From 23 to 25 September, Latvian film companies and professionals are presenting opportunities for filming, international co-productions, animation and post-production in Los Angeles as part of a US trade mission organised by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA). The wider trade mission runs until 27 September during the working visit of Latvia’s President, Edgars Rinkēvičs.
Film industry delegates are meeting representatives of US film studios, streaming platforms and content companies. Latvian companies are presenting specific projects and production services, seeking co-production and distribution partners, and discussing opportunities to shoot foreign films and series in Latvia.
The visit comes as Latvia’s international profile in film has grown considerably. The animated film Flow won an Academy Award, while Danish director May el-Toukhy’s The Stranger, most of which was filmed in Riga, won the Golden Lion at the Venice International Film Festival.
Latvia’s offer also includes LIAA’s foreign film support programme, which can cover up to 30% of eligible expenditure in Latvia for qualifying film, series and animation projects.
“Film production is about more than premieres and awards — it is an export industry. In 2025, Latvia’s services exports to the United States reached €510 million, an increase of 10%, making the US our fifth-largest services export market. LIAA’s co-financing for 37 foreign film projects has exceeded €9.97 million, while those projects have generated €42.1 million in export revenue in Latvia and paid more than €8.84 million in taxes. In Los Angeles, Latvian companies are offering US producers specific projects, professional crews and the opportunity to produce films in Latvia,” said Raivis Bremšmits, State Secretary at the Ministry of Economics.
From international recognition to new projects
Latvian film professionals have experience across every stage of international production, from project development and co-production to filming, animation and post-production. Alongside Flow and The Stranger, another example is Kristen Stewart’s directorial debut, The Chronology of Water, which was filmed in Latvia and had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.
“Producers in California ask very practical questions: Does Latvia have the crew they need? Can a project be completed on time and within budget? What support is available? The production of The Stranger provides a concrete answer: 25 of its 28 shooting days took place in Riga, most of the work was done by a Latvian crew, and LIAA’s programme can cover up to 30% of a foreign project’s eligible expenditure in Latvia. Our role in the trade mission is to arrange meetings with industry decision-makers. The companies themselves present their projects and decide whom they want to speak to and about what kind of cooperation,” said LIAA Director Ieva Jāgere.
Flow opens conversations about future animation projects
The international success of Flow has drawn the attention of the US film industry to Latvian creators, producers and animation professionals. Delegation members will use that recognition in Los Angeles to present new projects, discuss co-productions and financing, and seek partners for distribution and promotion in the US market.
“Flow’s success has written Latvia’s name in bold letters into the history of independent animation worldwide, and many major Hollywood studios and distributors are interested in working with the Flow team on future projects. We are currently working intensively on Gints Zilbalodis’s next animated film, Limbo, which is due for release in 2028. The US market will be particularly important if Latvian cinema is to reach an even wider audience than before. Although the film will reach screens in just under two years, it is already essential to develop a distribution strategy that will help it succeed,” said Matīss Kaža, co-writer and producer of Flow, describing his goals for the LIAA trade mission.
Filming locations and production services
Latvian companies can provide foreign producers with local producers and creative crews, location scouting, studios and outdoor sets, set construction, technical equipment and post-production. Film shoots also generate work for transport companies, hotels, caterers, security firms and other service providers.
Latvia’s offer includes Cinevilla Studios, where foreign productions can access filming locations, adaptable sets, sound stages, technical equipment, professional crews and accommodation for film teams in one place.
“Latvia can compete for major international film and television productions. We have diverse natural landscapes and architecture from different periods, professional crews, 12-hour shooting days and competitive costs. Another advantage is the cash rebate programme, which reimburses producers for part of their expenditure in Latvia. Films bring millions of euros with them. When a project comes to Latvia, work goes not only to film professionals but also to hotels, caterers, transport companies, builders, artists’ workshops, costume makers, equipment suppliers and even horse handlers. This is services export that creates jobs and tax revenue. Our goal in Los Angeles is to bring US film projects — and their budgets — to Latvia,” said Andrejs Ēķis, head of Cinevilla Studios, producer and director.
Meetings with US film and content companies
From 23 to 25 September, individual business meetings are taking place in Los Angeles with representatives of Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros. Discovery, The Walt Disney Company, Lionsgate, Blumhouse Productions, Ketchup Entertainment, Legendary Pictures and Netflix. Latvian companies are presenting their projects and services and discussing filming in Latvia, international co-productions, animation, post-production and content distribution.
LIAA developed the film industry programme and arranged meetings based on the interests identified by delegation members. The companies themselves will determine the substance of the discussions, the projects they present and their preferred terms of cooperation. After the visit, they will continue working with partners where specific opportunities for cooperation have been identified. LIAA will help maintain contacts and provide information about the US market and available export, investment and film production support measures.
Latvian film industry delegation
The film industry programme includes Nafta Films, RED DOT MEDIA, Mistrus Media, Trickster Pictures, Baltic Pine Films, CINEVILLA FILMS, Angels Films Studio, Ierakstu Māja and the Latvian Film Service Producers Association.
The delegation’s offer covers film and series production, international co-productions, animation, filming locations and studio infrastructure, set construction, technical services, sound and picture post-production, and content distribution.
The film industry programme forms part of the Latvian business trade mission to the United States organised by LIAA. Running from 23 to 27 September, the mission covers New York, Los Angeles and San Diego. Separate industry programmes have also been prepared for representatives of life sciences, defence and dual-use technologies, and startups.
LIAA organises participation in overseas trade missions under the EU co-financed programme for the development of innovative entrepreneurship among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with support from the European Regional Development Fund and national funding. Companies may participate in a trade mission either by paying their own costs or by receiving support to cover eligible expenditure.
