Danish director May el-Toukhy’s film “The Unknown Woman”, which won the Golden Lion, the top prize at the Venice International Film Festival, is a co-production between the Danish and Swedish film studios Nordisk Film Production and Latvia’s Nafta Films. Most of the film was shot in Latvia. Filming in Latvia was co-financed through the foreign film support programme of the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA), with extensive involvement from Latvian film professionals and companies.
“The Golden Lion awarded to a film made largely in Riga is an outstanding achievement for Latvian film professionals and, at the same time, very tangible proof of why Latvia should attract international film projects. Their economic contribution extends far beyond the film industry itself: foreign funding reaches Latvian companies and professionals, promotes service exports and generates tax revenue. Meanwhile, the success of world-class films increases Latvia’s visibility and strengthens our competitiveness in attracting future international projects. This combination of economic impact and international recognition is precisely what we aim to achieve through LIAA’s foreign film support programme,” emphasises LIAA Director Ieva Jāgere.
Of the film’s 28 shooting days, 25 took place in Riga, and the production was carried out predominantly by a Latvian crew. Filming in Latvia was co-financed through LIAA’s foreign film support programme and the Riga Municipality’s Riga Film Fund programme.
The film’s co-producers are Madara Kalniņa and Esko Rips. Numerous Latvian film professionals worked on the production, including assistant production designer Kārlis Utināns, costume designer Jūlija Volkinšteine, Latvian casting and extras director Marta Dzene, production sound mixer Mārtiņš Rozentāls, gaffer Aleksandrs Čerkašins, Latvian production manager Agate Prozoroviča, Latvian location manager Ingrīda Nagle, script supervisor Anna Bijubena and photographer Andrejs Strokins.
The film received another major award in Venice: Matilde Arcel won the festival’s Best Actress award for her leading role in “The Unknown Woman”.
“The success of ‘The Unknown Woman’ once again demonstrates the professionalism of Latvian filmmakers and their ability to work on major international projects. It further strengthens Latvia’s reputation as an attractive destination for international film productions.
“The Venice Film Festival’s Golden Lion is one of the world’s most prestigious film awards, presented at the world’s oldest film festival, with a significant impact on a film’s subsequent success. We may well see the title ‘The Unknown Woman’ again during the American film awards season this autumn. The fact that the film was shot in Latvia could become a compelling argument for attracting future international film projects to the country. This award continues to strengthen the international recognition of Latvian filmmakers. My heartfelt congratulations to the Latvian team behind ‘The Unknown Woman’!” emphasises Dita Rietuma, Head of the National Film Centre of Latvia.
Foreign Film Projects Have Contributed More Than €42 Million to Latvia’s Economy
LIAA’s foreign film support programme is an investment-attraction instrument designed to encourage foreign film, television series and animation productions in Latvia. It reimburses part of the eligible costs incurred during project implementation, thereby helping attract foreign investment to the Latvian economy.
To date, LIAA has granted more than €9.97 million in co-financing to 37 film projects through its foreign film support programme. As a result of these projects, more than €8.84 million has been paid into the state budget in taxes, while eligible expenditure in Latvia — spending by foreign producers on goods and services in the country — has reached €42.1 million.
The programme provides co-financing of up to 30% of a project’s eligible costs. Funding is awarded to projects that meet the programme’s qualification and economic criteria.
An economic assessment of the programme indicates that its implementation could increase Latvia’s exports by approximately €72 million over three years, while its overall economic impact is projected to be approximately three times greater than the public funding invested.
Latvia Strengthens Its Position in the International Film Industry
The success of “The Unknown Woman” builds on the international recognition achieved by productions filmed in Latvia and created with the participation of Latvian film professionals. Kristen Stewart’s directorial debut, “The Chronology of Water”, which was filmed in Latvia, had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, while the Latvian co-production “The Invisible Fight” has also attracted international attention.
In LIAA’s view, the importance of such projects extends beyond the direct expenditure generated during filming. International co-productions give Latvian companies and film professionals opportunities to work on world-class projects and establish new professional contacts, while also strengthening Latvia’s recognition as a destination capable of hosting high-level international audiovisual productions.
The Baltic premiere of “The Unknown Woman” is scheduled for 15 October, when it will open the Riga International Film Festival (RIGA IFF) at the Splendid Palace cinema.
