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)