Timeline

1988–1989

Head of the Museum – Jānis Lasmanis

The Museum is looking for its home. The first steps in making the collection of Riga Film Museum are made. The Museum hosts its first events while researching the possible move to Peitavas 10 – the address where the Riga Film Museum is now.

1989–1991

Head of the Museum – Māris Deģis

The Museum moves to a new place in Riga Old Town. When the Soviet Union collapsed, the collection of Riga Film Museum took over the majority of Riga Film Studio materials. In 1990, the first international gathering of Latvian cinema workers was held in Riga.

1991–1993

Head of the Museum – Agris Redovičs

The Museum continues its work as an independent cultural entity which at that time was a considerable challenge. Regardless, the Museum works hard to establish its place in the Latvian film culture as well as its significance internationally.

1993–2004

Head of the Museum – Inga Pērkone
During this time, Riga Film Museum usually takes part in organising the National Film award “Lielais Kristaps”. The Museum also engaged in research work and organised regular exhibitions that touched upon various topics, including newsreels that were shot in Riga Film Studio, acting history in Latvia and the Latvian filmmakers in exile. The Museum also organised many different events, such as summer schools, published books about Latvian film history and organised televised interviews with Latvian filmmakers as part of a project called “The Century of Cinema in Latvia”.

2004-2006

Interim Head of the Museum Agris Redovičs

2006-2009

Head of the Museum – Elīna Reitere

Riga Film Museum became part of the National Film Center, and in 2006 the Museum moved to Peitavas 10 in the Old Town.

During this period there were several temporary exhibitions, including an exhibition on Sergei Eisenstein who was born in Riga, and the beginnings of cinema.
The Museum also started to host film lecture series about the history of the world cinema which is still one of the most important annual film-related events in Riga.

2009

Interim Head of the Museum – Kristīne Matīsa

2009-2013

Head of the Museum – Agnese Zeltiņa

During the financial crisis Riga Film Museum underwent structural changes and became part of the Latvian Academy of Culture. Regardless of the complications, the Museum continued to attract visitors by lecture series, hosting animation workshops, and curating exhibitions.
In 2013, Riga Film Museum opened its permanent digital exhibition called “Cinema Cabinet”.

2014-2019

Head of the Museum – Zane Balčus

During this time the Museum hosted mostly temporary exhibitions on various topics, such as film trophies and animation history in Latvia. In 2017, the new permanent exhibition “Behind the Screen” was finished. Since 2017, the Museum has created temporary mini-exhibitions that allow to tell a story of a film or a director in a short and concise format. The Museum also regularly creates traveling exhibitions and collaborates with other cultural institutions.

2019-2021

Head of the Museum – Ieva Andžāne

In 2019, the museum’s repository at opens at Pulka Street 8, to which the Film Museum’s collection moves.

In March 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic began, temporarily closing cultural institutions. During this period, the focus is on developing digital solutions. The interactive urban exploration app ‘Film Walk’ has been launched and remains available. Online conversations with film professionals, and collections stories.

2021-2023

Head of the Museum – Agnese Logina

Work continues both digitally and in person. Film screenings have resumed in the museum’s cinema hall and the range of educational programs has been expanded.

Educational games on the films of Aloizs Brenčs, launched in 2022, are still available on the Museum’s website.

2024-present

Head of the Museum – Inga Pērkone-Redoviča

About Museum

Riga Film Museum is the only museum of its kind in Latvia.