Gravediggers
The gravediggers are preparing a lifelong home for us all. They do their work by standing over people when they are in grief, and are the last hands to touch the grave towel that lowers the deceased a meter and a half below the ground. Along with other ancient professions, gravediggers have inherited knowledge and skills over several generations - not only in digging graves, but also in Latvia's rich cemetery culture, where everything has its own order.
Traditions from different centuries meet in Latvian cemeteries, and every gravedigger needs to know them. For each grave prepared, the gravedigger receives a work completion stamp. The most experienced of them have already received 5000 such stamps, which is equivalent to the population of one town in Latvia.
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Ivars ZviedrisDirector
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Ivars ZviedrisProducer
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Emma Daniela GrāpeProducer
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Haralds OzolsEditing director
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Ģirts BišsSound director
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Krists AuznieksComposer
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Project Type:Documentary
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Runtime:29 minutes 49 seconds
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Completion Date:September 8, 2023
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Country of Origin:Latvia
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Country of Filming:Latvia
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Language:Latvian, Russian
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Shooting Format:Digital
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Film Color:Black & White and Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
Education:
1997 - 2001 Latvian Academy of Culture, Bachelor of Arts in Humanities
1986 - 1989 Latvian Academy of Sports. 2001 - 1989 Latvian Academy of Sports
1975 - 1986 Valmiera 11 Heroes Communist Secondary School
Work experience:
2017 to present Founder and Chairman of the Board of the Association Dokumentālists
2012 - 2017 Public official - member of the NEPLP.
2000 - 2012 cinematographer, director, producer at Ansis Epners' film studio AVE
1993 - 2000 Chairman of the Board of "Rūjienas televīzija" Ltd.
Additional education:
2000. Master classes at the LKA with leading Latvian and foreign film specialists
1999. TV production courses in Denmark
1998. 1998 Swedish journalists' organisation FOJO courses in Stockholm
1997. European Regional TV Seminar in Slovakia
1993 - 1997 TV cameraman-director courses with leading Latvian TV and film specialists.
Filmography:
“Bahs pret Covid” (“Bach vs Covid”, 2022) director, producer (The film was included in the Jihlava Documentary Film Festival);
“Valkātājs” ("Latvian Coyote", 2019) director, cinematographer, producer (Jihlava International Documentary Film Festival Award “Best Central and Eastern European Documentary”;
“Brīnišķīgie lūzeri. Cita pasaule” (“Wonderful Losers. A Different World”, 2018) cinematographer (Sidabrinė Gervė Award for Best Documentary, for Best Score and Special Audience Award, national film festival "Lielais Kristaps" Award “Best Documentary Cinematography”;
“Zāģeri” (2017) director, producer, cinematographer (National film festival "Lielais Kristaps" “the Best Sound Director”, as well as a nomination in “the Best Documentary Cinematography” category.;
“Skola Murjāņi” ("School Murjāņi", 2015) director, producer, cinematographer;
“Dokumentālists” ("Documentarian", 2012) director, producer, cinematographer (Grand Prix at the Anuu-rû âboro IFF 2013 (New Caledonia), special showcase at MoMA, NY (USA) “Best Documentary Feature”, “Audience Choice Award” and Special Award);
"Bēgums" ("Tide", 2009) director, cinematographer;
"Gatavs" ("Done", 2006) producer, cinematographer (screened at HOT DOCS festival);
"Kamēr…" and "Atnāc, Ērik" (2005) (nominated at the national film festival "Lielais Kristaps") director, producer, cinematographer;
"Eks āmen s" (2005) (The Interfilm Jury Prize at the Arsenāls Film Festival, named Best Debut at the 2006 Lielais Kristaps festival) producer, cinematographer;
"ES" (2004) (Azerbaijan Film Festival Award "Best Producer") producer, co-director, cinematographer;
“Dziesmusvētki” (“Song and Dance festival”, 2003) (National film festival "Lielais Kristaps" Special Award) director, producer, cinematographer.
A poetic documentary featuring members of an unusual profession.