Haralds Vecvagars

Līgatne river ferry crossing takes locals, tourists, passers-by and cars from early spring to the fall over river Gauja. It's the last of what were once many such 'rope ferries' across Gauja, but it remains more than an historical oddity and plays an important part in many lives. At just 12 square meters, the wooden ferry nevertheless encompasses an intriguing and sometimes surprising selection of what constitutes 21st-century Latvia.

This investigative documentary explores the methods through which Russia influences the domestic policy of the Baltic States – by dividing the local community, promoting nostalgia for the Soviet Union and dismissing the recovered independence of the Baltic States.

This is the story of the USSR all-star basketball team – European, Olympic and world champions. What does it mean to be at the zenith of fame, at the high-point of their athletic careers, while representing the interests of a totalitarian state? And from today’s point of view, was there a sacrificing of conscience in the name of athletic glory?

Former ice researcher and Orthodox pastor Andrey Voronin is called Ice-Breaker because of his brave opinions. A unique children’s home, whose foster children are now famous in the whole of Russia, was created under his guidance. The pastor thinks that life is a fight and you have to be prepared for it all of the time. This is why, together with the children, he conquers the tops of mountains.

An awkward young man adopts the online MYSPACE identity of his friend, a popular journalist, in order to attract a woman who he otherwise feels would be out of reach. He succeeds and after corresponding with the girl for some time, he travels to meet her, all the while impersonating his friend (whose picture is rarely published with his articles). Surprisingly, when he finds her, she is living with her boyfriend and claims to have no MYSPACE identity at all. It seems the recluse neighbor of the girl has hijacked her online identity also. Intrigue and moral corruption ensue as this case of stolen virtual identity leads to disaster for both the imposters and all those involved.

From a refugee of the WWII to president – that's the story of Vaira Vike-Freiberga. Losing her motherland and coming back to it. Latvian, refugee, emigrant, wife, mother, professor, scientist, president.

There is an old saying attributed to Alexander the Great: he who will rule Afghanistan will rule the world. The film portrays “the roof of the Earth” and tracks the close links between this far-off country and Latvia.

Veteran actors from the 3 Baltic countries - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - gather at a castle in Latvia to receive awards for their roles as Nazi villains in propagandist Soviet war films. They reminisce about the films that made them famous throughout the USSR, but also stigmatized the Baltic countries as Nazi sympathizers in the eyes of many Russians - a misconception that is nowadays exploited by the Russian media, desperate to label the Baltic countries as a fascist haven.

Through expressive poetic cinematography this film offers a “poem” on the hundreds of worker-bees behind the annual celebrations of Latvian proclamation on November 18.

Healer Alise lives in a world alive with nature - swaying grass, rustling wind, rippling streams, birdsong, blooming flowers, ants, ladybugs and butterflies. Using herbal teas and water she helps people regenerate.