Latvia has announced its selection of “Ulya” as its official submission for the international feature film category at the 2027 Academy Awards. The film, directed by Viesturs Kairišs, premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes and will open the 30th edition of Estonia’s Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival on Friday.
The black-and-white production draws inspiration from the life of Uljana Semjonova, a decorated Latvian basketball player who achieved significant recognition in international competition, including Olympic gold medals and multiple championship titles. The narrative follows the central character from a rural Old Believer community into the demanding world of professional basketball, where she confronts both the physical implications of her exceptional height and the pressures of elite-level competition.
“Ulya” represents a collaborative effort among four Baltic nations, produced by companies in Latvia, Estonia, Poland, and Lithuania. The film marks the third Oscar submission from director Kairišs, following “January” and “The Chronicles of Melanie.” Actor Kārlis Arnolds Avots, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Livia Ulman and Andris Feldmanis, plays the titular character. Cinematography by Wojciech Staroń and editing by Armands Zacs complete the creative team.
Kairišs explained that his initial reluctance toward historical and sports-themed projects shifted upon learning about Avots’ vision to portray Semjonova. The director drew artistic inspiration from filmmakers including Werner Herzog and Ingmar Bergman, emphasizing his focus on depicting the internal experience of the protagonist rather than pursuing a conventional biographical approach. The film has achieved commercial success domestically, with North America distribution handled by New Mountain Films.
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