On August 25, 2025, Riga TechWeek kicked off with a panel discussion that asked a provocative question: Can Latvia position itself as a global destination for hybrid and remote film production?
The panel “Film Industry × Technology” brought together film producers and technology experts to examine the latest trends, challenges, and future scenarios in audiovisual production.
The Panelists
- Andrejs Ēķis — Film producer, director, and founder of Cinevilla Studios
- Neils Kalniņš — Techritory Forum leader, SIA “Elektroniskie sakari”
- Pēteris Krustiņš — Technology expert, SIA “Elektroniskie sakari”
- Valdis Krūmiņš — Technical Director, ForwardMedia
Moderated by Aivars Mirzo Līpenītis, technology entrepreneur and corporate consultant from XYZ Combinator.
Key Topics Covered
- Hybrid audiovisual production — benefits and challenges
- Remote production trends in global filmmaking
- 5G, 6G, and cloud computing impact on content creation
- VR/AR and AI opportunities in filming processes
- Technical and organizational barriers to adoption
- Skills producers and specialists need for the future
- The role of government support in innovation
Finding Latvia’s Niche
The panelists agreed: everything starts with an original, compelling idea that can attract financing. Two potential paths emerged:
- Genre specialization — focusing on crime dramas, animation, historical dramas, or comedies
- Production stage specialization — becoming the go-to location for specific phases with top-tier technical capacity
About Cinevilla Studios
Andrejs Ēķis founded Cinevilla in 2004, creating the only dedicated film backlot in the Baltic region. The 370+ acre facility has hosted international productions from BBC’s “War and Peace” to RTL’s “Sisi,” with production costs estimated at 25% lower than Germany.