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 is an acclaimed Latvian film director and screenwriter whose work spans both feature films and television, garnering international recognition. His directorial debut, "Modris" (2014), premiered at over 30 festivals including Toronto and San Sebastián, earning Latvia’s National Film Award for Best Debut and Best Supporting Actress. His second feature, "Oļegs" (2019), premiered at Cannes Directors’ Fortnight and won multiple awards including the Grand Prix at the Brussels and CinEast Film Festivals, as well as Best Director at the Palic Film Festival. He co-wrote and co-directed the internationally known TV series "Soviet Jeans" (2023), which won Best Series at the 2024 Latvian National Film Award and received the Audience Award at Series Mania in France. The series was also officially selected for the Serial Killer Festival and the Seoul International Drama Awards in 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
