Nils Skapāns

Nils Skapāns

Nascimento : 1969-09-25, Riga, Latvia

Morte : 2021-09-20

História

Nils Skapāns (1969-2021) was a Latvian animation director, artist and producer. After having worked with puppet animation in the 90s, Skapāns became known for experimenting with different materials - for example, he worked with wood figurines in his animation film for grown-ups, "Brickannia", or with ceramics in "Flap Your Wings!" - before settling with plasticine animation in later years. Since receiving Berlin Film Festival's Crystal Bear for "Let's Fly?!", Skapāns's films have frequently been shown in different film festivals. His last film, "The Nap", which has been nominated as the best animation film in Latvian Film Awards Lielais Kristaps, and will have its premiere after the director's passing.

Perfil

Nils Skapāns

Filmes

The Nap
Writer
Mother takes her eight-year-old daughter Antonia to a children’s creativity camp. Antonia is not happy about having to spend time under close adult supervision. On their way, she spots a sign saying ”The Robots Have Escaped!” The sign unleashes Antonia’s imagination and grows into a fantasy of how exciting her stay in the camp might turn out to be. Of course, Antonia’s and the robots’ paths intersect at the camp, where they intend to steal children’s dreams during their afternoon nap to convert them into ingenious commercials. Thriller-like events unfold. Thanks to Antonia’s inquisitive and rebellious nature and with her best friend and favourite toy Yeti by her side, the robots’ intention is averted.
The Nap
Director
Mother takes her eight-year-old daughter Antonia to a children’s creativity camp. Antonia is not happy about having to spend time under close adult supervision. On their way, she spots a sign saying ”The Robots Have Escaped!” The sign unleashes Antonia’s imagination and grows into a fantasy of how exciting her stay in the camp might turn out to be. Of course, Antonia’s and the robots’ paths intersect at the camp, where they intend to steal children’s dreams during their afternoon nap to convert them into ingenious commercials. Thriller-like events unfold. Thanks to Antonia’s inquisitive and rebellious nature and with her best friend and favourite toy Yeti by her side, the robots’ intention is averted.
All My Friends Are Dead
Production Design
“Roses are red, violets are blue, I had my friends, but now they're dead.” When Anna Zaķis was young, she experienced the upswing of social networks. Once active cultural life has slowed down but the desire for real conversations is still there. She will fight to the end... for a chance to talk with someone.
All My Friends Are Dead
Director
“Roses are red, violets are blue, I had my friends, but now they're dead.” When Anna Zaķis was young, she experienced the upswing of social networks. Once active cultural life has slowed down but the desire for real conversations is still there. She will fight to the end... for a chance to talk with someone.
Our Granny Rocks!
Editor
After fighting over toys, two kids – brother and sister – experience adventurous yet dangerous journey in the magic kingdom under the sand box, where, accompanied by their extraordinary nanny the witch, they learn about the power of companionship.
Our Granny Rocks!
Writer
After fighting over toys, two kids – brother and sister – experience adventurous yet dangerous journey in the magic kingdom under the sand box, where, accompanied by their extraordinary nanny the witch, they learn about the power of companionship.
Our Granny Rocks!
Art Direction
After fighting over toys, two kids – brother and sister – experience adventurous yet dangerous journey in the magic kingdom under the sand box, where, accompanied by their extraordinary nanny the witch, they learn about the power of companionship.
Our Granny Rocks!
Director
After fighting over toys, two kids – brother and sister – experience adventurous yet dangerous journey in the magic kingdom under the sand box, where, accompanied by their extraordinary nanny the witch, they learn about the power of companionship.
Martian
Art Direction
A little boy pulls out one Martian toy from a vending machine and it turns into a real alien who takes him to his planet, where he is surronded by the toys from the vending machine, but much bigger.
Martian
Animation
A little boy pulls out one Martian toy from a vending machine and it turns into a real alien who takes him to his planet, where he is surronded by the toys from the vending machine, but much bigger.
Martian
Writer
A little boy pulls out one Martian toy from a vending machine and it turns into a real alien who takes him to his planet, where he is surronded by the toys from the vending machine, but much bigger.
Martian
Director
A little boy pulls out one Martian toy from a vending machine and it turns into a real alien who takes him to his planet, where he is surronded by the toys from the vending machine, but much bigger.
Willing Collaborators
Animation
The code to unlocking this feature documentary is 1949, the year the director was born, and also the year of the return of Soviet repressions to Latvia. The film tells a very personal story against the background of less visited historic events – the death of director’s father due to the KGB repressions, which is closely linked to the devious game Soviet Latvia’s KGB played against Swedish-British-American spy agencies.
