Latvian Oscar Bid 'Ulya' Closes 12 Global Sales Ahead of Festival Debut
The black-and-white drama, currently the second most-watched film in Latvian history, has secured distribution rights in North America, Europe, and South America.
By Daniel Rogers ·
Latvia’s official entry for the Best International Feature Film Oscar has finalized distribution deals in twelve territories. The film, titled Ulya, prepares to open the 30th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. These sales cover major markets across North America, Europe, and South America.
New Mountain Films has acquired rights for North America. In Europe, Destiny secured France, Invisible Carpet took Italy, and ASFK obtained Slovakia. Five Star Distribution manages the former Yugoslavia region. Hea Film holds rights for Estonia, while GPI represents Lithuania. Cinema Orion controls Finland, and 1989 has acquired Poland. Teleview handles the Middle East and North Africa region, and Belas Arte owns the rights for Brazil.
Directed by Viesturs Kairišs, the black-and-white narrative premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes. The production involved Ego Media of Latvia, Allfilm of Estonia, Staroń Film of Poland, and Tremora of Lithuania. B-Rated International handles international sales.
The story draws inspiration from the life of Ulyana Semjonova, a seven-foot-tall basketball player born in 1952. Kairišs described the project as a non-conventional biopic. He stated he wanted to tell a Werner Herzog-esque story about a giant girl living in the countryside rather than focusing on sports.
The project originated with actor Kārlis Arnolds Avots, who long wished to portray Semjonova. Kairišs recalled Avots explaining the concept during work on the film January. The director realized the potential for a feature film at that moment. Semjonova, who died in January 2026, approved the casting, as shown by a photograph with Avots in the film's closing scene.
Kairišs noted that the film has become the second most-watched in Latvian history. He attributed this success to strong viewer reactions in Latvia, Cannes, Rome, and Los Angeles. The director said audiences responded to the film's exploration of individuality in a uniform culture.
The film will open the 30th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. It is submitted to the Academy for the Best International Feature Film award.
Source: Variety
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