On February 28 at 18:00, the 6th International Documentary Film Festival Artdocfest/Riga will open at Splendid Palace cinema with the Latvian premiere of “Time to the Target” directed by Vitaly Mansky.
The opening film, “Time to the Target,” is directed by festival president Vitaly Mansky. The film had its world premiere in February 2025 at the Berlin International Film Festival.
Today we also publicly announce the members of the festival competition juries.
Baltic Focus Competition
The Baltic Focus competition includes 10 films. The jury consists of prominent film industry professionals:
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Daira Āboliņa — film critic, Artistic Director and curator of Splendid Palace cinema, member of the Latvian Filmmakers Union. Editor, author and film journalist at Latvian Television. Publishing regularly in leading Latvian media since 1985.
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Jean Perret — French-Swiss curator, producer and educator, one of the key figures in international documentary cinema. Director of the Visions du Réel documentary festival from 1995 to 2010, transforming it into one of the world’s leading platforms for auteur documentary film. Lecturer on cinéma du réel, aesthetics and society; headed the film department at HEAD – Geneva University of Art and Design. Based in Geneva.
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Edvinas Pukšta — Lithuanian film journalist, critic and festival programmer. Since 2018 curator of the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF); since 2023 Head of Programme of the Tartuff Festival in Tartu. For fifteen years lead programmer of the Vilnius International Film Festival Kino Pavasaris. Member of the European Film Academy selection committee (European Film Awards); regularly serves on juries in Cannes, Berlin and Busan.
Artdocfest OPEN Competition
The 19 films of the Artdocfest OPEN competition will be evaluated by:
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Yuliya Aug — theatre and film actress, director, screenwriter and music video author. Known for her work in theatre (including the Gogol Center) and cinema, as well as her active civic stance. Of Estonian origin; educated at LGITMiK and GITIS; graduate of the Higher Courses for Scriptwriters and Directors. Based in Estonia.
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Boris Zimin — entrepreneur and philanthropist, head of the Zimin Foundation, son of VimpelCom founder Dmitry Zimin. Known for supporting the Russian opposition and independent media. Living abroad (USA and Israel) since 2004. Designated a “foreign agent” in Russia in 2022.
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Vadim Radionov — Latvian journalist, author and host of the popular socio-political YouTube channel “And Graham Struck” («И грянул Грэм»). Collaborated with Latvian and Russian media, including Snob and Echo of Moscow.
The festival runs from February 28 to March 8. Screenings will take place at Splendid Palace cinema, at the art centre Zuzeum (101 Lāčplēša Street) featuring the out-of-competition programme “ArtDoc&ProArt” dedicated to art-related films, and at the Media Hub Riga community centre “Power-Up Space” (21 Merķeļa Street), hosting the out-of-competition programme “Real Talk.”
Out-of-competition screenings are free of charge with prior registration on the venues’ websites.
Festival partners include the State Culture Capital Foundation of Latvia, Riga City Council, Deutsche Welle, Goethe-Institut, German Films, the Embassy of Poland, the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania, the Embassy of Israel, the Latvian Jewish Community Restitution Fund, Splendid Palace cinema, Tallink Hotel, Media Hub Riga “Power-Up Space,” Zuzeum, Benjamiņa House, Rīgas Melnais balzams, Skrīveru saldumi, LiveRiga agency, Riga Film Museum, Meduza portal, Artdoc.Media and AfishaMira platforms, Delfi, LSM, and Radio SWH.