World premiere
The Exalted
An exquisite Nordic thriller that pushes the boundaries of loyalty and greed.
Established Latvian director Juris Kursietis returns after the successful TV series “Soviet Jeans” with remarkable changes – a female lead protagonist and an amplified focus on music. For the very first time he has no credited composer, but instead uses stunning organ compositions performed by German actress Johanna Wokalek, who plays the role of Anna.
Returning from a groundbreaking performance in Germany, Anna’s beloved partner, a successful CEO, is arrested in light of a corruption scandal. The plot unfolds as she decides not to cancel her lavish private birthday party, where family and friends gather to see a restored 110-year-old “queen of instruments” in a local church.
The film follows Anna as she navigates her crumbling reputation, moral dilemmas, false accusations, and religious uncertainty. The restless handheld camera in “The Exalted” draws us into her emotional turmoil, as the foundation of her life collapses alongside her partner’s arrest.
Edvinas Pukšta
Juris Kursietis (1983) is an award-winning Latvian director, known for his sharply realistic sense of life in his films. He worked for six years as a foreign correspondent for Latvian National Television before completing his master’s degree in film at the Northern Media School in the UK. He then worked as an assistant director on several Latvian films. In 2014, Juris Kursietis made his feature debut with “Modris” (PÖFF 2014), a story about a 17-year-old gambling addict living in a small town. The film earned him the Best Director title at both the San Sebastián and Tbilisi International Film Festivals. The director’s second feature film, “Oleg” (PÖFF 2019), which explores the challenges faced by a young Latvian man seeking work and happiness abroad, won two top awards at the Brussels International Film Festival.
Modris (PÖFF 2014), Olegs (Oleg, PÖFF 2019), The Exalted (2024)
Grand Prix for The Best Film, grant of 20 000 euros from the city of Tallinn, Award for Best Director, grant of 5000€ from Alexela
