Chronicles of Melanie, the feature film by Latvian director Viestur Kairish has received the Best Cinematography award at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (POFF). The award, a bronze wolf statuette, has been handed to the film’s director of photography, Gints Bērziņš.
Published: 28.11.2016.
Chronicles of Melanie was the only Baltic film among the 12 films competing in the Official Selection program at the POFF festival.
“Filming Chronicles of Melanie was an emotionally draining job and a great challenge both from creative and technical aspects. I am glad these efforts have been appreciated,” Bērziņš said in his speech, adding that the award was an appreciation of the work of the entire film crew.
Chronicles of Melanie is based on an autobiographical novel by Melānija Vanaga, a Latvian woman, who was deported to Siberia during the Stalinist political cleansing of 1941 in the freshly occupied Baltic states. Swiss actress Sabine Timoteo, who won the 2015 Swiss Film Award as the Best Actress, stars in the lead role in the new Latvian film. The film received its national premiere on November 1, 2016 and its international premiere took place on November 21, 2016, at the POFF festival in Tallinn.
Chronicles of Melanie is a co-production by Mistrus Media (Latvia), Inland Film Company (Finland) and 8Heads Productions (Czech Republic). The National Film Centre of Latvia was among the financial supporters.