Gints Zilbalodis Awarded “Riga Citizen of the Year 2024” for Achievements in Animation

Gints Zilbalodis Awarded “Riga Citizen of the Year 2024” for Achievements in Animation

November 18, 2024 Catherine Williams - Chief Editor World

Riga City Council Award “Riga Citizen of the Year 2024”

This year, the award for “Riga Citizen of the Year 2024” goes to filmmaker Gints Zilbalodis. He received this recognition for his achievements in animation and for promoting Riga and Latvia globally.

In his acceptance speech, Riga City Council Chairman Viļņs Ķirsis praised Zilbalodis for his touching film “Straume,” which has gained acclaim from both audiences and professionals. He expressed hope that the film would earn more prestigious awards, including those from the European Film Academy and the Oscars. Ķirsis congratulated Zilbalodis, wishing him inspiration for future creative projects.

Zilbalodis shared his gratitude via video, noting he could not attend the ceremony because he was at a major film festival in Spain. He thanked everyone who supported him and mentioned that “Straume” was primarily created in Riga, gaining international recognition.

Gints Zilbalodis is an animator and film director. His latest film, “Straume,” has achieved significant success, attracting 100,000 viewers in Latvia and winning 16 international awards, including the Grand Jury Prize at the “Animation is Film” festival in Los Angeles.

During the same meeting, the Riga City Council granted four additional Certificates of Appreciation to:

  • Raimonds Strokšs: For organizing major motorsport events in Riga and promoting the city globally. Latvia will host the FIA World Rally Championship for the first time in 2024 due to his efforts.

  • Juris Dambis: For his long-term work in preserving Riga’s cultural heritage. He has led the National Heritage Board for over 30 years, ensuring the preservation of historical sites in the city.

  • Inese Grandāne: For her contributions to researching and promoting Riga’s history among children and youth. She has organized educational activities for over a decade, attracting more than 3,000 participants annually.

  • Jurģis Cābulis: For his role in leading choirs to international success and promoting Latvian cultural values among the youth. He recently returned from a successful tour in the Nordic countries and achieved notable results in two top international choir competitions.

Anyone over 18 can be nominated for the “Riga Citizen of the Year” award if they have positively impacted the city’s recognition. Nominations were open to all Riga residents.

The selection committee was led by Riga Mayor Viļņs Ķirsis and included various members, such as cultural leaders and journalists. Previous recipients of this award have included prominent scientists, musicians, athletes, and artists.