Ghost Hour
Animation
As every evening, the Ghost goes to work – to haunt and frighten. Even in his worst nightmares the Ghost hadn’t imagined he’ll meet such a ‘terrifying’ girl who is not afraid of him. But it happened...
Ghost Hour
Writer
As every evening, the Ghost goes to work – to haunt and frighten. Even in his worst nightmares the Ghost hadn’t imagined he’ll meet such a ‘terrifying’ girl who is not afraid of him. But it happened...
Ghost Hour
Director
As every evening, the Ghost goes to work – to haunt and frighten. Even in his worst nightmares the Ghost hadn’t imagined he’ll meet such a ‘terrifying’ girl who is not afraid of him. But it happened...
Cat in the Bag
Writer
It is nice and fun to have a cat or some other pet at home to play with. The trusting cat also thought to himself: it's so great to have a home... Until the moment it found itself trapped in a bag, somewhere out on the street, all alone, left to it's faith. Nevertheless - all is well that ends well!
Cat in the Bag
Director
It is nice and fun to have a cat or some other pet at home to play with. The trusting cat also thought to himself: it's so great to have a home... Until the moment it found itself trapped in a bag, somewhere out on the street, all alone, left to it's faith. Nevertheless - all is well that ends well!
I Want To See The Dwarves!
Editor
Colourful jungle, dancing dwarves and a pirate girl Vanessa. It is a story of a regular lovely girl, and it makes no difference that she is blind! An optimistic and inspiring animation about learning and accepting our natural differences, voiced by Vanessa herself.
I Want To See The Dwarves!
Animation
Colourful jungle, dancing dwarves and a pirate girl Vanessa. It is a story of a regular lovely girl, and it makes no difference that she is blind! An optimistic and inspiring animation about learning and accepting our natural differences, voiced by Vanessa herself.
I Want To See The Dwarves!
Producer
Colourful jungle, dancing dwarves and a pirate girl Vanessa. It is a story of a regular lovely girl, and it makes no difference that she is blind! An optimistic and inspiring animation about learning and accepting our natural differences, voiced by Vanessa herself.
I Want To See The Dwarves!
Director of Photography
Colourful jungle, dancing dwarves and a pirate girl Vanessa. It is a story of a regular lovely girl, and it makes no difference that she is blind! An optimistic and inspiring animation about learning and accepting our natural differences, voiced by Vanessa herself.
I Want To See The Dwarves!
Writer
Colourful jungle, dancing dwarves and a pirate girl Vanessa. It is a story of a regular lovely girl, and it makes no difference that she is blind! An optimistic and inspiring animation about learning and accepting our natural differences, voiced by Vanessa herself.
I Want To See The Dwarves!
Director
Colourful jungle, dancing dwarves and a pirate girl Vanessa. It is a story of a regular lovely girl, and it makes no difference that she is blind! An optimistic and inspiring animation about learning and accepting our natural differences, voiced by Vanessa herself.
The Little Worm
Editor
Sometimes even those who are used to crawling, get to fly.
The Little Worm
Animation
Sometimes even those who are used to crawling, get to fly.
The Little Worm
Director of Photography
Sometimes even those who are used to crawling, get to fly.
The Little Worm
Producer
Sometimes even those who are used to crawling, get to fly.
The Little Worm
Writer
Sometimes even those who are used to crawling, get to fly.
The Little Worm
Director
Sometimes even those who are used to crawling, get to fly.
Wonderful Day
Editor
An ordinary day turns into an adventure and becomes an extraordinary day.
Wonderful Day
Animation
An ordinary day turns into an adventure and becomes an extraordinary day.
Wonderful Day
Producer
An ordinary day turns into an adventure and becomes an extraordinary day.
Wonderful Day
Writer
An ordinary day turns into an adventure and becomes an extraordinary day.
Wonderful Day
Camera Operator
An ordinary day turns into an adventure and becomes an extraordinary day.
Wonderful Day
Director
An ordinary day turns into an adventure and becomes an extraordinary day.
Flap Your Wings!
Producer
Even if you’re born to fly, it's not an easy thing to learn. And not everyone succeeds.
Flap Your Wings!
Editor
Even if you’re born to fly, it's not an easy thing to learn. And not everyone succeeds.
Flap Your Wings!
Director of Photography
Even if you’re born to fly, it's not an easy thing to learn. And not everyone succeeds.
Flap Your Wings!
Writer
Even if you’re born to fly, it's not an easy thing to learn. And not everyone succeeds.
Flap Your Wings!
Director
Even if you’re born to fly, it's not an easy thing to learn. And not everyone succeeds.
Half-a-Bear
Producer
Sometimes we got lost. And then we have to be found again, so that no one is sad.
Half-a-Bear
Animation
Sometimes we got lost. And then we have to be found again, so that no one is sad.
Half-a-Bear
Editor
