RIGA: Viesturs Kairišs’ biographical film Ulya / Uļa has been selected as Latvia’s candidate for the 99th Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awards in the Best International Feature Film category. The film is a coproduction between Latvia, Estonia, Poland, and Lithuania.
The decision was made by a commission including producers Alise Ģelze and Matīss Kaža, film critic Kristīne Simsone, producer and director Raitis Ābele, and Dita Rietuma, director of the National Film Centre of Latvia.
A biographical drama about the world famous basketball player Ulyana Semyonova, the film follows her path from an Old-Believers community on the South Eastern border of Latvia to international fame, portraying both her personal journey and her symbolic role as a Cold War-era sports icon.
Guntis Trekteris produced the film through Ego Media (Latvia) in coproduction with Pille Rünk through Allfilm (Estonia), Małgorzata Staroń through Staron Film (Poland), and Ieva Norvilienė through Tremora (Lithuania).
The script was written by Livia Ulman, Andris Feldmanis and Kārlis Arnolds Avots, who plays the lead role. Avots also originated the idea for the film after initially pitching the project to Kairišs and DoP Wojciech Staroń.
The cast also includes Alise Dzene, Dārta Cīrule, Chulpan Khamatova, Artūrs Krūzkops, Kaspars Dumburs, Aleksas Kazanavičius, and Madara Viļčuka.
The National Film Centre of Latvia, the Estonian Film Institute, the Cultural Endowment of Estonia, the Polish Film Institute, the Lithuanian Film Centre, and the Riga City Council supported the film.
Ulya has been acquired by French outlet B-Rated International ahead of its world premiere in the Un Certain Regard competition of the 79th Cannes Film Festival.
Actor Kārlis Arnolds Avots won the Best Actor award at the Jerusalem Film Festival.
The nominations for 99th Academy Awards will be announced on 21 January and the 99th Academy Awards will be held on 14 March 2927 at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, Los Angeles.
