Visit to Liepaja
On April 14–16, a delegation from the South Estonian film community visited Liepāja as part of the FILMLINK project to explore the development of the regional film sector and strengthen cooperation with Latvian partners. Liepāja will be the European Capital of Culture in 2027, and the development of the film sector and support for film production are among its priorities.
The study visit brought together a diverse group of participants, including representatives of the public sector, professional filmmakers, and young film enthusiasts from the Tartu Film School and Improfilm Lab.
At the centre of the programme was the seminar “Filming in the Region: From Experience to Impact”, which focused on the impact of film production on regions and ways to measure it. White Picture studio (Riga) shared practical insights into the Estonian–Latvian co-production of the feature film “Invisible Fight” (dir. Rainer Sarnet), filmed in the Liepāja region.
In addition to the seminar, participants took part in a FAM tour showcasing Liepāja’s diverse filming locations—from historic streets to the Karosta prison and the Northern Forts. These locations clearly demonstrated how authentic environments can become a strong asset in attracting film productions.
Signe Somelar-Erikson (Tartu Film Fund):
“Although both South Estonia and Liepāja are often seen as peripheral regions in the film industry—located away from capital cities—they actually hold significant potential. We have unique locations, flexibility, strong communities and a growing professional network. Meetings like this help us better understand who we are and where we are heading. Cooperation and knowledge exchange do not only create new contacts—they help strengthen our regions, make film more visible, and create conditions where film production can grow beyond major centres.”
The visit took place within the FILMLINK project, supported by the Estonia–Latvia Programme.
