- Occupation
Producer - Country
Latvia
Bičevska Ilona
15 Young by Young
A multimedia documentary project consisting of a series of fresh, colourful insider point-of-view short stories on the present-day life of young people, linked by animated episodes and directed by 15 young and talented filmmakers from the 15 republics formerly annexed by the USSR.
Found in America
Go west! A dozen Latvian emigrants tell of life in America, Most of them are under thirty and living in New York. All of them find life in the USA a distinct improvement – even though they describe themselves as “work-horses”, working a 16-hour day. For many of them, the alternative would be unemployment in Riga. And if you play your cards right, you can earn as much here in one day as you can in an entire month in Latvia. “New York is a city that sucks you in.” They speak candidly of their fears for the future and the pressure of integration. In Latvia, where the economic situation drives hundreds of young people to leave the country every year in search of a better life, the film met with enormous interest. Some come back. Some leave for good. Many go to America, but it might as well be Tokyo. And those in America may already be dreaming of Tobago …
A multimedia documentary project consisting of a series of fresh, colourful insider point-of-view short stories on the present-day life of young people, linked by animated episodes and directed by 15 young and talented filmmakers from the 15 republics formerly annexed by the USSR.
Found in America
Go west! A dozen Latvian emigrants tell of life in America, Most of them are under thirty and living in New York. All of them find life in the USA a distinct improvement – even though they describe themselves as “work-horses”, working a 16-hour day. For many of them, the alternative would be unemployment in Riga. And if you play your cards right, you can earn as much here in one day as you can in an entire month in Latvia. “New York is a city that sucks you in.” They speak candidly of their fears for the future and the pressure of integration. In Latvia, where the economic situation drives hundreds of young people to leave the country every year in search of a better life, the film met with enormous interest. Some come back. Some leave for good. Many go to America, but it might as well be Tokyo. And those in America may already be dreaming of Tobago …
The Dixieland
This is a film about children's jazz orchestra from a provincial town. The “main stars” of the band are leaving it – somebody is invited to study in Kiev, someone – to Germany. In order to fill in the empty places, the 79-year old teacher of the orchestra decides to teach the talented 9-year old Polina to play all the instruments together. In the Dixieland the children usually arrive “though the window” - they hear somebody play behind the open window of the cellar, they look inside and the brave ones go down the stairs and stay. But even those who decide on leaving the Rybkin's orchestra, they leave with new values, change their habits and friends. This film – the story about the 2 most important periods of human life – childhood, when if you believe in yourself is enough to become an orchestra, and maturity, when you have to hurry up to share, to give the world all the treasures of the soul and talent gathered during the years. This is also a story about the cost of freedom, success and fame in the contemporary Ukraine.
Sasha and the Walls of His House
Sasha has always dreamt of working at home. After unsuccessful attempt to become a jeweler he now works illegally making tattoos. He gets inspired by prison rituals and tattoos, done during the perestroika. At the moment fantasy style tattoos are most popular. Sasha invents these creatures by portraying himself. As he is a handsome man the clients are not complaining. The windows of his house overlook a street which has changed its name lately three times and is the place of constant demonstrations all kind of flags are carried in front of Sasha's eyes as he rarely leaves the house. Mom has not invited Sasha to Italy where she has been living for several years as there are enough tattoo masters. His wife and little son live in Norway, but Norwegians wouldn't let him in for some reason. He even has to register in the local bureau of investigation in order to visit his dad who lives together with his new wife in Bender – the unauthorized independent state of Moldova. So Sasha has locked himself into 4 walls and travels in his thoughts to Norway, Italy and around Moldova with people important to him. Will he ever wish to change it or he will continue to drift along the stream? It depends only on him.
This is a film about children's jazz orchestra from a provincial town. The “main stars” of the band are leaving it – somebody is invited to study in Kiev, someone – to Germany. In order to fill in the empty places, the 79-year old teacher of the orchestra decides to teach the talented 9-year old Polina to play all the instruments together. In the Dixieland the children usually arrive “though the window” - they hear somebody play behind the open window of the cellar, they look inside and the brave ones go down the stairs and stay. But even those who decide on leaving the Rybkin's orchestra, they leave with new values, change their habits and friends. This film – the story about the 2 most important periods of human life – childhood, when if you believe in yourself is enough to become an orchestra, and maturity, when you have to hurry up to share, to give the world all the treasures of the soul and talent gathered during the years. This is also a story about the cost of freedom, success and fame in the contemporary Ukraine.
Sasha and the Walls of His House
Sasha has always dreamt of working at home. After unsuccessful attempt to become a jeweler he now works illegally making tattoos. He gets inspired by prison rituals and tattoos, done during the perestroika. At the moment fantasy style tattoos are most popular. Sasha invents these creatures by portraying himself. As he is a handsome man the clients are not complaining. The windows of his house overlook a street which has changed its name lately three times and is the place of constant demonstrations all kind of flags are carried in front of Sasha's eyes as he rarely leaves the house. Mom has not invited Sasha to Italy where she has been living for several years as there are enough tattoo masters. His wife and little son live in Norway, but Norwegians wouldn't let him in for some reason. He even has to register in the local bureau of investigation in order to visit his dad who lives together with his new wife in Bender – the unauthorized independent state of Moldova. So Sasha has locked himself into 4 walls and travels in his thoughts to Norway, Italy and around Moldova with people important to him. Will he ever wish to change it or he will continue to drift along the stream? It depends only on him.
Producer, documentary filmmaker. Director of music, film and event production company Avantis, founder of NGO Avantis Youth. MA in film production, Baltic Film and Media School. 2002-2008, director, creative director and supervisor of social and youth projects. Production network IMG Sweden, intern - 2005. Advertising agency Ace Baltic, creative director. Education and courses: Master of Film and Media production. Baltic Film and Media School, 2009. BA in Pedagogic Science. University of Latvia, 2002. Participant: Berlinale Talent Campus 2007. ESoDoc 2005. Filmography: Fieldwork, 30 min, short film, dir. lina Lihaceva. Two Whistles, 12 min, documentary. Riga, My Riga, 26 min, documentary, dir. Sandris Jura, 2004. Found in America, 58 min, documentary, dir. Sandris Jura, 2003 - National Film Award Lielais Kristaps, Best Debut 2003. Golden Hammer - Baltic International Advertising Festival, Grand Prix for ad campaign Pizza Time. Narvessen, 2000.
Produced films:
2009 „Fieldwork“ ( feature film in postproduction, director Elina Lihaceva in co-production with studio „ Locomative“);
2007 “Two whistles” ( 12” documentary, director Ilona Bičevska);
2007 „Family and Friendship“ ( 15“ , director Elina Lihaceva,);
2007 „ Jelly Cake“ ( 12“, director Elina Lihaceva);
2007 „ Dushecka“ ( 15“ documentary, director Dzintars Dreibergs);
2005 „ Skate tour.lv „ ( 52“ creative documentary, director Roy Dauburs);
2005 „ Riga, my Riga“ ( 28“documentary, director Sandris Jura);
2003 „ Found in America“ ( 58“ documentary, director Sandris Jura)
Avantis Promo
4, Meness Str.
LV-1013 Riga
4, Meness Str.
LV-1013 Riga