work that investigates the often neglected continuities of fascist antisemitism after World War II. Formulated as an empirical case study, this book draws on international and interdisciplinary secondary literature and sources in seven languages to broaden our understanding of fascism, antisemitism, and mass violence from Germany and Italy to the larger European context.

Nuhums Kulibali, Žulijens. “In the Name of the Army of Lovers: Saying Farewell to Rosa Von Praunheim.” Kino Raksti, February 4, 2026
link.

Abstract

“Farewell to you, Roza, I write this in January 2026 — much like in Kārlis Vērdiņš’s poem, I have been everywhere, visited everywhere, yet thought of you the whole time. At the 2025 Annecy Film Festival, Andrejs Brīvuļis’s queer animated short Purity was screened, while Inna Djeri, at the Riga City Council meeting on January 14, 2026, discussing funding for the film program Purely Queer that I curated, asked from the podium: ‘Queer — is that culture as we understand it?’ Nearly fifty years later, I realize that the questions you raise in Army of Lovers remain relevant. There are still those who simply must be left alone; the word ‘activist’ is still uttered with a faint smirk — still, still. And yet, Roza, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing (including the widely known fact that Eisenstein, too, had a relationship with a man). We, the ones who remain, will be the army of lovers.” (Žulijens Nuhums Kulibali’s FB)

Lavrinec, Pavel. “Lev Karsavin and the Russian-speaking Community in Interwar Lithuania.” Studies in East European Thought, 22 January 2026
link.

Abstract

This study, based on both unpublished and published archival documents, periodicals, and other sources, compiles information about the interaction between Russian philosopher and historian Lev Karsavin and the Russian community in Kaunas. Between 1928 and 1940, while living in Kaunas and working at the University of Lithuania, which was renamed Vytautas Magnus University in 1930, Karsavin clearly interacted not only with his Russian colleagues at the university. His circle of friends included ballet critic Vera Sotnikova, art historian Nikolai Vorobyov, teachers at the Russian gymnasium, among others. The scholar repeatedly gave public lectures to Russian-speaking audiences. He participated in meetings of the Russian Christian Youth Circle and was a trustee of the Russian Student Corporation. This study allows us to draw several conclusions. First, during his first year in Lithuania, Karsavin sought to find listeners outside of university lecture halls. As he became more integrated into the Lithuanian academic environment, the need to communicate with Russian-speaking audiences diminished, with the exception of his circle of acquaintances, who shared similar educational backgrounds and interests. Second, some of his public appearances appear to have been part of his commitment to popularizing Eurasianism, which was also of interest to the local public.

Balčus, Zane. “Herz Frank and Personal Cinema.” Kino Raksti, 2026
Open Access.

Abstract

January 17th of this year marked the 100th anniversary of the birth of documentary film director and screenwriter Herz Frank (1926–2013). This will not be a comprehensive look at Frank’s entire body of work, but rather an insight into a specific aspect that became increasingly prominent in his films starting in the 1980s: a captured, participatory involvement in his own films and a personal narrative that culminated in his self-portrait/confession, Flashback (2002).

Vērdiņš, Kārlis. Nekas. Neputns, 2026. link

Lundberg, Gustav. “Pluralism in Peril? Examining the Protectionist Turn in Latvian Integration Policy.” Journal of Baltic Studies, 2025.
Open Access

Feldmane, Iveta. “The Heroic and the Guilty Body in Political and Social Posters of Latvia During the Period of Soviet Occupation.” Proceedings of 11th SWS International Scientific Conference on Arts And Humanities
Open Access.

Abstract

the poster as the genre of graphic arts is a medium where the representation of the human body functions as an important semiotic sign. this genre has also reflected and influenced the most diverse spectrum of artistic, social and political processes. in addition to informative and illustrative content, the inclusion of the human body in the composition of the poster has always had ideological purpose. the aim of this paper is to discuss how political ideology integrates the images of the human body in the posters and how it contradicts the individuals’ personal feelings and bodily experiences. the case study of two categories of posters from the soviet period (1950s – 1980s) indicates the ideological strategies of sports promotion posters and anti-alcoholism propaganda posters. political propaganda posters, including sports posters, reveal the body politics of the communist ideology: to create a uniform, disciplined, desexualised, masculine bodies capable of embodying the image of the “new soviet hero”. i suggest that the main artistic tendencies of the so-called “harsh style” that evolved in latvian painting at the time can be seen in the sports posters of this period. anti - alcoholism posters tend to employ a cartoon aesthetic. this tradition has its roots in the mass propaganda of the russian revolution (1917), which encouraged the emergence of extreme dichotomies in visual communication. these posters show the human body as a ridiculous and weak object that deserves to be condemned by family members, friends and all society. in this communication programme, alcoholism is not presented as a disease and a global problem of soviet society, but as a “bad choice” of individuals. the research is based on archival studies of soviet posters from the institute of art history of the art academy of latvia. complex research methods have been applied, including iconography, semiotics, contextual and comparative analysis.

Sarcevičienė, Jolita, Jurgita Šiaučiūnaitė-Verbickienė, Mindaugas Klovas . Vilnius Ir Jo Bendruomenės. Žvilgsnis Į 700 Metų Miesto Istoriją. Lietuvos istorijos institutas, 2025.
link

Annotation

This collection of articles features works based on presentations from the international scientific conference “Vilnius and its Communities in the 13th–21st Centuries: Seven Centuries of Coexistence in the City,” held in Vilnius on October 25–27, 2023. The publication presents 26 articles examining the development of Vilnius from its origins to the present day. The book is in three languages - Lithuanian, Polish and English.

