Latvian Film “Lotus” at Rotterdam Film Festival | Record Nominations
The Latvian film Lotus, a visually striking and avant-garde feature directed by Signe Birkova, is gaining international recognition. The film has received a record sixteen nominations for Latvia’s National Film Award, “Lielais Kristaps,” and will be screened as part of the “Focus: The Future is NOW” program at the 55th International Rotterdam Film Festival (IFFR). Currently available on streaming platforms in Latvia, Lotus will also be shown in special screenings at the end of January, offering audiences a chance to meet the director.
International Acclaim for Lotus
The nominations for “Lielais Kristaps” recognize Lotus in all major categories, including Best Feature Film and Best Director. This unprecedented number of nominations potentially sets a new record in the history of the Latvian national film awards. The film’s success isn’t limited to Latvia; it premiered internationally at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF), the only A-class festival in Northern Europe and the region’s largest cinema event. It also received three nominations and won the award for Best Co-production Film at Lithuania’s National Film Awards, the “Silver Crane.”
Rotterdam Film Festival Spotlight
The Rotterdam International Film Festival (IFFR), held in the Netherlands from January 30th to February 4th, is considered one of the most important film forums in Europe. IFFR is particularly known for showcasing bold, experimental works that demonstrate a unique authorial vision. The inclusion of Lotus in the festival program is a significant step, strengthening Latvia’s position within the international film industry.
Producer Dominiks Jarmakovičs emphasized that the number of nominations is “a high appreciation of the entire team’s professional work and courage to create cinema that is unconventional both in terms of story and visuals.” He added that the film’s success both domestically and internationally, including its selection for the Rotterdam Festival, signals that authorial cinema with a strong individual voice can appeal to both local and international audiences.
A Unique Cinematic Vision
Olaf Mellers, a film critic and scholar who programs the prestigious Rotterdam and Locarno festivals and regularly publishes in Film Comment – a publication considered an authority on world cinema since 1962 – describes Lotus as existing in “a parallel universe…where Alice von Trota never existed.” He praises Birkova’s masterful blending of genres, including horror, fantasy, and melodrama, and her creation of “visual and acoustic magic” that captivates and inspires. Mellers states that filmmaking in Lotus “transforms into a visual art of magic – 24 spells per second.”
Screenings and Availability
Due to the interest generated by the “Lielais Kristaps” nominations, audiences will have opportunities to see Lotus on the big screen and meet the director during special screenings. The film will also be featured in the National Film Awards “Lielais Kristaps” Nominees Program (February 4th–8th). A detailed schedule of screenings will be published on lielaiskristaps.lv. The film is currently available online via LMT Viedtelevīzija and Tet TV+.
About the Film
Lotus, which premiered in Latvia in April 2025, is a historical costume drama where mysticism intertwines with humor and the absurd becomes reality. Set in an imaginary 1919 Latvia, the film follows German Baltic Baroness Alice von Trota as she returns to Latvia to claim her inheritance and inadvertently becomes entangled with a secret and sinister cult. In her quest for freedom, she discovers the magic of cinema and becomes a pioneer of silent film. The plot challenges the boundaries between film and life, incorporating references to world cinema masterpieces and Signe Birkova’s love for early cinema.
The film stars European film star Severija Janušauskaite, alongside a cast of Latvian actors including Rēzija Kalniņa, Baiba Broka, Indra Briķe, Vilis Daudziņš, Mārtiņš Kalita, Andis Strods, Regnārs Vaivars, Iveta Pole, Āris Matesovičs, Jana Čivžele, and Lauma Balode. The creative team includes cinematographer Mārtiņš Jurevics, art director Mārtiņš Straupe, costume designer Jurate Silakaktiņa, makeup artist Ilze Trumpe, and composers Paulis Kilbauskis and Justins Štars. The film was produced by Dominiks Jarmakovičs and Roberts Vinovskis at Studija Lokomotīve in collaboration with Lithuania’s Studio Uljana Kim, with financial support from the National Film Centre and the Eurimages fund.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Lotus about?
Lotus is a historical costume drama set in an imaginary 1919 Latvia, following a Baroness who becomes involved with a secret cult and discovers the world of silent film.
Where can I watch Lotus?
Lotus is currently available on LMT Viedtelevīzija and Tet TV+. It will also be shown in special screenings and as part of the National Film Awards “Lielais Kristaps” Nominees Program.
What awards has Lotus received?
Lotus has received sixteen nominations for Latvia’s National Film Award, “Lielais Kristaps,” and won the award for Best Co-production Film at Lithuania’s National Film Awards, the “Silver Crane.”
What does the international recognition of a Latvian film like Lotus suggest about the future of Baltic cinema?