The International Documentary Film Festival Artdocfest/Riga will take place for the sixth time in 2026 — from 28 February to 8 March, and ticket sales for the festival’s opening film begin already now.
The opening of the 6th International Documentary Film Festival “Artdocfest/Riga” will be held on 28 February at 18:00 with the premiere of Vitaly Mansky’s new film “Time to the Target”, which had its world premiere earlier this year at the Berlin International Film Festival. The film has since been screened in Yamagata, at IDFA and PÖFF, and has received an award in Jihlava. Within the framework of Artdocfest/Riga, it will have its Latvian premiere.
Tickets for the opening film are already available at the Splendid Palace cinema box office.
The traditional venue of Artdocfest/Riga is the Splendid Palace cinema — its Great Hall and the Straumes Hall (formerly known as the Small Hall). This is where two competition programmes will be presented: “Baltic Focus” and “Artdocfest OPEN”. In addition, three thematic non-competition programmes will be organised.
The screenings will take place at the Zuzeum Art Centre (101 Lāčplēša Street), which will host the traditional art-focused programme “ArtDoc&ProArt”, and at the Media Hub Riga community centre “Power-Up Space” (21 Merķeļa Street), where films related to war and violence will be shown.
This year, the festival introduces a new visual symbol — Dziga Vertov’s “camera eye”. Artdocfest/Riga has always been known for its unique, distinctive and often alternative perspective on the reality surrounding us — a view shaped by an author who cannot remain indifferent. We see the world through his eyes. This image has long been reflected in the design of the festival’s main award, and it now becomes the festival’s official graphic emblem.
The submission of documentary films for the festival is still open, and the organisers invite Latvian filmmakers to submit works that could have their Latvian premiere at the festival.
Applications are accepted until 15 December of this year.