Having evaluated the Latvian films submitted as candidates for Oscar nomination in the “Best International Feature Film” category, the Latvian selection committee has chosen to enter the respected and innovative animated feature film Dog of God, directed by the brothers Lauris and Raitis Ābele, into the competition.
Published: 29.08.2025.
After a thorough evaluation and discussion of the submitted films, the committee unanimously selected the feature animation film Dog of God for submission in the respective category. The film had its world premiere at the Tribeca Festival in New York (US) at the beginning of June, receiving wide international recognition. The film has already been praised in the media for its boldness and innovation; it is made using the rarely used technique of rotoscope animation and tells the story of mystical events in 17th century Livonia.
The Latvian selection committee observed that Latvia has already won a place in the world film industry through "unusual animation", and that the opportunity to continue to highlight Latvian animation is a natural strategic move.
Dog of God is scheduled to premiere in cinemas in the city of Liepāja at the beginning of September, as the directors have significant experience of previous collaborations related to the city. After this, the film will reach a wider audience in Riga and in other cinemas in Latvia.
The first Latvian film to be nominated for a U.S. Academy Award was The Child of a Man (1991, directed by Jānis Streičs). Latvia returned to the Oscars competition with the film Defenders of Riga (submitted in 2008 and directed by Aigars Grauba). Since then, further 15 films have been selected by the expert commission, the most recent of which is January (2022, directed by Viesturs Kairišs), My Freedom (2023, Ilze Kunga-Melgaile) and Flow (2024, Gints Zilbalodis).