Alise Zariņa is a Latvian writer-director who studied film at the Baltic Film, Media, Arts and Communication School of Tallinn University (BFM), graduating in 201. She later obtained a Master’s degree from the National Film School of Latvia in 2021. Her first feature film, “Nearby” (2019), won the National Film Award for Best Screenwriting (shared with Marta Elīna Martinsone) and her documentary short “II Lines” (2020) won the Best National Short film at Riga International Film Festival. Beyond filmmaking, Alise Zariņa writes about social issues and is publicly known for her feminism and advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights. In 2021, she was awarded the Latvian PEN award for promoting freedom of expression.
Filmography:
Blakus (2019), Nospiedumi (Flesh, Blood, Even a Heart, 2025)