New Journal Issues 📖

Baltic Film, No. 1 (2026): “Baltic talents at Berlinale”. link

Pirmoji banga (2026): “Guide of the 10th Early Film Festival Edition”. link

Festivals & Screenings 🎬

The 6th International Documentary Film Festival Artdocfest/riga “No War!”
Dates: 2026-02-28 to 2026-03-08
Place: Riga, Latvia, Splendid Palace
Description: During the IDFF Artdocfest/Riga various events for the film industry will take place - public discussions, documentary film symposium, pitching, film discussions with the authors and public participation.
Website

1st International Student Short Film Festival “Easy to Be Young?”
Dates: 2026-03-12 to 2026-03-14
Place: Riga, Latvia, Splendid Palace
Description: This inaugural event focuses on the creative output of emerging filmmakers from the Baltic and Nordic regions, exploring themes of generational identity through a mix of gritty realism and visual experimentation. Beyond competitive screenings, the festival features high-profile masterclasses from acclaimed creators like Anna Hints (director of Smoke Sauna Sisterhood), offering a vital professional launchpad for the next generation of European cinema.
Website

Aivars Freimanis 90!
Dates: 2026-02-11
Place: Riga, Latvia, Kino Muzejs
Description: Celebrating the Legacy of Aivars Freimanis Cinema enthusiasts are invited to a special birthday commemorative evening honoring the legendary Latvian film director Aivars Freimanis (1936–2018). The event will feature a retrospective of film excerpts and personal memories, alongside a showcase of contemporary cinematic etudes produced by LKA National Film School students during the “Kuldīga Frescoes 2025” international workshop. Admission is free for all attendees to celebrate this icon of Latvian film.
Website

Restored Dead Mountaineer’s Hotel at Berlinale “Berlinale Classics program at the Berlin Film Festival”
Dates: 2026-02-13
Place: Berlin, Germany
Description: There is a murder at a snowed-in mountain hotel. Could supernatural forces be at work here? This genre-busting film noir with elements of fantasy is based on the eponymous book by legendary Soviet writing duo Arkady and Boris Strugatsky.
Website

Talks & Workshops 🎤

Lost in the 90s: Film Heritage in Transition
Presenters: Heleen Gerritsen, Tomasz Kolankiewicz, Ivan Kozlenko, Stefanie Eckert, Eva Näripea
Date: 2026-02-14 at 14:00
Place: Berlin, Germany, Deutsche Kinemathek – Halle
This year’s Retrospective, “Lost in the 90s”, tackles not just aesthetics and the zeitgeist, but also the lost heritage of films from the post-communist era: the turbulent period in central and eastern Europe when state production and archival structures were in flux, and film studios privatised or sold off, so that many works were not centrally catalogued or stored. The successor states of the former Soviet Union, such as Ukraine and Georgia, lost direct access to their own cultural heritage in the 1990s – even now, countless original negatives are stored in Russian archives. Heleen Gerritsen in discussion with archivists and representatives of film heritage institutions in central and eastern Europe. The discussion focuses on (re)discoveries, lost films and the challenges of clarifying legal rights. The panel will also look at experiences with state security services and gaining access to holdings from the Cold War era.

Jobs 🚀

Vilnius Documentary Film Festival is looking for a manager
Send CV and a cover letter to [email protected]
More info about the position

Grants

The Latvian Literature platform has launched its first 2026 open call for foreign publishers and translators to secure funding for the translation and publication of Latvian works abroad. Experienced professionals and newcomers alike are invited to submit their projects through the online portal by February 15, 2026.

Call for Papers 📝

Necsus - Autumn 2026_#Ocean
Deadline: 2026-03-01
Apply

News 📰

National Film Award “Lielais Kristaps 2025” announced its nominees with 36 films shortlisted from a total of 85 submissions across eight film categories and 17 professional awards. Read a press-conference report at Cineuropa, check the list at the award’s website, and tue Steen Müller’s personal reflections on its documentary section
Uldis Jānis Veispals, a veteran Latvian stuntman, stunt coordinator, and educator is getting a Lifetime Achievement Award

Lithuanian filmmaker Andrius Blaževičius received The Directing Award: World Cinema Dramatic for “How to Divorce During the War” (Lithuania, Luxembourg, Ireland, Czech Republic)

In 2025, the Latvian film industry reached a historic milestone as the domestic market share surged to 24.22%, with four local titles breaking into the annual top ten. The standout performer was Gints Zilbalodis’s animated feature “Flow” (Straume), which secured the #1 spot for the second consecutive year to become the most-watched film in Latvia’s post-independence history with over 377,000 total viewers.
More data and figures

Quick Links 🔗

Lithuanian short film agency “Lithuanian Shorts” presents its 15th catalogue of the latest short films by Lithuanian filmmakers – “Lithuanian Shorts 2025–2026”.

BEK announces a funded three months residency for Autumn 2026 Deadline: 15 February 2026, selected artists will be notified in March 2026
Residency period: 3 months, mid-August until mid-November 2026 (with flexible starting date, if need be)
Apply

Indra Ekmanis in the latest issue of Baltic Bulletin reflects on the 1991 demonstrations in the region

Interview with Lithuanian researcher and curator Lina Kaminskaitė-Jančorienė on the work of Meno Avilys and the program “Pioneers of Lithuanian Cinema”
Read in french

Titled Untamed Assembly: Backstage of Utopia, the exhibition for the Latvian Pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale presents a new work by the interdisciplinary artist duo MAREUNROL’S—Rolands Pēterkops and Mārīte Mastiņa-Pēterkopa—in dialogue with alternative fashion designer Bruno Birmanis and the archives of the Untamed Fashion Assemblies (UFA), a series of experimental fashion, art, and performance events founded by Birmanis that took place in Riga between 1990 and 1999.
Read more about the project on e-flux

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