Sometimes we got lost. And then we have to be found again, so that no one is sad.
Half-a-Bear
Director of Photography
Sometimes we got lost. And then we have to be found again, so that no one is sad.
Half-a-Bear
Writer
Sometimes we got lost. And then we have to be found again, so that no one is sad.
Half-a-Bear
Director
Sometimes we got lost. And then we have to be found again, so that no one is sad.
The Witch's Button
Producer
A jolly, care-free, slightly absent-minded Witch loses her magic button. What would the world have looked like if the witch hadn’t found it again!?
The Witch's Button
Editor
A jolly, care-free, slightly absent-minded Witch loses her magic button. What would the world have looked like if the witch hadn’t found it again!?
The Witch's Button
Director of Photography
A jolly, care-free, slightly absent-minded Witch loses her magic button. What would the world have looked like if the witch hadn’t found it again!?
The Witch's Button
Writer
A jolly, care-free, slightly absent-minded Witch loses her magic button. What would the world have looked like if the witch hadn’t found it again!?
The Witch's Button
Director
A jolly, care-free, slightly absent-minded Witch loses her magic button. What would the world have looked like if the witch hadn’t found it again!?
The Telephone
Producer
She is beautiful and sexy, and this is her story about loneliness, hope and illusions.
The Telephone
Editor
She is beautiful and sexy, and this is her story about loneliness, hope and illusions.
The Telephone
Animation
She is beautiful and sexy, and this is her story about loneliness, hope and illusions.
The Telephone
Director of Photography
She is beautiful and sexy, and this is her story about loneliness, hope and illusions.
The Telephone
Writer
She is beautiful and sexy, and this is her story about loneliness, hope and illusions.
The Telephone
Director
She is beautiful and sexy, and this is her story about loneliness, hope and illusions.
Listen, Rabbit... Daddy goes to London
Producer
A little girl’s father has to go to London. The little girl and her toy rabbit would like to go with him. Of course that’s out of the question. Yet little girls aren’t into giving up and even the smallest suitcase proves big enough.
Listen, Rabbit... Daddy goes to London
Editor
A little girl’s father has to go to London. The little girl and her toy rabbit would like to go with him. Of course that’s out of the question. Yet little girls aren’t into giving up and even the smallest suitcase proves big enough.
Listen, Rabbit... Daddy goes to London
Animation
A little girl’s father has to go to London. The little girl and her toy rabbit would like to go with him. Of course that’s out of the question. Yet little girls aren’t into giving up and even the smallest suitcase proves big enough.
Listen, Rabbit... Daddy goes to London
Camera Operator
A little girl’s father has to go to London. The little girl and her toy rabbit would like to go with him. Of course that’s out of the question. Yet little girls aren’t into giving up and even the smallest suitcase proves big enough.
Listen, Rabbit... Daddy goes to London
Writer
A little girl’s father has to go to London. The little girl and her toy rabbit would like to go with him. Of course that’s out of the question. Yet little girls aren’t into giving up and even the smallest suitcase proves big enough.
Listen, Rabbit... Daddy goes to London
Director
A little girl’s father has to go to London. The little girl and her toy rabbit would like to go with him. Of course that’s out of the question. Yet little girls aren’t into giving up and even the smallest suitcase proves big enough.
Planēta
Animation
Planēta
Editor
Planēta
Producer
Planēta
Writer
Planēta
Director
Sandbox
Producer
How the Stripped one and the Dotted one were playing in one sandbox and how it all ended.
Sandbox
Editor
How the Stripped one and the Dotted one were playing in one sandbox and how it all ended.
Sandbox
Animation
How the Stripped one and the Dotted one were playing in one sandbox and how it all ended.
Sandbox
Director of Photography
How the Stripped one and the Dotted one were playing in one sandbox and how it all ended.
Sandbox
Writer
How the Stripped one and the Dotted one were playing in one sandbox and how it all ended.
Sandbox
Director
How the Stripped one and the Dotted one were playing in one sandbox and how it all ended.
Spring
Animation
It is a bit funny and a bit sad story about snowmen and…spring. Everyone has got their time and place in this world. Like that rabbit who managed to get fresh carrots in spring.
Spring
Producer
It is a bit funny and a bit sad story about snowmen and…spring. Everyone has got their time and place in this world. Like that rabbit who managed to get fresh carrots in spring.
Spring
Writer
It is a bit funny and a bit sad story about snowmen and…spring. Everyone has got their time and place in this world. Like that rabbit who managed to get fresh carrots in spring.
Spring
Director
It is a bit funny and a bit sad story about snowmen and…spring. Everyone has got their time and place in this world. Like that rabbit who managed to get fresh carrots in spring.
Diversion
Producer
Diversion
Writer
Diversion
Camera Operator
Diversion
Animation
Diversion
Director
Brickannia
Editor
There is a planet near Earth where strange creatures live. They look like birds and they eat meteorites. Although their behaviours seem strange and completely different from ours, we have a lot more in common than it might seem at first.
Brickannia
Director
There is a planet near Earth where strange creatures live. They look like birds and they eat meteorites. Although their behaviours seem strange and completely different from ours, we have a lot more in common than it might seem at first.
Murrr-gi
Editor
Murrr-gi
Director
Bird Days
Editor
Bird Days
Director
Morning!
Writer
A humorous puppet animation short by the idiosyncratic animation studio "Animācijas brigāde". It's morning in the forest, the Tiger and the Bird are waking up, but their usual morning routine gets interrupted by a misunderstanding that leads them down an eventful path along with all the other animals that happen to get in their way...
Morning!
Director
A humorous puppet animation short by the idiosyncratic animation studio "Animācijas brigāde". It's morning in the forest, the Tiger and the Bird are waking up, but their usual morning routine gets interrupted by a misunderstanding that leads them down an eventful path along with all the other animals that happen to get in their way...
Mamma
Writer
Mamma
Director
Rieksts
Writer
Rieksts
Director
Smiekli
Writer
Smiekli
Director
Ragi
Writer
Ragi
Director
Grauzējs
Writer
Grauzējs
Director
The Tail
Animation
While Munks and Lemijs are having a nap, a fellow animal loses their tail under mysterious circumstances. It's time for our heroes to wake up and help out a friend in need and help them find their tail!
The Tail
Writer
While Munks and Lemijs are having a nap, a fellow animal loses their tail under mysterious circumstances. It's time for our heroes to wake up and help out a friend in need and help them find their tail!
The Tail
Director
While Munks and Lemijs are having a nap, a fellow animal loses their tail under mysterious circumstances. It's time for our heroes to wake up and help out a friend in need and help them find their tail!
Let's Fly?
Writer
The strange creatures Munk and Lemmy encounter very human problems and attempts at solving them. Here, they try to help their friend the rabbit, who is unable to reach the fruit he desires. A film from the Munk and Lemmy series.
Let's Fly?
Animation
The strange creatures Munk and Lemmy encounter very human problems and attempts at solving them. Here, they try to help their friend the rabbit, who is unable to reach the fruit he desires. A film from the Munk and Lemmy series.
Let's Fly?
Director
The strange creatures Munk and Lemmy encounter very human problems and attempts at solving them. Here, they try to help their friend the rabbit, who is unable to reach the fruit he desires. A film from the Munk and Lemmy series.
Orhidejas
Writer
Ala
Writer
Ala
Director
The Witch And The Cow
Director of Photography
A tiny witch tries to milk an immense cow. Things get out of her control.
How a Baby Comes Into the World
Director of Photography
A film for children about how a baby comes into this world. The sexual revolution happened in Latvia thanks to Māris Putniņš, an artist and soon-to-be among the most visible Latvian puppet animation specialists. In 1989, he published a series of drawings showing that babies aren’t brought by storks or found in cabbage patches in the famous children’s magazine Zīlīte. This popular-science film by Roze Stiebra recreates this long-kept-from-children truth on the big screen.
Ness un Nesija
Camera Operator
Ness and Nijaya' is the first Latvian full-length animation film. The story of the love of the Ness of Lake Ness in Lake Lohnes and the Lake of Inesh. According to Wick's book "The Great Day of the Underwater Bar". For 10,000 years, they have been separated by a rock cliff, and underwater under the guidance of Barakud, a mistress of Murena, and the Dwarf Dune Rūķīša, is preparing for the Great Event - the rescue of Nesia and Nesa. Though the task is complicated by the fading ecological problems and landlords - the still irresponsible behavior of the people, they act wisely and vigorously and win! Ness and Nijah meet and are happy.
Fantadrome
Camera Operator
Fantadroms is a Latvian children's sci-fi cartoon by production company Studio Dauka. The episodes were released sporadically between 1985 and 1995, and all thirteen of them were released as a collection on DVD in 2006. The hero of the show is a yellow shape-shifting robot called Indrikis XIII, who usually takes the form of a cat. He flies through space, mediating various disputes between the other characters. One recurring dynamic in the show is the love triangle between Indrikis XIII and Receklite - the flying purple cat-octopus with whom he is in love with, and the rat – who is in love with Indrikis. Other recurring characters include a cow, a (human) woman, and an amorphous pink blob. The episode "Salt" won the Lielais Kristaps award for best animation in 1985. The show has no dialogue and drama unfolds through pantomime and expressive noises such as grunts, groans, and laughter, which allows the show to cross language barriers.